AOPA President Phil Boyer is a former executive with ABC News.
For many years I have received Chief Executive magazine, a controlled-circulation magazine, which claims a readership of more than 170,000 top management executives. In its promotional material the magazine claims its readers are "the world's most influential corporate leaders," with 78 percent holding a title of chief executive officer, chairman, and/or president.
To my complete surprise, a recent issue of Chief Executive devoted more than four pages to an article written entirely in support of user fees for our nation's air transportation system. There was no balance, or any mention of another side to this important issue to all of us who fly. When AOPA contacted the magazine for a chance to garner similar space for "the other side" we were told it would consider publishing a letter to the editor, but nothing more. With the FAA funding issue coming to a head next year, this readership seemed too important to receive a one-sided view. Therefore, AOPA purchased a full page of advertising to present our view. Although I wrote the ad primarily for the Chief Executive reader, I think the information is important for AOPA members, many of whom are among these corporate leaders, and as general information to you as pilots as this important battle ensues. This is the text of the ad:
"Warning! For the CEO whose company uses private aircraft: If you are a CEO like me, it's possible you passed right over the article in the July/August 2006 issue of Chief Executive magazine: 'Solving Airspace Gridlock.' Notwithstanding the misinformation about the condition of our nation's airspace and airports system put forth by the author, it does point to a very important issue that could affect you, your company, and your employees who use general aviation aircraft, in addition to heavy use of the airlines. Next year, Congress must pass legislation that governs the way our nation funds the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and its operation of the air traffic control (ATC) system and our airports. For nearly half a century we have relied upon a combination of taxes on aviation users and revenues from the nation's taxpayers to support this system similar to the way we fund the highway system.
"Both the FAA and the airlines would like to change these time-tested, efficient funding formulas and place a greater financial burden on non-airline operations; or in basic terms pass along their costs to corporate aviation. Robert Poole, the author of 'Solving Airspace Gridlock,' represents the privatization-happy Reason Foundation. To make his point he distorts the fact that the United States operates the largest, most efficient, and safest air transportation system in the world. At any hour of the day half of all the world's air traffic is flying in U.S. airspace. Contrary to Poole's assertion, it is also a system that works: a combination of 31 major hub airports that handle 70 percent of all airline passengers and 5,400 community airports that allow companies like yours to use smaller and more efficient general aviation aircraft to transport goods, personnel, and services to the rest of the country. You may have very well located a manufacturing plant or other facility in a community because of its local general aviation airport.
"Just as the American economy thrives on a vibrant and growing interstate highway system for cars, trucks, and buses, our nation's airspace and airport system provide those same benefits. But our national air transportation system is in jeopardy because the airlines and FAA are looking at ways to charge smaller airplanes by flight, weight, distance, size of airport used, and a variety of other schemes — all designed to lower their costs and allow the airlines to take control of the air traffic system away from Congress. The thought of airlines being in charge of our nation's aviation infrastructure — when they have enough trouble running their own businesses — is frightening!
"Whether you own one airplane or your company has a fleet of airplanes, if you are a pilot or your board of directors approves your corporate flight department budget, you have a stake in whatever legislation develops next year. Don't buy the rhetoric of those who would turn over our nation's aviation dominance from government control to the highest private bidder. This is a great opportunity to explain to your newly elected members of Congress why you and your company value the transportation provided by private aircraft.
"AOPA's flight plan is filed to September 30, 2007, when legislation must be passed by Congress to authorize future years of the FAA budget. Obviously, more education of the public and our politicians is needed along the path toward this destination. The first waypoint of any significance occurs with the nation's November 7 general election. Its outcome determines many new leadership positions in the House and Senate, and sets the political landscape for our battle on user fees."
