“NAD says its methodology and application of the fee are consistent with ICAO’s Policies on Charges for Airports and Air Navigation Systems.” I’ve flown GA airplanes to 83 countries around the world. ICAO airports in many of these countries have very little to benefit GA airplanes–yet the bureaucracy is NOT something to be proud of. Dozens of bureaucrats “enforcing” overly-complex laws–and collecting fees. Fees for weather briefings, fees for landing, fees for parking, air traffic control fees–and fees for which there is NO explanation. Rule of thumb at many European and South American airports–“you will be hard-pressed to depart within 2 hours of arrival at the airport, by the time you cover all the required paperwork and fees.”
" LPIA typically has a mix of 60 percent commercial traffic and 40 percent GA. NAD said that all GA operations at the airport accounted for an average of only 11 percent of total aeronautical revenue respectively in FY 2018, 2019 and 2020 (excluding NAD’s passenger facilities charge)." BUT, it ISN’T GA that is requiring all of the “$30 million in airside infrastructure” mentioned below. Most GA airplanes would happily skip the miles of concrete, terminals, and ramps needed by the airlines.
“The proposed AIF fee will be used for planned investments at the airport, anticipated to amount to some $30 million for airside infrastructure improvements such as pavement surfaces and lighting, according to NAD.”
Pavement surfaces already mentioned. Lighting? Aren’t single engine night flights still prohibited there?
It goes to the old adage–"If you want MORE of something, ENCOURAGE IT. If you wand LESS of something, TAX IT!