This would price a lot of people out of flying!
User fees in White House FY2013 budget
User fees in White House FY2013 budget
This would price a lot of people out of flying!
User fees in White House FY2013 budget
Doug,
I could be wrong, but it looks to me that this fee is only on "private" turbine aircraft. That is Jets and Turbo-prop. For the most part, these would be business aircraft. Like you say improved technology does cost more, be it aircraft or hospitals.
Let's say that it takes an average of 50 hours to get a private pilots license, at $120 per hour for the plane and $50 per hour for the instructor that works out to $8,500. Most of my flights were in one hour increments because of the scheduling of the plane. That $100 per use fee would add another $5,000 or an additional 58% to the cost of the license. For a lot of potential pilots this would make it too expensive.
Let's say that it takes an average of 50 hours to get a private pilots license, at $120 per hour for the plane and $50 per hour for the instructor that works out to $8,500. Most of my flights were in one hour increments because of the scheduling of the plane. That $100 per use fee would add another $5,000 or an additional 58% to the cost of the license. For a lot of potential pilots this would make it too expensive.
Doug,
I could be wrong, but it looks to me that this fee is only on "private" turbine aircraft. That is Jets and Turbo-prop. For the most part, these would be business aircraft. Like you say improved technology does cost more, be it aircraft or hospitals.
The users fees have been an issue for many years - way before Obama's stint as POTUS. It is a constant battle that we private pilots face. If you want the real scoop on it, then research Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association which is our lobbying group.
You are right. But I talked to someone at AOPA, their worry was that once the government has established this fee they will branch out into different areas, small aircraft, flight plans, ILS approach, etc.
That I can see as a real concern, not only is there a danger of spreading to other types of aircraft, but the $100 may just be the beginning.
I recently read in Aviation Week about an entirely new traffic control system, that will use GPS and computers, with less bored folkes looking at radar screens.
Sounds good but it will cost big bucks.
The AOPA, EAA and other private aircraft associations have been lobbying and fighting User Fees here in the states for years. If you think this is the first time its come up, you have missed a huge debate.
I expect these user fees to quietly grow and spread. Eventually it will effect all private pilots. Just like Europe.
It all starts somewhere...
If the argument for these fees is that people don't really "need" to own an airplane; well, you don't really need a computer either.
I'm not concerned with the fact that this is part of Obama's budget, I'm concerned with it happening period!
Okay I own a 30 year old Mooney 231 and think I already pay 'user fees' in the form of fuel taxes used to maintain the government operation of the aviation segments. City taxes are paid because they own the land that the federal government built the airport upon. Part of the operation of any airport is to service the local community and business. Tower staffing and operation is tied to the number of take offs and landing, or is that arrivals and departures. If you continue to raise the cost of flying on the general aviation, those take offs and landing decrease. So goes the tower, approach control, and departure control, because you can't justify those jobs based on a dozen commercial aircraft landing at beautiful Asheville Regional a day.
I'm not whining about cost, but just the reason. It's like the question you always get about the GT40 or any other big HP car....what is your gas mileage? My reply is "I just fill it up when the needle gets to 1/4". I don't want to know all the cost of flying, somethings (marriage?) aren't about cost.