Northwest CEO Richard Anderson Jabs General Aviation

I don't think you have to peel too many layers from the Part 121 onion
to see areas where the airlines benefit from GA, or from other
sectors. The pilot candidates that funnel into the airlines are
either trained by the U.S. Government (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines,
Coast Guard), or come up through the GA ranks through great personal
sacrifice.

Many of the towered airports in this country, including my home field
(BJC), depend on a large number of general aviation takeoffs and
landings to qualify for a tower and staff - the purely commercial
traffic won't provide enough activity to justify the facility.

It is unfortunate when an aviation industry veteran takes such a
libertarian view. He chooses to take pot shots at GA for his
perception that it is subsidized by another segment of the industry,
while conveniently ignoring any areas where the air transport industry
derives benefit. Any view that does not recognize that GA contributes
to the overall well being of Air Transport, and to the country's
general economy, is surely misguided.

How unfortunate.

Brian Cox

On Sun, 14 Mar 2004 22:37:04 -0800, "J. Severyn"
wrote in Message-Id:
:


"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
.. .

While the airlines consume 94% of annual aviation fuel sales*, it's my
understanding that they are largely exempt fuel tax**. So who's right


Drop Mr. Anderson a word or two. I just did. They have a "Talk to us" web
email page to comment back to Northwest. So while he is "working with the
federal government to find solutions" to this so called injustice, I will
not help his profit margin by buying a NWA ticket ever again. Very simple.
Jab back.

J. Severyn


Thanks for the information. I think a summary of the facts presented
in this message thread might be suitable for inclusion in a note to
Mr. Anderson. Can you provide his e-mail address?

It would be interesting to know how much funding R. W. Pool receives
from airline sources.


ATC USER FEES: AOPA, NORTHWEST BUTT HEADS
AOPA President Phil Boyer says his "productive meeting" with
Northwest Airlines CEO Richard Anderson Friday led to the result
that the two "will agree to disagree" on the topic of user fees
for air traffic control services. Anderson claimed in an editorial
in Northwest's Inflight Magazine (reported earlier by AVweb) that
airlines are subsidizing general aviation through the fees they
pay for aviation services. Boyer said Anderson's remarks might
have been sparked by the lawsuit Northwest has launched against
the Metropolitan Airport Commission, which runs Minneapolis-St
Paul International (MSP) and six reliever airports. The commission
uses some of the revenue from MSP to cover costs at the other
airports. Northwest believes the money generated at MSP should
stay there. "I think the real issue (for Northwest) is a pretty
localized one," Boyer said. Meanwhile, USA Today guest opinion
writer Robert W. Poole Jr. says it's time the FAA started
charging for air traffic control services so it can keep up with
market demand.
http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archive...ll.html#187026

ATC USER FEES: AOPA, NORTHWEST BUTT HEADS
AOPA President Phil Boyer says his "productive meeting" with
Northwest Airlines CEO Richard Anderson Friday led to the result
that the two "will agree to disagree" on the topic of user fees
for air traffic control services. Anderson claimed in an editorial
in Northwest's Inflight Magazine (reported earlier by AVweb) that
airlines are subsidizing general aviation through the fees they
pay for aviation services. Boyer said Anderson's remarks might


Since user fees will more than likely become a fact of life someday,
how about beginning to lobby for the conditions of said fees. Like, how
about fees based on airframe weight. Yeah, that seems like a good ratio.

"Casey Wilson" wrote in message
...
Since user fees will more than likely become a fact of life someday,
how about beginning to lobby for the conditions of said fees.

Maybe we ought to turn all the interstate highways into toll roads too.

I don't see why user fees are a foregone conclusion. There's a strong
argument that the aviation infrastructure is simply part of the national
transportation system, just as public roads are, and should be primarily
funded from the public tax base.

Conversely, if we're going to accept user fees for all airports and aviation
services, why don't we just eliminate all public funding, and impose fee
structures on everything. Education, highways, parks, defense, law
enforcement, emergency response, and everything else your taxes currently
pay for.

Pete

Peter Duniho wrote:

I don't see why user fees are a foregone conclusion. There's a strong
argument that the aviation infrastructure is simply part of the national
transportation system, just as public roads are, and should be primarily
funded from the public tax base.


A large chunk of the aviation infrastructure is already funded by user
fees, aka ticket taxes. The airlines' argument is their customers pay
this user fee, but private and corporate jets do not. These private
jets compete with the airliners for space in the jetways.

I don't think the airlines really give a hoot about piston aircraft, since
we are fairly well segregated from the airliners. They care most about
the private jets that directly compete with the airliners for slots
on the jetways and airport approaches and departures.

In article , Peter Duniho
wrote:

Maybe we ought to turn all the interstate highways into toll roads too.

There was an article in my Sunday newspaper relating that the federal
government has already relaxed control of the interstate highway system
to allow toll enhancements along the interstate highway right of way.

Read the full article.
Didn't Boeing just dump their privatization project because it was
going to cost more than their return their return on investment?

"Ross Oliver" wrote in message ...

A large chunk of the aviation infrastructure is already funded by user
fees, aka ticket taxes. The airlines' argument is their customers pay
this user fee, but private and corporate jets do not. These private
jets compete with the airliners for space in the jetways.

It is NOT the case that GA doesn't pay. There's already a hefty
fuel tax. The airlines have just come up with a scheme that allows
them shift more to people other than them.

I don't think the airlines really give a hoot about piston aircraft, since
we are fairly well segregated from the airliners. They care most about
the private jets that directly compete with the airliners for slots
on the jetways and airport approaches and departures.

I don't think it's a competition thing. It's a $$$ thing. The airlines are already
at the head of the line for arrival slots. By jetway I assume you mean airway.
A jetway is a passenger loading bridge. There's not really any competition
for airway use other than terminal arrivals.

It looks like Northwest Airlines sparked some resonance with that
sensationalist rag USA Today:


-------------------------------------------------------------
AOPA ePilot Volume 6, Issue 16 April 16, 2004
-------------------------------------------------------------

AOPA DEFENDS GA AGAINST 'USA TODAY'S' CALL FOR USER FEES
AOPA on Thursday defended general aviation against a "USA Today"
editorial that claims airline passengers "subsidize" general aviation.
In an opposing view piece published alongside the paper's editorial,
AOPA President Phil Boyer explained to "USA Today" readers that the
current system is a single structure, designed for the airlines. See
AOPA Online (
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsite...04-2-025x.html )

On Mon, 05 Apr 2004 15:41:33 GMT, Larry Dighera
wrote in Message-Id: :


It would be interesting to know how much funding R. W. Pool receives
from airline sources.


ATC USER FEES: AOPA, NORTHWEST BUTT HEADS
AOPA President Phil Boyer says his "productive meeting" with
Northwest Airlines CEO Richard Anderson Friday led to the result
that the two "will agree to disagree" on the topic of user fees
for air traffic control services. Anderson claimed in an editorial
in Northwest's Inflight Magazine (reported earlier by AVweb) that
airlines are subsidizing general aviation through the fees they
pay for aviation services. Boyer said Anderson's remarks might
have been sparked by the lawsuit Northwest has launched against
the Metropolitan Airport Commission, which runs Minneapolis-St
Paul International (MSP) and six reliever airports. The commission
uses some of the revenue from MSP to cover costs at the other
airports. Northwest believes the money generated at MSP should
stay there. "I think the real issue (for Northwest) is a pretty
localized one," Boyer said. Meanwhile, USA Today guest opinion
writer Robert W. Poole Jr. says it's time the FAA started
charging for air traffic control services so it can keep up with
market demand.
http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archive...ll.html#187026