For all pilots there is no issue bigger than the cost of flying. From member surveys naming this as your number one concern to my own personal experience in owning and renting airplanes, it's hard to deny that the costs associated with this activity are high. AOPA works hard in numerous ways to keep the cost of flying down. Some are quite obvious, while others are often not recognized by many members. Whether challenging expensive airworthiness directives or fighting to keep fuel taxes down, all of us who work for you do realize that a critical part of our mission is to help keep you from getting priced out of general aviation.
For the past four years AOPA and AOPA Legislative Action have worked to battle the administration's desire to charge for the use of FAA air traffic services. These "user fees" could kill GA as we know it in this country. First was the proposal by the White House to set up a quasi-government corporation; we titled that one the "post office of the sky" to draw attention to one of the oldest government corporations — one that hasn't reduced user costs or gained many efficiencies. Then there was last year's "McCain Bill," which would have created a system in which the FAA could assess fees and spend the money without the intervention of Congress. Think of that as a "blank check" policy for the FAA, an agency that hasn't demonstrated outstanding fiscal responsibility in the past.
You helped us during this period with your letters, phone calls, faxes, and e-mails, not to mention donations to the AOPALA Political Action Committee. And, AOPA staff worked tirelessly on this issue. I am pleased to report that the balanced budget agreement that has been in the headlines for the past few weeks contains no user fees for general aviation (See " AOPA Action," page 8). It allows us to continue a steady funding stream for the growth of the FAA by paying through the very efficiently collected aviation fuel taxes. The new legislation does modify the tax structure for the airlines, retaining the ticket tax but adding new international fees and a "head tax" based on flight segments.
If you are not convinced that the user fee issue is an example of AOPA working to save you dollars, then speak to a foreign pilot about his system.
Yet, I know that some perceive this — and other issues we tackle — in the same manner as I do when my wife comes home and exclaims that she saved me money by not buying something at the mall. Therefore, another dedicated group of your AOPA staff has been working for more than two years to allow you to save money directly, each and every time you fly. Their original mission was to figure out a way we could provide AOPA members with a discount on fuel and aircraft rentals, since many of you have indicated that these were two important cost areas in your flying. They did better than that! Working with MBNA America Bank and using the AOPA credit card as the mechanism, with the realization that more than a third of you carry this card, your association designed a credit card enhancement: a rebate on any and all aviation purchases made with an AOPA credit card at qualifying FBOs.
AOPA's FBO Rebate Program applies at any fixed-base operator listed in AOPA's Airport Directory that sells fuel and/or rents aircraft. This means that the program will work at nearly 4,000 FBOs right now. To obtain your rebate, merely circle the eligible charges on your monthly statement and mail a copy to MBNA (the card's issuer that has made all of this possible) at the AOPA FBO Rebate Program address. We even supply preprinted mailing labels for your convenience. Your rebate appears as a credit on your next monthly statement. The rebate applies to fuel, maintenance, hangars, training, tiedowns, aircraft rentals, and all other purchases you make with an AOPA credit card at any qualifying FBO nationwide. Whether it's a $29 or $299 fuel purchase, or $9,900 for a new avionics panel installation, you'll receive the rebate with no caps and no minimums.
Let me give you an example that's close to my heart. My wife and I own a 1977 Cessna Skyhawk. This year's annual inspection cost us $2,216. With AOPA's FBO Rebate Program I could have simply charged the inspection on my AOPA credit card and saved $66. That's the same kind of savings you could experience if your aircraft rentals over a period totaled the same amount. It doesn't take much math skill to figure out that the savings more than pay your $39 annual AOPA membership dues.
This partnership between MBNA America Bank and AOPA saves you money and supports GA. MBNA meets all expenses, with no payment from AOPA, no use of your membership dues, and no contribution from any FBO. It's a "win-win" situation for all of us who fly!
Naturally, the program depends on increased use of the AOPA credit card and more cardholders. We previewed the program at our booth at Oshkosh last month, and the member reaction was overwhelming. Six times more applications were taken than in the previous year. We hope that if you keep a card on file at your FBO you'll make it the AOPA credit card, allowing the rebate to build with every purchase. And, as we do in our family, use your card for all your purchases — even those that have nothing to do with flying. Even without the rebate on these nonaviation charges, your association receives a royalty that helps to support general aviation and keeps dues low.
Hopefully my enthusiasm for this member benefit comes through in this column. I am proud that your association continues to strive to address the aviation cost issue. No user fees in the latest budget bill and a rebate on all your aviation charges — that feels real good.
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