User fees: reasonable? and a suggestion

http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsite...522debate.html

Is a good read (and a video) on a debate between Phil Boyer and
Bob May of the airlines.

It occurred to me after viewing the video that Mr. May is
honestly stating what the airlines want, which is to make
sure that any light jet taxi services "compete on equal
ground" with the airlines.

Is this really a concern for them? Are air taxis exempt from
the per seat charges that the airlines must pay? I can't imagine
that business users are that much of a threat to the airlines,
since rich corporate users are a small percentage compared to the
airline users. And they are rich users. I know quite a few
millionaires here in Silicon Valley who still travel by airline.

Finally, after receiving the letter from the Aopa for a donation
to the Aopa PAC, I'm sending it in with a "amount specified"
check and checkmark, for $25. It's not one of the amounts listed,
but I think it's appropriate. I'm paying my "user fee" this year
to get the FAA/airline initiative stopped.

Scott Moore

"scott moore" wrote in message
...
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsite...522debate.html

Is a good read (and a video) on a debate between Phil Boyer and
Bob May of the airlines.

It occurred to me after viewing the video that Mr. May is
honestly stating what the airlines want, which is to make
sure that any light jet taxi services "compete on equal
ground" with the airlines.

Put another way, the light jet taxi services are consuming services left
over by the airlines. They don't fly into big hubs. They tend to use the
samller, underutilized runways.

If they really want to compete on equal ground, the airlines would have to
give up slots they have at the big airports, and have their customers walk
from the planes to the terminal, just like the little guys, or let the
little guys use the publicly funded jetways.