The Government Accountability Office (GAO) warned recently that less excise tax money than had been forecast is being collected to feed the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. At the same time, estimates of future revenues are lower because of a drop in airline passenger traffic, fares and fuel consumption, all of which provide money for […]
User Fees: “Déjà vu all over again?”
The U.S. House of Representatives’ Transportation and Infrastructure Committee last week approved the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009 (H.R. 915), a funding bill that does not contemplate new user fees for general aviation. Even so, affordable participation in personal flight is once again in peril, warns the Experimental Aircraft Association, as proponents of user fees […]
Air Force Museum rejects CAF’s F-82 offer
The National Museum of the Air Force Board of Directors has rejected the Commemorative Air Force’s offer to drop its lawsuit concerning ownership of the F-82 in the CAF collection, in exchange for allowing the airplane to remain on static display at the CAF Airpower Museum in Midland, Texas. In a written proposal, hand-delivered to […]
Lawmakers challenge legality of LASP
The Transportation Security Administration‘s Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) is not suited to general aviation aircraft and should not go forward without industry input, said the chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, which has jurisdiction over the TSA. Leaders of the House aviation subcommittee told the TSA on March 10 that they are […]
Hualapai “trespass” pilot reluctantly enters plea
In order to avoid a long and costly legal battle, the pilot whose powered paraglider was confiscated after he flew it over Hualapai reservation land is paying fines and admitting guilt, according to March 14 reports in several Arizona newspapers. Lionel De Antoni admitted to “trespassing and endangerment” and agreed to pay a $500 fine […]
Controllers: Experience trumps age
Older air traffic controllers can head off mid-air collisions at least as well as younger controllers, using experience to compensate for age-related declines in mental sharpness, a new study finds. The evidence that experience triumphs over the normal changes of aging could help to overturn myths about older workers that are contributing to the draining […]
Tax webinars slated
Wolcott & Associates, PA, a CPA firm devoted to the aviation industry, has several tax webinars slated. Scheduled for March 19 is “IRS Reporting for the Personal Use of Company Aircraft Using the SIFL Rate Tables.” The course will discuss rules for applying the SIFL valuations, control vs. non-control employees, and specific rules and reporting […]
Liberty offers composites expertise
Liberty Aerospace has created a new division, Liberty Composites, to market the company’s experience in aviation carbon fiber structures to other companies. Liberty Composites offers a full range of services including design capabilities, prototyping, testing, and tooling for any size lot, large or small. “We are proud to offer our composite capabilities to the open […]
Air BP slates training seminars
Air BP’s Safety and Quality Control Seminars offer airport personnel, QC, QA, pilots and corporate flight departments the opportunity to learn safety regulations through class-room education and hands-on experience. Trainers Walter Chartrand and Dave Ware of Air BP present an in-depth look at current safety rules and regulations. The two-day seminar is free to all […]