WASHINGTON, D.C. — Over the past few years, several reports have been written about suggestions, proposals, and announcements that new fees would be placed on aviation. Most recent of them refer to a fee of $100 per landing for jet aircraft introduced in the President’s budget for 2013. Following published stories of these reports and […]
FAA cites continued aviation growth at forecast meet
Aviation in the U.S. is expected to pause in growth this year, but over the next 20 years to show significant growth, with general aviation’s demand for products and services to be mainly in new business jets and Light-Sport Aircraft. These were the primary issues discussed at the FAA’s annual forecast conference, held in Washington, […]
Indiana governor names March General Appreciation Month
March is “General Aviation Appreciation” month throughout the state of Indiana after Governor Mitchell Daniels joined a growing list of governors who publicly recognize the importance of general aviation to their states. According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, general aviation contributes more than $4.9 billion in economic activity to the state, supporting more than […]
Aerospace industry and unions stress importance to economy to thwart threatened budget cuts
The U.S aerospace and defense industry directly employed 1.05 million workers in 2010 who received $84.2 billion in wages and who paid $15.4 billion in U.S. federal income taxes and $1.9 billion in state individual income taxes, according to a study commissioned by the Aerospace Industries Association. The industry has an estimated indirect and induced […]
195 members of House tell president: No $100 fee
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The president’s 2013 budget plan to charge $100 per flight to aircraft using controlled airspace was never expected to be adopted and it got another major setback when 195 bipartisan members of the House of Representatives sent Obama a letter opposing the fee. “The letter is another clear example that user fees […]
GAO: NextGen over budget and behind schedule
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After causing the FAA to limp along on 23 temporary funding extensions, Congress finally passed a four-year authorization last month. A question now facing FAA watchers is: Will this steadier funding mean a smoothing of the turbulence the agency has seen in developing the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen)? A report […]
General aviation shipments, billings flat in 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The general aviation aircraft market worldwide was mixed in 2011 with a slight decline of shipments, but an increase is billings. The expected resurgence did not take place. Manufacturers shipped 1,865 planes, a decline of 3.5% from 2010, while billings increased 0.4% to $19.1 billion. Not included in the data released Feb. […]
Death knell for LightSquared?
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After long and detailed — and often contentious — efforts to work out a safe way for LightSquared to build a network of about 40,000 land-based towers in the U.S. for high-speed wireless transmissions without interfering with GPS, the battle seems to be nearing a satisfactory conclusion for general aviation and others […]
100 mayors denounce Obama’s attacks on GA
WASHINGTON, D.C. — General aviation is a vital part of our economy and national infrastructure, and we are concerned about the repercussions of your statements about it. That, in essence was what the mayors of 100 communities in 48 states recently sent in a letter to President Obama. The letter was coordinated by the Alliance […]