Obama's Proposed $100 User Fee

[markw]

Most of us have heard of Obama's proposed $100 user fee, but I don't
think the full impact of this proposed rule has been fully realized.
The Administration attempts to alleviate the fears of light
aircraft pilots by stating:

"All piston aircraft [and] aircraft operating outside of controlled
airspace ...would be exempted..."

This gives the impression that the new tax will only affect the
corporate jet world. Problem is, gliders, balloons, electric aircraft
and unpowered ultralights (hang gliders and paragliders) are not
'piston aircraft' and therefore will not be exempt from the $100 per
flight tax.

If you think we'll be exempt because we don't fly in controlled
airspace, consider the definition of controlled airspace from 14CFR
1.1 (FAR Definitions):

"Controlled airspace means an airspace of defined dimensions within
which air traffic control service is provided to IFR flights and to
VFR flights in accordance with the airspace classification."
Controlled airspace is a generic term that covers Class A, Class B,
Class C, Class D, and Class E airspace."

For those who haven't brushed up on airspace recently, Class E
airspace is pretty much the entire US above 1200' AGL, which means
almost all 'non-piston' aircraft flights will be taxed, including
gliders, balloons, electric aircraft and unpowered ultralights (hang
gliders & paragliders).

Sign the petition to the Obama Administration to exempt gliders,
balloons, electric aircraft and ultralights from the $100 per flight
user fee at

<http://wh.gov/K4Q> wh.gov/K4Q

We need 25,000 signatures in 30 days

[racegunz]

It's a fee for ATC services, not that it won't grow into more, but tell me how unless I radio ATC for IFR clearance are they going to know I'm flying VFR from an uncontrolled airport or private strip? I think the States need to get the feds out of their business, a dream of mine ,unlikely to happen I know. Still the money has to come from somewhere may as well be the ones using the services, does that include me? probably so, the airport wasn't maintained with private funds it came from the AATF which is compiled monies from excise taxes on fuel and commercial operations and some from the general fund, all of which are struggling and nothing is getting cheaper. Either the services must be cut back (I'm a fan of this solution) or aviators must pay more. Before anyone gets all defensive look up the status of the AATF that is the trust fund set-up to fund the FAA, that money doesn't just appear there. As of right now everyone that flies with av-gas is paying excise taxes that goes into the fund, add up what you burn times the hours that are being flown from your local airport and you'll see the commercial operations are paying the majority of the costs of our little non-controlled airports.

[hans]

From a European perspective, you're still ahead by far. Can't we just trade your problems for our avgas prices and landing fees...?

On my airfield (EDXR) we get a lot of planes landing there because of our avgas prices, which at € 2.30 per LITER (I'll let you do the conversion into $/Gal) is deemed cheap around here...
The landing fees I pay are between Eur. 5 - 15, depending on where I land. Mind you, this is for each and every landing. Some bigger airports charge considerably more, but I don't go in there. Two weeks ago, I had my first ever landing where the landing fee was waived, on the ground that it was my first landing there with an extraordinary plane (indeed, my S-II). They took a load of snapshots and then waived the landing fee.
Just today I got the 2012 radio station license fee invoice for my Dutch registered S-II. Would you believe they charge € 120 just to allow me to use these devices on my own plane?

Naw, let us pass on our problems and we'll gladly take yours

Hans

[racegunz]

Hans, are there any private strips where you are if you are a landowner in your country would it even be legal to have a private strip?

[hans]

as to private strips: there are no unified regulations across Europe, some countries have them, others don't. I don't know any of these in my region, although for ultralight aircraft there seem to be quite a few. A more economical alternative would be to join a flying club (some of them own their strip), but in my area the clubs have no hangar space left (or frown upon privatly owned aircraft taking up club hangar space), so that's no option either.

Hans

[racegunz]

Thanks Hans, actually I think the club idea is the wave of GA's future here in the States at least for small recreational aircraft, like the sonerai and ultralites. I don't have enough property for anything other than a helicopter, but I have permission to use 4 different private strips just miles from me. A folding wing aircraft is a must if FAA fees do indeed extend to recreational usage more than they already do. My sonerai's engine, if and when I complete it, will be designed to use auto gas to help in the fuel expense. I've also considered abondoning the sonerai for a stol aircraft I can use on my own property, Time will tell.