$100 per flight user fees

[Wayne Paul]

On Jan 23, 7:35 am, airshowbob <b...@desertaerospace.com> wrote:
> I just started a petition on the White House Petitions site, We the
> People, to exempt gliders, balloons, electric aircraft and ultralights
> from the $100 per flight user tax. Will you sign it?
>
> http://wh.gov/K4Q
>
> We need 25,000 signatures in 30 days!
>
> Most of us have heard of Obama's proposed $100 user fee, but I don't
> think the full impact of this proposed rule has been fully realized.
> The Obama Administration attempts to alleviate the fears of light
> aircraft pilots by stating:
>
> "All piston aircraft [and] aircraft operating outside of controlled
> airspace ...would be exempted..."
>
> This gives the impression that the new tax will only affect the
> corporate jet world. Problem is, gliders, balloons, electric aircraft
> and unpowered ultralights (hang gliders and paragliders) are not
> 'piston aircraft' and therefore will not be exempt from the $100 per
> flight tax.
>
> If you think we'll be exempt because we don't fly in controlled
> airspace, consider the definition of controlled airspace from 14CFR
> 1.1 (FAR Definitions):
>
> "Controlled airspace means an airspace of defined dimensions within
> which air traffic control service is provided to IFR flights and to
> VFR flights in accordance with the airspace classification."
> Controlled airspace is a generic term that covers Class A, Class B,
> Class C, Class D, and Class E airspace."
>
> For those who haven't brushed up on airspace recently, Class E
> airspace is pretty much the entire US above 1200' AGL, which means
> almost all 'non-piston' aircraft flights will be taxed, including
> gliders, balloons, electric aircraft and unpowered ultralights (hang
> gliders & paragliders).
>
> Sign the petition to the Obama Administration to exempt gliders,
> balloons, electric aircraft and ultralights from the $100 per flight
> user fee at
>
> http://wh.gov/K4Q
>
> We need 25,000 signatures in 30 days
>
> --
> Bob Carlton
> Desert Aerospace, LLC
> Albuquerque, NM USA
> 505-239-5967www.desertaerospace.com