FAA Funding Debate - FAA's Arguments
AOPA FAA Funding Debate
The FAA's arguments
The FAA has been pushing hard for user fees, often trying to walk the line between overt support of such fees and promises that the fees would be limited to specific operations and types of aircraft. Here are some of the facts and fiction behind the agency's arguments.
- FICTION: General aviation could be excluded from user fees.
- FACT: User fees always spread, despite the promises. Canada and other countries prove the point. Learn more >>
- FICTION: The United States is behind other countries because the FAA does not collect user fees.
- FACT: The United States has the safest, most efficient aviation system in the world. Other countries should model our system. Learn more >>
- FICTION: The aviation trust fund is running out of money because of changes in airline operations.
- FACT: Based on current trends, government economists predict the trust fund will actually have a surplus in the next 10 years. Learn more >>
- FICTION: The U.S. air traffic control (ATC) system is inefficient.
- FACT:Not only is it the safest, the U.S. ATC system is the most efficient with more operations at a lower cost per operation than any other country. Learn more >>
- FICTION: Modernization will add expenses.
- FACT: Planned properly, modernization can reduce operating costs by increasing efficiency. Learn more >>
- FICTION: Very light jets will blacken the skies and clog the ATC system.
- FACT: Industry experts say no more than 1,500 of these aircraft are likely to be flying in the next five years. Learn more >>