User Fee Retained in Transportation Budget

Much to the consternation of the regional and business aviation community, the Administration’s 2009 transportation budget request -- $68 billion for the department of Transportation – retained the user fee changes proposed last year. At a time when the Airport Improvement Program has been suspended and supplementary budgets are running the FAA, this means that the fight against user fees – which will put $100 million in the red – will continue this year. Related Story
Indeed the opening shot was fired by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). "Despite Congress saying 'no' to the Administration's proposal to scrap the current funding mechanism for a less efficient one that imposes user fees, they have once again launched an effort to complete a FAA reauthorization bill by proposing the exact same failed plan," said GAMA's President and CEO Pete Bunce, who added the organization continues to oppose user fees. “We will continue our efforts with Congress to complete action this year on a FAA reauthorization bill, but quite frankly, the Administration pushing a financing scheme the Congress has already rejected makes our job tougher. It is pretty hard to believe the Administration is serious about increasing capacity when they again cut Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding by nearly 22 percent.”