It's unfortunate that so many pilots have no desire of owning a small plane to go travel in in the future. I would love to have one, but with the escalating costs, realize it wouldn't be realistic for me. Even a relatively inexpensive old Bonanza or Commanche.
It's not like the government will suddenly decide to reduce taxes anywhere else. They already robbed, er excuse me - reallocated, the aviation trust fund (which was set up to upgrade the ATC system and airports) for other projects.
I feel like I read about another billion dollar over run in the ATC NextGen plan every year.
Now, there will be every single dollar already paid to the government via fuel tax (obviously a user fee), landing fees (obviously a user fee), a security tax (a pass through user fee). In addition, there will now be a monthly bill sent to your house, or work for each time you use the system.
I wonder how big of a department is going to be set up to manage the invoicing and collecting the fees every month?
A large number the 135 operations where so many people got their feet wet might be pushed to the brink due to using an extra sector during a weather deviation, or a diversion.
It will be interesting to see it play out, but I think if the budget gets passed on this, there will be thousands upon thousands of light planes for sale cheap and a bunch of people in Wichita out of work.
And you can't blame it on the Dems....this has been in the works for DECADES. It was going to come to fruition whether a R or D was in the house. All the beating on aviation and the commercials of the cartoon airliners waiting while a lear jet took off in front of them, and the laments of the passengers have won.
While this might be a boon to my career 15 years after it's implemented, I think it sucks goat nuts. I feel like my dream of ever owning a small plane to fly myself and family around in, should I ever have the cash, just evaporated.