I have taken the opportunity over the past couple of weeks to call both senators for Missouri, and the Representative for my area.  The reason?  FAA Funding, and the nonsense they are pushing as the future funding model.

The FAA is requesting to change the funding model to a system based on user fees.  The current Aviation Trust Fund system is funded by a) General Fund Contributions b) Taxes on Ticket Prices and c) Fuel Tax for General Aviation.  The proposed change would remove ticket taxes, increase the Fuel Tax for General Aviation by over 300%, and charge fees to users of FAA Services.  All of this, in addition to giving the FAA the authority to take loans.

The stated reason for such a dramatic shift is that this change is necessary to fund the Next Generations Air Transportation System (NGATS).  I say that is a load of crap, and it is more intended to give the FAA more autonomy and less accountability, while shifting costs away from the airlines.

The Department of Transportation confirms that the funding model is not based on NGATS needs when Inspector General Calvin Scovel confirmed that the current funding system could meet the needs.  Further the Government Accountability Offices Managing Director of Physical Infrastructure stated that the proposed funding would not be sufficient to fund NGATS "without the ability to borrow".  FAA Administrator Marion Blakey has also stated that her proposal would rasie $600 to $900 million less each year.

Even if I were not a pilot, I would find this all very suspicioius.  We have a government entity that is proposing a funding system that results in less money, but also gives them more autonomy, and blaming it on a need to modernize the system.

So, What is in it for the Airlines

According to Phil Boyer of AOPA (of which I am a member):

"It's no wonder the airlines love this proposal so much, Not only would they pay less,  they'd have more control over who uses the air traffic control system, and they'd have the majority vote in setting the fees they charge themselves and others."

Under this proposal the large airlines would see their part of the FAA funding drop by 27% or about $1.7 billion a year. 

Conclusions

In my opinion the FAA proposals fail to provide the necessary funding without incurring debt, removes oversight of elected officials, reduces costs and increases the influence of the airlines, while extracting huge increases out of General Aviation.

The FAA charter is to provide for aviation safety, but their proposals hurt safety by discouraging users of the airspace to take advantage of the safety services.