Senate Bill S.786 could kill NWS internet weather products

Larry Dighera wrote:

It's difficult to envision a less costly and more equitable way of
collecting the revenue for ATC operation, than a tax on fuel.

True. The problem as I see it is the amount necessary. IIRC, AOPA stated that
the fuel taxes pay about 15% of the cost of the pilot weather system? That means
that we would have to increase this tax nearly 600% to pay the weather bills.

The last time I saw a breakdown of the fuel costs was a Raleigh years ago, but,
IIRC the Federal tax was a little less than 13 cents a gallon. If I'm
remembering all this correctly, we'd have to increase the tax to at least $.86 a
gallon to pay for the weather service.

Right now, Old Bridge is charging $3.45/gallon for gas. Regular auto gas is
$2.07 down the street. If 100LL jumps to $4.18/gallon (more than twice the cost
of car gas), I think quite a few more aircraft owners would opt for auto gas
STCs. That, in turn, would require another increase in fuel taxes, since fewer
gallons would be sold.

Wish I could say that I also see a solution.

George Patterson
There's plenty of room for all of God's creatures. Right next to the
mashed potatoes.