Encourage Others to Join the Alliance for Aviation Across America!

As you know, no progress in the fight against user fees can happen without help from all of our members. We are always looking to build our membership base to add voices in support of general aviation and all who rely on it. Encourage your friends, family, co-workers, fellow pilots, etc to sign up and help us keep our industry strong. Sign-up is free and very easy. You can direct them to our membership page via the link below.

http://www.aviationacrossamerica.com/signup.cfm

Help Fight User Fees at Palm Beach Airport

The Palm Beach Airport thinks that by enacting user fees they can reduce congestion, but they are dead wrong. Congestion will subside when the airlines reform their own practice. Read these letters-to-the-Editor, in the Palm Beach Post explaining how user fees are a bad idea and how general aviation is a boon the local economy.

Small planes pay fuel taxes but always get short shrift

JEFF RAMSDEN, president

South Florida Business Aviation Association

West Palm Beach

11/21/2007

The Nov. 9 letter, "Freeloading general aviation sucks money from airport," totally missed the boat. First of all, general aviation contributes through a tax on fuel. These fuel taxes are ultimately reinvested in these airports and not only pay for maintenance and improvements for general aviation but for commercial airlines and their passengers as well.

In addition, nationally, at the busiest airports, general aviation comprises less than 4 percent of total traffic. The truth is that general aviation is the one that is consistently pushed out of airports for commercial service. Take Miami International Airport as an example. The big commercial airlines are the ones that refuse to provide many smaller communities with commercial air service altogether. In fact, Essential Air Service and Small Community Air Service from the government are specifically aimed at giving the airlines a financial incentive to serve small communities, such as Melbourne, that they otherwise would ignore.

Last, small businesses that rely on general aviation at PBIA are essential to the citizens and economy of the surrounding community and beyond. With revenue from the goods and employment from the businesses that use PBIA, many new businesses have profited in the area, benefiting both business owners and citizens alike. To suggest that small-plane owners and pilots contribute nothing to the community does these men and women a severe disservice.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2007/11/21/a11a_edletters_1121.html

PALM BEACH POST

General aviation makes huge contribution to PBIA

JOHN MASON

West Palm Beach

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

In reference to "Freeloading general aviation sucks money from airport" (Nov. 9 letter), as an employee for multiple Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) or general aviation facilities at Palm Beach International Airport since 1980, I would like to share my views.

General or corporate aviation is probably one of the most misunderstood segments of business by the general public. There are three FBOs at PBIA which make significant contributions not only to the county but the state and federal government. These revenues are generated from fees attached to the 17 million gallons of jet fuel sold annually. For every gallon sold, the airport gets a portion of the proceeds. These fees contribute about $6 million annually to the airport. In addition to fuel fees, the three FBO facilities pay in excess of $6 million a year in rent.

General aviation businesses employ more than 350 people in good-paying jobs with benefits. If we were to approach the county collectively, they would be paying general aviation companies to bring these jobs to this county. Corporate aircraft bring the executives and CEOs of major corporations to Palm Beach. They are not going to bring executives to an airport (North County) and waste an additional 45 minutes driving to their destination. Not when time is money to these people.

The FBOs are a vital economic engine and they receive no credit for it. The general aviation companies at PBIA have invested time (most of them 20 years) and tremendous sums of money to build their businesses into what they are today. Support the businesses that support this county.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2007/11/21/a11a_edletters_1121.html

Thanksgiving Travel Thoughts

The majority of travelers have returned from their trips for the Thanksgiving holiday and those lucky few that have not are still concerned about the flight home. Given the attention paid to the past week in terms of the delays, one might be relieved to hear about no major passenger strandings over the extended weekend and consider the weekend a "victory" for the airlines.

The fact is that the airlines continued the same sub-standard performance that has made the news throughout the summer. According to an article in the New York Times, the average on-time rate at the top 25 airports was 80 percent on Saturday and 71 percent on Sunday, FlightStats.com said. Flights returning on Monday were not faring too well either. According to Meara McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for FlightStats.com, by 3:00pm ET on Monday "30 percent of the nation’s top airports had a less than 60 percent on-time arrival rate." Weather problems on Monday in places like Atlanta and the Northeast didn't help.

As passengers, we need to ask ourselves: if mediocrity (or in some cases sub-standard) is acceptable after paying hundreds for a ticket? Travel blogger Joe Brancatelli - of the subscription-based Joesentme.com - puts it perfectly: "Airlines were running about 70 percent on time, and suddenly it’s described as a victory?" The airlines obviously need pressure put on them from not only the passengers, but the DOT as well if on-time performance is to improve.

70% is unnacceptable, even for holidays. The airlines must address their delay problem before the problem gets worse.

Take a look at Joe Sharkey's analysis of the Thanksgiving holiday travel situation HERE.

Cattle Class

Read this New York Times column about how the airlines treat their customers in coach. It's scary, but we all knew that. Also read this quote from Spirit Airlines CEO, it sums up the airlines' attitude toward customers nicely.

“Please respond, Pasquale, but we owe him nothing as far as I’m concerned. Let him tell the world how bad we are. He’s never flown us before anyway and will be back when we save him a penny.” - Ben Baldanza, CEO of Spirit Airlines

Can They Do It On Their Own?

Well holiday travel seems to have gone better than expected, that's something new for a change. Now, if only the airlines could that on their own; not under threat from the federal government and without the military's express air lanes. Hopefully they will have enough regard for their customers to make travel easier on their own, but from the airlines' track record it doesn't seem likely.

Heads Up Everyone!

The holiday flying weather just keeps getting better and better...NOT! Here's a a link to the FAA's Flight Delay Information website which will give you everything you need to know about flying this Thanksgiving holiday. It's going to be wet and stormy, so check this often.

http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp

Holiday flights off to a bad start...

Monday has not been a good day for travelers who have flights booked for the holiday season. A single piece of luggage that missed a scan delayed nearly 2,000 travelers in Arizona. Power issues in Texas, weather in Southern California, and fog in Atlanta also delayed passengers. New York, already the focus of Congress and President Bush, faced wet and windy weather, adding to the concern about on-time performance on the East Coast.

Remember: arrive at the airport early, do not bring wrapped presents (they could be unwrapped as they pass security), and monitor the status of your flight.

Read about Monday's flight delays HERE.