Helicopter Association International (HAI) President Matthew Zuccaro will testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Aviation Subcommittee today, March 21, 2007 in opposition to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) financing proposal that would impose user fees and a fuel tax increase upon general aviation. In his testimony, Zuccaro will tell Congress he believes the financing program will have an “extremely detrimental economic impact on HAI members,” and he will advocate for Congress to continue to provide a general fund contribution to the FAA under the current funding system to pay for Next Generation modernization efforts. HAI members may watch the hearing live on the Internet by going to http://www.house.gov/, clicking on committees, clicking again on Transportation Committee, and a link to the live simulcast will appear. The hearing is slated to begin at 10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.
The FAA’s plan is to eliminate the 7.5 percent tax on domestic passenger tickets and cut the $14.50 international arrival and departure tax by more than half starting in 2009. The new user fee would be coupled with a rise in the fuel tax for general aviation users from about 21 cents per gallon to 70 cents per gallon. This includes a 13.6-cent fuel tax for all domestic commercial and general aviation flights. The general aviation community would also have a number of “transactional” user fees instituted or raised. The revenue would go into the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, which is the main source of FAA funding.
HAI members are strongly encouraged to contact their elected House and Senate Members of Congress to voice their opinion as to how the FAA User Fee proposal will affect their operations. Useful information to provide to your elected officials includes the additional cost to your operation that a 70-cent fuel tax increase will pose. Calculate the number of gallons you consumed in 2006 and multiply that by $ .70, and you begin to get a very real picture of just how much the FAA’s plan will cost you. It is important to relay to officials in Washington that helicopters generally don’t utilize the air traffic control system, don’t use airport facilities, and provide important services to the community and contribute significantly to the local economy. Take the time to explain to officials in Washington exactly what you do, how many employees you have, and what the effect user fees will have on your business.
To contact your elected Senators, visit http://www.senate.gov/ and locate the two Senators for your state. To contact your elected Member of Congress, visit http://www.house.gov/. HAI has compiled a list of the House and Senate members serving on the House and Senate Aviation Subcommittees. If someone from your state serves on either of the subcommittees, it is even more important that you take the time to contact them via email or facsimile. Those subcommittees will be the bodies determining how the FAA will be reauthorized and whether or not user fees will be imposed upon the general aviation community. If you need more help identifying your elected officials, contact Ann Carroll at HAI in Washington at ann.carroll@rotor.com. Provide your postal zip code to Ms. Carroll and she will quickly be able to identify your Member of Congress and provide you with contact information.
