Depending on where you live, Capitol Hill and what transpires there may seem worlds away. But the truth is that, unlike Las Vegas, what happens in Washington never stays there. It affects every one of us, whether we like it or not.
With last year’s elections more than six months behind us, and the honeymoon period at an end, we are beginning to feel the effects of the changes taking place in D.C. Since the 112th Congress got to work in January, we have seen new leaders heading up important committees and new perspectives coming into play on issues large and small. Even as I write this, the battle continues over the 2011 budget, with the possibility of a government shutdown looming. At the same time, the Obama administration’s 2012 budget proposal is under intense scrutiny and the reaction is mixed, with some saying his spending cuts go too far and others saying they don’t go far enough.
To this point, we have been fortunate when it comes to protecting general aviation, with both parties saying “no” to user fees. Both the House and Senate have moved toward providing long-term funding for the FAA and NextGen—the modernization of the air traffic system. Support for finding a replacement for avgas remains strong. In fact, AOPA has just been appointed to an FAA committee that will begin the rule-making process for transitioning away from leaded fuel.
While some of the biggest and most critical issues facing GA are being addressed and receiving support in Washington, there have also been some surprises—not the least of which is a new rule that would prevent pilots from exercising a right to privacy they have long enjoyed. This rule, which appeared with no rule-making process and no warning, would abolish the right of pilots to shield their N-numbers, making it possible for anyone to track any aircraft any time it flies. Since no problems have been reported as a result of keeping N-numbers private and the right to privacy is a generally accepted principle, it’s hard to imagine why it would suddenly be overturned. But this is exactly the reason we at AOPA are always vigilant and alert to what’s happening in Washington.
And there are other challenges on the horizon that are far easier to predict. For example, we would be naïve to imagine that aviation and airports will be entirely spared in an environment where cutting spending is the biggest issue of the day.
We would also be irresponsible if we didn’t recognize that the rising national debt is a serious threat. President Barack Obama’s own Fiscal Advisory Committee reports that if we continue on our present spending course, the annual interest on the national debt could reach $1 trillion by 2021. The rising price of oil, now well more than $100 a barrel, means we simply can’t afford to rely so heavily on this source of energy, especially with so much unrest in many oil-producing countries.
These issues aren’t “GA issues” per se, but they have a profound effect on GA, and getting it right will make a real difference to our community. So, although we want to see the FAA well funded and money available for tackling modernization, avgas, and other issues, we need to be mindful of the bigger picture. Our members are well-rounded people who value aviation but who are also committed to the health of the nation as a whole. At AOPA we share those values, and we will keep working toward both goals each and every day.
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