Florida airport pauses vote on new landing fee

The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority oversees both Orlando International Airport and Executive Airport, which it notes in press release boilerplate is "conveniently located just miles from downtown Orlando and provides vital general aviation access to the heart of the region." Orlando Executive Airport is also among the GA airports that considered the imposition of automated landing fees in 2024.

The news sparked significant concern among pilots. It is rare for GA aircraft owners to be billed for landing fees, though the relatively recent creation of businesses that harvest ADS-B data from third-party providers and use it to generate invoices sent to registered owners on behalf of airport operators has been too tempting for many airports to resist—even as community members question whether the airports actually need the money.

As the list of communities and airport authorities preparing to impose landing fees grew, I pressed airport officials in the region for details on any active proposals, meetings, or scheduled votes. After months of claiming that GOAA had not established a landing fee policy, the board scheduled a January 15 vote. Just as abruptly, a January 13 meeting was called to hear from the public on the landing fee proposal. The short notice for that 4 p.m. meeting made it difficult for many to attend. AOPA emailed members in the region a call to action that was quickly amplified by word of mouth, and I was gratified to see more than 100 concerned pilots arrive for a standing-room-only event. Many members who were unable to attend in person sent emails voicing their concerns.

The GOAA staff presented their rationale for landing fees and then opened the floor to those who had registered to speak, setting a three-minute limit per speaker. I was impressed by the many who took their turn and expressed their concerns in a passionate but respectful manner. Pilots talked about how the landing fees could negatively impact humanitarian volunteer flights, as well as flight instruction that is critical to the nation's aviation system. They expressed concern about the use of ADS-B data for purposes other than safety, questioned whether the proposed fees were fair or reasonable, and highlighted potential cost-saving moves the airport could make to balance the books without raising new revenue.

Representing AOPA as your Southern regional manager, I pointed out that GOAA had other options to support the operations of Orlando Executive Airport, such as by allocating revenue from commercial operations at Orlando International Airport to support its GA reliever. Orlando International benefits tremendously by having Executive Airport nearby, and FAA policy allows the cost of reliever airport operations to be borne by the associated commercial service airport in certain circumstances.

GOAA board member Carson Good invited each speaker to suggest airport improvements. Pilots were happy to share ideas with Good and the GOAA staff present, and their suggestions included construction of additional hangars. They also voiced concerns about customs fees, the limited availability of the secondary runway because of accommodations for traffic at Orlando International, as well as the need for non-aeronautical development around Executive Airport.

GOAA CEO Kevin Thibault (a nonvoting member of the board and leader of the staff) told the crowd at the conclusion of the meeting that nothing was set in stone. He thanked attendees for their input, which he said would be considered.

Results came quickly: On January 14, the evening before the GOAA board was scheduled to vote, the staff communicated that airport leadership decided to delay consideration of the landing fee proposal pending review and refinement.

Delaying the implementation of landing fees, especially those based on ADS-B data, is at least a step in the right direction. AOPA's call to action, in this case, served us well, and we represented the GA community with courtesy and effective arguments—on very short notice. I expect we'll need to do this again, so I ask AOPA members to keep an eye out for upcoming opportunities to speak out about landing fees and other issues that may affect them at their local airports, and contact AOPA with questions, or tips.

You can reach me directly on matters within the Southern Region, or find your regional manager online. Members may also contact AOPA’s Pilot Information Center to report issues, and we will get to work.