April 23, 2008
What's at Issue
The United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (Commerce Committee) passed its version of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization legislation, S. 1300, the Aviation Investment and Modernization Act of 2007, last year. S. 1300 includes the establishment of a new user fee of $25 per flight for all commercial and most general aviation flights in turbojet and turboprop aircraft.
Why It's Important
The U.S. Senate could consider legislation (S. 1300) to reauthorize the FAA at $65 billion through fiscal 2011 before the Memorial Day recess. The sudden movement of the reauthorization bill is due to the recent U.S. House of Representatives and Senate hearings into weaknesses in the FAA¿s safety inspection procedures.
FAA reauthorization legislation is completed every four or five years by Congress, and includes both funding and contract authority for the agency. Without a reauthorization bill approved by Congress, the FAA is unable to issue grants for airport improvement projects and other capacity expansion initiatives. Additionally, the FAA reauthorization serves as comprehensive legislation for all aviation-related issues pending in Congress, which means a diverse collection of issues facing the aviation industry are all up for consideration in this legislation.
The inclusion of a $25 fee for commercial and certain general aviation flights sets a dangerous precedent for financing the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. Although the fee proposed by the Commerce Committee is significantly different than the series of fees originally proposed by the FAA in February 2007, the fee sets a precedent for other fees for aviation services in the future, such as fees for aircraft certification, registration, and maintenance. Furthermore, while the fee may start at $25 per flight, it is apparent that the fee can and will be raised as the agency requests additional funds from Congress.
Also, for further information regarding the FAA reauthorization and other important provisions in the bill, visit NATA's Legislative Action Center.
What to Do
Contact your two U.S. Senators and encourage them to oppose the $25 fee contained in S. 1300. Ask that they support any amendment that would eliminate the fee when the bill reaches the Senate floor.
NATA has made available a sample letter to Members of Congress that may be downloaded, tailored to your operation and sent to your Senators.
How to Contact Your Members of Congress
To obtain the contact information for your U.S. Senators, visit NATA's Legislative Action Center, and enter your ZIP code where promoted under the "Find Your Legislators" box.
NATA Position
Overall, NATA is pleased with the funding levels and policy changes included in S. 1300. However, NATA remains opposed to the inclusion of the $25 fee for certain flights. The fee discriminates against smaller aircraft, which travel shorter distances before needing to refuel and will therefore pay a proportionately higher amount in fees compared to large aircraft, which easily travel nonstop from coast to coast. Furthermore, the fee will be difficult to assess and collect, creating a large bureaucracy within the FAA specifically dedicated to collecting these fees.
Staff Contact:
Kristen Moore
Director, Legislative Affairs
NATA
kmoore@nata.aero
For general press inquiries, contact Shannon Chambers at 703-298-1347 or schambers@nata.aero.
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has been the voice of aviation business for more than 80 years. Representing nearly 3,700 aviation businesses, NATA’s member companies provide a broad range of services to general aviation, the airlines and the military and NATA serves as the public policy group representing the interests of aviation businesses before Congress and the federal agencies.