Flying Too High

Washington Monthly, Oct, 2000 by Stephen Pomper

"I have to look at the history, and New Zealand's part of that history," says Boyer solemnly. The Kiwis exempted general aviation from user fees when they privatized their system 13 years ago, but last July they changed their mind and applied the fees across the board. Boyer's voice raises half an octave just thinking about it. "So it's simple enough to say that we're against user fees for all categories of users" he says.

Sabers in Reserve

Simple, sure, but what if it's just plain wrong? What if five years from now it becomes clear that corporatization really is the best way forward, and that improvement of the nation's air-traffic-control structure really hinges on this reform? Would we really want to be stuck with the next-best-alternative simply because AOPA and general aviation are unprepared to give up their influence and their free ride?

Of course not. That's why Congress and the next administration should face the user fee issue now. Charging GA its fair share for the services it consumes has at least two advantages--the first of which being that it's fair, and the second being that it will give AOPA and its sister small-plane lobbyists at least one less reason to throw itself into the breach if and when corporatization becomes a realistic possibility. Plus, it wouldn't be such a bad thing to send the message that Washington does have the courage to face down GA when it's the right thing to do. Plus, it would be fun to watch the show.

"Believe me, we can rattle a saber if we want to," says Boyer seriously. Out comes the palm again, like this, clenching and unclenching. "Where needed that open hand has to become a closed fist."