A new proposal to impose landing fees and use ADS-B data for invoicing operators at several Florida GA airports is drawing criticism from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). It’s unclear what the revenue from the fees, many tentatively set at $3 per 1,000 pounds of aircraft weight, would be used for. AOPA points out that local taxpayers pay a minimal amount to support airports that are largely federally funded.
If this is allowed to proceed any safety benefits with ADS-B will go away due to pilots turning off their transponders. If the FAA thought it was a challenge to get owners to equip with ADS-B, owners will never trust the FAA for any further equipment mandates, especially since the ADS-B mandate was sold as being able to handle more traffic, something that has not happened. Rubbing that in by using ADS-B data for increased fees will eventually backfire on the agencies trying to do that.
To John Eiff - Please consider the alternative of not imposing fees while other airports do - more fuel sales, more overnight tie down fees, more hotel rooms occupied, more car rentals, more restaurant sales, more of everthing which generates revenue for the airport and the community. What are you trying to accomplish?
General Aviation is a dying dinosaur that needs to go away, something that rising costs should help accelerate. The entire fossil fueled aviation world will become ever harder to justify, the deeper we sink into climate change. What remains of aviation, short range EVSTOLs, will only need heliports, not long paved strips. Our entire economy is going to have to evolve into a more locally centered, less transportation dependent model. We can dig in our heels, cling to past habits, and make the inevitable changes more draconian, or look forward, take a big gulp, and evolve voluntarily in the necessary direction.
Deland will get more fees from other services to pay for expanded service demands. Also, why can’t local flight schools file for exemptions and fees targeted to commercial traffic?
Wouldn’t that “balance” against the fees imposed at other airports?
The tech always goes this way: Good intentions, punitive applications, marketing, taxation and finally, fraud and abuse. How long before we pass a dozen miles away and get billed for landing? Does any of us have confidence in the FAA’s dispute mechanism to actually defend themselves?
Be02drvr is on the over control bandwagon. General aviation is covered by my right to freely wander. GA is still a freedom we enjoy in this country.
Climate Change will always happen. To believe it is solely driven by man is to ignore the bulk of the science and embrace only the voices that agree with you. Suddenly, the Atlantic is cooling. Climate alarmists can’t explain it. It takes great arrogance to believe we are in charge of global weather.
Like a previous poster mentioned, operators at DED will simply turn off their transponders and ADS-B to avoid landing fees. The other airports listed in the article all live under overlying airspace that requires ADS-B use. DED does not. While I can sympathize with the increase in training operations as a fellow central Floridian, I think there are other opportunities to engage the local flight training community to mitigate this issue.
The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Deland is the fatal midair that occurred 20+ years ago. It’s sad that airport leadership is considering this proposal which will ultimately make Deland a less safe and more unpredictable place to operate.
The FAA’s dispute mechanism would be the incorrect avenue of defense in this case as the FL muni airports are entering into contracts with private business entities that are utilizing their own tech to capture already publicly available ADS-B data and tailor it for fee collection purposes. The correct line of defense is to pressure the local gov’ts to reverse course on this issue or better yet, pressure the Congressional reps and senators into legislation that blocks ADS-B data altogether.
I have read Project 2025! User fees are part of Project 2025 plans for General Aviation! Be aware when you all vote in November! This would decimate our freedoms to own and fly our airplanes!
“AOPA wrote, “[ADS-B data] was never intended to be used to collect fees, or to enable aircraft tracking by third parties”
Another horse shyte statement from AOPA; Of course pilot organizations knew that fees and enforcements and advertisers and automatic ticketing would result from ADS-B open broadcasts. Any city or authority can simply auto-generate bills and send them directly to the aircraft owner and there will be zero way to fight them. AOPA denying that now is just appalling.
This could be the camel’s nose under the edge of the tent. If left unchallenged, instead of legislating airports away, local authorities can just tax them out of existence.
There are numerous airports with landing fees, like KJKA landing fee, or as some is calling, (ramp fee) is $50 light single, $100 for light twin, this landing fee or ramp fee should not be allowed if the airport is receiving any type federal funding.
I know that this is going to be controversial, but why shouldn’t GA airport users pay fees? Every other airport user pays fees…passengers, cargo, rental car companies, and airlines. A private pilot purchases an aircraft for $100K+ and expects a hangar for a bargan price and to land for free. The airport is built and maintained by the taxpayers (federal, state and/or local) and used by a small percentage of the population. The financial model needs to reflect this reality. Only time will tell whether this causes private aviation to be out of reach for some. I seriously doubt it will make much of an impact.
We already pay Federal, State and local taxes so get off this “we have to pay our fair share” argument. The government wastes our tax dollars in the General Fund when it steals it from the Aviation Trust Fund.
Another grab under false pretenses.
Aviation fuels subject to 6% sales and use tax. Aviation fuels also subject to the environmental protection regulatory fee: $0.0100/gal. Subject to Petroleum Inspection fee: $0.0010/gal and the $0.0200/gal Petroleum Tank Cleanup fee (when in effect). Subject to $0.0004/gal Environmental Protection Fee.
Why not charge for filing flight plans?
For turning on runway lights?
For every time you talk to a tower?
Point is that GA already pays huge upfront costs as well as fees and taxes so the very idea that we also need added user fees "because why not " is a very bad argument.
I am only posing the question of “what makes a private pilot different from others who are paying usage fees?” Don’t airline passengers pay all of the same taxes?" Generally speaking, automotive fuel has far more fees (varies by state) attached to it than aviation fuel. I’m a generally conservative person, and don’t advocate the “fair share” argument in most cases. However, I think in this case, the government has crossed the line toward subsidizing private aviation activities.
Good point! What he is trying to accomplish is making money for nothing instead of putting in the work to provide services. General aviation is successful because everybody pulls their own weight and contributes for the good of all.