It's one of pilots'
worst nightmares: $1 or more in taxes tacked onto every gallon of aviation fuel
you buy. For many popular single-engine aircraft, that's an extra $10 an hour
in fuel taxes alone.
But this scenario
is exactly the situation AOPA is fighting head on at the national and state
levels. In addition to the FAA's proposal to increase the national aviation
fuel tax from 19.4 cents to 70 cents a gallon, state legislators are proposing
their own tax increases on aviation fuel. Such a one-two punch could devastate
general aviation.
"We are deeply
concerned about any state initiatives to increase aviation taxes or fees,"
said Greg Pecoraro, AOPA vice president of regional affairs. "It makes
little sense for states to act this year to change their aviation tax policies
until they understand what action Congress will take and how it will affect the
aviation industry."
Utah
and Oregon are two states that have legislation on raising the fuel tax.
Utah Rep. Wayne A.
Harper wanted to nearly double the fuel tax in his state from 9 to 17 cents a
gallon. The House Government Operations Standing Committee did not pass the
bill and returned the bill to the House Rules Committee to be
studied during the interim this summer.
In Oregon, a bill sponsored by Reps. Mitch Greenlick and E. Terry
Beyer, would increase the fuel tax and establish a schedule for future
increases to take place every five years.
AOPA explained to
Oregon legislators that the exorbitant costs slated for general aviation in the
FAA's funding proposal would have a crippling effect on the GA industry,
which currently supports 1.3 million jobs and more than $102 billion total
economic activity.
"For that
reason," Pecoraro told Oregon officials, "we strongly urge you to
table this proposal until we all learn how Congress will settle the future of
our nation's aviation system."
March 1, 2007