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AOPA Action

Congressional hearings voice skepticism, opposition to FAA funding plan

The FAA ran into a wall of unyielding skepticism with its funding proposal during a March 21 hearing before the House aviation subcommittee. AOPA President Phil Boyer told panel members that they were right to be skeptical--that the FAA has manufactured the funding crisis they claim to be addressing with the proposal.

There is no funding crisis; the current system pays more than enough. The FAA is currently funded by a combination of fuel excise taxes, airline passenger ticket taxes, taxes on air cargo, and a contribution from the general tax fund. Gerald Dillingham of the Government Accountability Office and U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General Calvin Scovel each told members of the subcommittee that the current funding system does generate enough money to fund the FAA's modernization efforts.

This validates AOPA's analysis last year of the FAA's next five-year revenue stream, which indicates that the FAA could spend some $20 billion on ATC modernization over a five-year reauthorization time frame and still end up with an uncommitted balance in the aviation trust fund of more than $7 billion.

Subcommittee members from both sides of the aisle expressed concerns about the proposed funding system and estimates that it would generate some $600 million less than the current system.

AOPA, the GA community, the airlines, and the FAA all recognize the need to modernize ATC. "Amazingly, these are points which almost all of us agreed need to be accomplished," Boyer said. "With user fees off the table, we can move forward on the real issues."

Figure it out for yourself!

AOPA has created an eye-opening User-Fee Calculator designed to custom calculate how much the FAA's proposed fuel tax increase would cost you. Just enter your aircraft's average fuel burn, your average hours flown, and your type of aircraft--the calculator will do the rest. Try it out online for a realistic estimation of how bad the proposed FAA funding plan could be.

AOPA awards $2,000 at AEA

The Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) wrapped up its annual meeting in Reno, Nevada, but not before handing out more than $100,000 in scholarships to 30 college students. Administered through the AEA Educational Foundation, the awards were presented to students pursuing careers in the general aviation maintenance and aircraft electronics industry. Among the recipients was Jeff Tenan, who received AOPA's $2,000 scholarship. A high-school senior in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, he has been accepted to the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, where he plans to pursue an associate's degree in specialized technology through the institute's aviation maintenance program. Scholarships are sponsored by a broad variety of industry businesses, organizations, and individuals, including Garmin, Honeywell Bendix/King, Rockwell Collins, and Sporty's/Cincinnati Avionics.

Coalition forms to protect general aviation

A broad coalition--Alliance for Aviation Across America--has formed to support general aviation and fight the airline- and FAA-backed legislation. The legislation would dramatically increase GA fuel taxes, charge user fees to most aviation segments, and significantly reduce the airlines' financial contribution toward the FAA's costs. The coalition is also dedicated to properly modernizing the air traffic control system. "AOPA is pleased to support the alliance," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "All of our more than 411,000 AOPA members are already Alliance members as a result of their participation in AOPA."

ASF Mountain Flying online course offers higher education

Mountain flying offers some of the most fantastic sights in aviation, but experiencing those breathtaking vistas safely calls for special knowledge and preparation. The AOPA Air Safety Foundation's free Mountain Flying online course is a quick and effective way to get up to speed. You'll learn more about aircraft (and human) performance at high altitudes, mountain winds and weather, and route planning, among other topics.

While there's no substitute for a thorough checkout from an experienced mountain pilot, Mountain Flying is a good place to start your training. Depending on your individual pace, the course should take about 45 minutes to complete. The interactive course is available to all pilots, at any time of the day or night.

For the latest on AOPA's advocacy efforts for pilots, visit AOPA Online.

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