Presidents Blast Blakey on User Fee

Airlines attending the Regional Airline Association meeting had a very “robust” discussion with FAA Administrator Marion Blakey who briefed them on the Next Generation ATC system. User fees are top of the agenda and a meeting that had been scheduled for one hour eclipsed all other topics and stretched out over three and a half hours. While strenuously objecting to the proposed $25 user fee, the association indicated it agreed with the Air Transport Association that other users should pay a fuller share of the system. RAA Chair Paul Foley not only mentioned general aviation but pointed to business and corporate flying as well as fractional ownership and even Very Light Jets. Over 1,500 attendees are in Memphis attending the RAA meeting, setting a record with the number of airline attendees.