NAS User Fees Loom Larger!

-------------------------------------------------------------------
AVwebFlash Volume 12, Number 51a -- December 18, 2006
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Who Uses What?

DOT OIG AUDITS AIRSPACE USE FOR FAA FUNDING FLAP
(http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archive...ll.html#194011)
The Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General is
planning to conduct an audit of the National Airspace System (NAS)
that could become a key point of information for the looming battle
over how to fund the FAA. In an internal memo
(http://www.avweb.com/pdf/DOT_OIG_Audit.pdf) obtained by AVweb, David
Tornquist, the DOT's Assistant Inspector General for Competition and
Economic Analysis, sets as his goal nothing less than putting a dollar
figure on each type of airspace usage in the context of the various
funding alternatives currently being bandied about for the FAA.
"Evaluating these alternatives requires a common understanding of who
currently uses the NAS and how that usage affects the FAA's costs and
how closely the alternatives mirror use of FAA services," the memo
reads.
http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archive...ll.html#194011

FAA FUNDING ALTERNATIVES ON THE TABLE
(http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archive...ll.html#194010)
The DOT OIG memo (http://www.avweb.com/pdf/DOT_OIG_Audit.pdf) gives
some insight into the ideas being explored for renovating the FAA's
funding structure. "Measures under consideration include charging for
aircraft departures, passenger emplanements, aircraft weight, flight
distance and time-in-system," the memo reads. "FAA is also exploring
the feasibility of cost-based user fees." Among the items on the
agenda for the OIG auditors, which will be of great interest to
business aviation folks, is an assessment of whether jet fuel
consumption makes a good basis for estimating cost to the FAA for air
traffic services.
http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archive...ll.html#194010

USER-FEE ISSUE LOOMS LARGE
(http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archive...ll.html#194015)
AOPA didn't comment directly on the content of the DOT OIG memo, but
said it's an indication of the way things may shape up in coming
months in Washington. AOPA spokesman Chris Dancy said the OIG study
came at the request of Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., last summer and AOPA
knew it was coming. Dancy said the Government Accountability Office is
undertaking a similar study. "Taken together, the two studies indicate
the significance both the Administration and Congress place on the FAA
Reauthorization bill, and reinforce AOPA's resolve to defend general
aviation by preventing a shift of user fees or an excessive increase
in taxes," Dancy told AVweb.
http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archive...ll.html#194015