Act Now: FAA Proposes AirVenture User Fees

[Jonathan Harger]

EAA is asking for members' support as we fight against the FAA's proposal to charge AirVenture with a very substantial "reimbusible"--a nearly $500,000 user fee--for ATC support.

Several US Senators have expressed interest in telling the FAA that they have had enough of that agency's attempts to unilaterally impose taxes and/or user fees on the flying public. In fact, there is a letter being circulated for signatures in the Senate as I write this, and we would truly appreciate you contacting your Senators and urging them to sign this letter to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta.

We are deeply concerned that this massive fee, which the FAA is proposing to levy on top of their normal tax-derived revenue, is a signal that the FAA is no longer concerned with supporting GA but instead only airline passengers. After all, you'd think that they would appropriately budget for ATC at the world's busiest airport--Wittman Regional during AirVenture--as they have for the past several decades. If they don't see maintaining safety at AirVenture as part of their agency's core function but instead as an add-on, then what is their core function?

Please contact your Senator and ask them to endorse this letter in support of GA. We are very interested in stopping this attempt at bleeding GA with a series of "fees" before it gains traction and this "revenue gathering method" becomes the new normal.
Thank you for your support!

-Jonathan Harger, EAA Government Advocacy and Safety

[CarlOrton]

Several of us were pointed to the task from the AirVenture forums, Jonathan; when I sent mine, it looks like quite a few have already contributed as well. I'll admit it's a formidable job!

[rwanttaja]

Thanks, for the heads-up, Jonathan, and your work to make it happen.

Ron Wanttaja

[Jim Rosenow]

Thanks, for the heads-up, Jonathan, and your work to make it happen.

Ron Wanttaja

What Ron said, in spades!!! Thanks! I sent my letters and was disappointed , but not surprised,to receive a canned reply.....

"Thank you for sending me your comments. Listening to the views of the people I represent in the U.S. Senate is a critical part of my job. I do my best to provide every Ohioan with a prompt response. If you have an urgent matter, please feel free to call any of my offices in Ohio or Washington, DC."

I believe there is strength in numbers...come on folks, let's get it done!

Jim

PS- Jonathan...the 'contact your Senator' page and letter are not restricted to EAA members, are they? We have a fairly large airport association in the area, and many of those folks are not EAA members. Would like to get this info to the contact list if that's kosher. Thanks!

[Jonathan Harger]

PS- Jonathan...the 'contact your Senator' page and letter are not restricted to EAA members, are they? We have a fairly large airport association in the area, and many of those folks are not EAA members. Would like to get this info to the contact list if that's kosher. Thanks!

Anyone can use the page--the more the merrier!

[Jonathan Harger]

Also: Instead of 2:30pm Eastern today, the deadline for Senators to sign the bipartisan letter to Administrator Huerta will be tomorrow at noon. This is good news--some Senators want more time to talk to their colleagues, and we'd like more time for the impact of our Rally Congress campaign to be felt.
By the way: You have all sent more than 13,400 letters to your Senators. Thank you all very much for taking action!

[FloridaJohn]

I have signed and sent the link out to other pilot friends of mine.