Regional Affairs

With this Maryland General Assembly session in the homestretch, heading for a mid-April adjournment, AOPA is aggressively opposing two measures that could increase costs and security requirements for Maryland-based pilots. Pegged as a "luxury services" measure, House Bill 84 would extend the state's sales and use taxes to a broad range of services from dog grooming to hangar rentals and aircraft maintenance. In opposing the bill, AOPA indicated that most aircraft services are required in order to comply with FAA safety standards. The bill remains stalled in committee. A second measure, H.B.1041, would establish a new committee to review security and flight school issues at the state's general aviation airports. Citing the existing federal rules and the AOPA Airport Watch program, AOPA will testify against the measure this month.