No GA user fees in Obama's fiscal budget
February 21, 2011, 03:38 pm
Though President Obama's budget plan was just recently released, many in the general aviation community are finding reasons to celebrate as they read through the 1,000-page document.
Not only will aviation budget cuts be directed towards large and mid-sized airports, but the President has neither cut funding for NextGen nor included user fees for GA pilots, according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
In regards to NextGen, the president has set aside $370 million more for fiscal year 2012 than he did in 2010. There is an additional $250 million dollars set aside for improvements in air traffic control infrastructure, $50 million of which will go towards the Federal Aviation Administration.
In addition, aviation groups are pleased that user fees were not added to the budget, but are concerned that guaranteed low-interest loans for GA pilots to implement NextGen upgrades are also nowhere to be found. "It's imperative that all types of system users get the help they need to invest in the necessary technology" for NextGen, AOPA's Melissa Rudinger said.
Pilots will likely benefit safety-wise by the advance of the NextGen system and financially by the lack of implementation of user fees. They may also benefit from directing any finances they would have spent on user fees towards life insurance for pilots, to protect their families in case they are involved in a fatal accident.
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