U.S. President Barack Obama flight tax proposal stirring up aviation community

By Jon Cawley

In late September, I wrote about an uproar in the general aviation community regarding a proposed tax on flights in controlled airspace. Read the Daily Press story here.

Now, "The Hill," is reporting in its online transportation blog that the frequently fractured aviation community has united in its opposition to the plan. Read The Hill's story here.

At the root of the issue is a passage in President Barack Obama's 80-page economic growth and deficit reduction plan that proposes a $100 per flight fee, payable to the FAA, by aviation operators who fly in controlled airspace. There are numerous exemptions including military and government aircraft and air ambulances.

Language in Obama's recommendation differentiates between taxes currently paid by commercial airlines and those paid by general aviation pilots and states the new fee would "reduce the deficit and more equitably share the cost of air traffic services across the aviation user community."

The proposal, if approved, is projected to raise about $11 billion over 10 years and would finance roughly three-fourths of airport investments and air traffic control costs, according to the administration's plan.

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