Jay Honeck wrote:

The gummint is the cause of the delays, not the solution...



Jay....I don't understand your comment.

Other than weather, most airline delays are caused by their inability to
operate their business in an efficient manner. Be it poor ground
handling, baggage crew operations, overloaded terminals, etc.

In a global sense, the airlines pushed for deregulation so they could
control their routes, fares, and destiny.

They got their wish.

The result is their predatory, canaballistic, business model that puts
all the flights into the hub and spoke system during "rush hours" while
at the same time they are trying to sell seats below the cost it takes
to fly in order to gain market share on their competitors.

They now work their "revenue per seat mile" just like your hotel's
"average daily room rate" benchmarks.

At this juncture in the game, the airlines are now trying to increase
their profits and/or revenue by deferring their fuel tax/ticket tax pass
through to General Aviation in order to keep those dollars for
themselves. With this concept, they can charge the same $100 for a
ticket that today includes the ticket tax and fuel tax pass through and
put the entire $100 in their pocket. Kind of like a 'smoke and mirrors'
way to increase the bottom line.

In addition, as part of the game, they want control of the referees (the
FAA) so they can influence the gatekeepers.

I don't mind paying my fair share, but, in the 1950's the airspace
system was designed for the airline industry to provide safety for their
operations. Now the airline guys say that GA is the cause of the
airspace congestion problem?? I don't think so. If you were to
eliminate airline traffic from the busiest airports or airways, there
would be no congestion problems.

On a side note: We already have this problem in Washington State. We
pay 15 cents per gallon state tax on aviation fuel, either 100LL or Jet
A. Airlines are exempt.

Al (now leaping off my soapbox) Gilson
1964 Skyhawk
KSFF
Spokane Wa