But there is a competing bill in the Senate. That bill (S.1300) includes user fees, and two powerful senators--John D. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Trent Lott (R-Miss.)--are pushing it.
There is a third bill that the FAA drafted, and it's the most onerous of all--user fees and huge tax increases. It's also all but dead, since neither the House nor the Senate has acted on it.
The bill must now be considered by the House Ways and Means Committee, which will actually set the taxes on aviation fuel and passenger tickets. The Science and Technology Committee will also have a say, and the Rules Committee will determine if the bill gets to the House floor for a vote. Amendments could be offered that might change some provisions of the legislation.
Meanwhile, another FAA funding bill is making its way through the Senate, where it, too, could be modified at any point.
After the full Senate approves its version of the bill, and the full House votes on the FAA reauthorization bill, both bills go to a conference committee made up of selected lawmakers appointed from the House and Senate. The conference committee will reconcile the differences between the two versions of the bill, then sends it back to the House and Senate for another vote. If approved by both bodies, it then goes to the president, who can sign it into law or veto the legislation.
Attend Expo to see all AOPA has to offer
AOPA Expo is the perfect opportunity to visit with AOPA staff, see the latest general aviation aircraft, including 60 on display; browse aisles of products among more than 500 exhibits; attend more than 60 hours of seminars; hear directly from industry leaders; and speak with fellow pilots and aircraft owners. Expo will land in Hartford, Connecticut, October 4 to 6, 2007, for its first visit to New England. Learn more and register at AOPA Online.
Pilots frustrated with FSS; improvements on the way?
The steep spiral has stopped as Lockheed Martin tries to get the flight service station (FSS) system back to level flight. A recent survey pilot survey conducted by AOPA shows that there were no significant changes in briefer professionalism, knowledge of local geography, and familiarity with equipment when compared to previous surveys. Nearly half rated briefer meteorological knowledge as "poor" or "very poor." But things could be slowly getting better. Lockheed officials say that 80 percent of its briefers have now been trained on the new FS21 information system; 11 of 16 satellite stations have been upgraded to the FS21 system; and the remainder should soon be active. Lockheed's statistics show that the company is more consistently achieving its contractual obligations.
ASF offers new aircraft flash cards
Getting ready for a checkride? You can expect the examiner to have a few questions about your airplane--which is why the AOPA Air Safety Foundation has developed free aircraft flash cards, available to all pilots. From minimum oil quantity to maximum ramp weight, the cards are a great way to learn all the aircraft-specific facts you need to know. Just use the pilot's operating handbook to fill in the details for your aircraft, then find a study partner (or quiz yourself). You'll be up to speed in no time!
Download the flash cards from the ASF Web site, or request a printed copy by calling 800/USA-AOPA.
For the latest on AOPA's advocacy efforts for pilots, visit AOPA Online.
