To Charles Spence, Capital Comments: I read with interest your ongoing articles concerning user fees. Perhaps I am missing something, but it seems to me that Congress is trying to fix something that’s not broken.If the FAA indeed needs more operating capital, why not very simply add a few cents to each gallon of fuel purchased for aviation? This mechanism is already in place. While I’m not real fond of paying more for fuel for my Mooney, I and, I assume, 99% of pilots/aircraft operators nationwide would prefer to pay an extra 10¢ a gallon with that earmarked for FAA funding, as opposed to paying for every contact with FSS and FAA controllers — I would think the latter would create a bookkeeping nightmare!
Anyway, for what it’s worth, please consider this my vote on the subject.
It does seem to me to be a very easy solution to the money shortage the FAA claims to have, and is projected to have in the coming years as aviation continues to grow. My solution is simple — the ones that use the system the most, pay the most. Those that use the system the least, pay very little.
Is this too simple for Congress to consider?
Barry McCollom
President,
Kerr Country Flyers