Dear Phil,
I greatly appreciate AOPA's anti-user-fee efforts, but the recent FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007 (House Rule 2881) proposal from the House of Representatives is not a complete success. "User-fees" are not mere fees to fly the NAS, they also include the costs to obtain a medical, obtain a pilot certificate, obtain a registration, etc.
Aircraft registration: Current: $5, proposed: $130, change: 2,500%
Replacement Registration: Current: $2, Proposed $45, change: 2,150%
Issuance of Aircraft certificate: current: no charge, proposed$ 105
Issuance of special N-number: current: $10, proposed $50, change 700%
Aircraft lien recording: Current: $5, proposed: $130, change: 2,500%
Issuance of new airman certificate: Current: no charge, proposed: $50
Issuance of Airman medical certificate: Current: no charge, proposed: $42
So we may not be paying user-fees to fly through the NAS in the U.S., but we will be paying outrageous fees in other areas of aviation that aren't needed to fund the system. I hope AOPA shifts their efforts to reduce these above fees now that the House of Representatives has shown some level of progress. I feel that the organization is so focused on "user-fees" in regards to air traffic control costs, etc, and not the other fees we will have to pay and hope this changes promptly.
Respectfully,
--
Jason Herman
AOPA Member 04713197
Westchester County Airport (HPN)
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