Shutdown of FAA possible in House, Senate clash

Hmm...so the whole having to use precaution when dropping objects from an airplane goes out the window...pun intended. Oh the possibilities.
 
Partial FAA Shutdown at midnight, today (7/22/2011)

[FONT=&quot]The Federal Aviation Administration is headed for a partial shutdown starting at midnight tonight after Congress left town this afternoon without dealing with an extension of the current FAA authorization set to expire tonight.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The House of Representatives adjourned at 1 p.m. today and will return on Monday; the Senate adjourned at 2:44 p.m. today and will return Monday. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL), the Assistant Majority Leader, asked unanimous consent to pick up the House-passed extension (H.R. 2553), amend it by striking the new Essential Air Service provisions being proposed by the House, and send it back to the House. Republicans objected to the request. Then Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) asked unanimous consent to pass H.R. 2553 without amendment, and Democrats objected. At that point, the Senate adjourned until Monday.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The shutdown will affect some 4,000 FAA employees funded by three appropriation accounts which are drawn exclusively on the Airport and Airway Trust Fund: Facilities and Equipment; Research, Engineering and Development; and Grants-in-Aid to Airports. Programs under those accounts will be suspended starting tomorrow. Funding under the Operations account (which includes all air traffic controllers and aviation safety inspectors) will not be affected.


:insane:
[/FONT]
 
Re: Partial FAA Shutdown at midnight, today (7/22/2011)

(1) Create a crisis.

(2) Use that crisis as an excuse to take extraordinary measures that advance one's political agenda.


........... and then everyone will wonder how user fees became the norm in aviation.
 
Re: Partial FAA Shutdown at midnight, today (7/22/2011)

(1) Create a crisis.

(2) Use that crisis as an excuse to take extraordinary measures that advance one's political agenda.


........... and then everyone will wonder how user fees became the norm in aviation.

There may be some truth to this, but I sure hope not. If it's going that way, it should be across the board though, not just "little airplanes."
 
Re: Partial FAA Shutdown at midnight, today (7/22/2011)

There may be some truth to this, but I sure hope not. If it's going that way, it should be across the board though, not just "little airplanes."


I'm afraid what we will see is "the camel's nose under the tent" or more contracting out of FAA services for a fee.

"Back when" the FAA gave written tests in their office for free and inspectors gave private pilot check rides at no cost. We all know how different that is today. Perhaps more of that is in the future. Or perhaps we will see things like a "nominal fee" for a student pilot certificate or a "small fee" to accompany a 135 application or a 135.293 check. Then, once in place, watch the cost shoot up.

Of course, I hope I'm wrong, but that is what I see in my somewhat cloudy crystal ball.
 
Re: Partial FAA Shutdown at midnight, today (7/22/2011)

I'm afraid what we will see is "the camel's nose under the tent" or more contracting out of FAA services for a fee.

"Back when" the FAA gave written tests in their office for free and inspectors gave private pilot check rides at no cost. We all know how different that is today. Perhaps more of that is in the future. Or perhaps we will see things like a "nominal fee" for a student pilot certificate or a "small fee" to accompany a 135 application or a 135.293 check. Then, once in place, watch the cost shoot up.

Of course, I hope I'm wrong, but that is what I see in my somewhat cloudy crystal ball.

AOPA just sent out a lot of emails concerned about congress trying to sneak users fees in again.
 
Re: Partial FAA Shutdown at midnight, today (7/22/2011)

The problem with user fees is that it is already so expensive to fly. The US has more GA and more airports than any other country in the world. Honestly I think if they enact user fees GA will decrease so much they will lose more money on not having the taxes from gas sales and registration fees than they will ever get from User fees.
 
Re: Partial FAA Shutdown at midnight, today (7/22/2011)

The problem with user fees is that it is already so expensive to fly. The US has more GA and more airports than any other country in the world. Honestly I think if they enact user fees GA will decrease so much they will lose more money on not having the taxes from gas sales and registration fees than they will ever get from User fees.

I've reached a point in my life where I'm a-ok with this. That's sacrilege to some folks around here, but I've had just about enough of RA's being generated by GA aircraft flown by pilots who don't know their butt from a hole in the ground. I'd be thrilled if GA aircraft were banned from controlled airspace unless the pilot can pass a PC every 12 months and operate on an IFR flight plan.
 
I've had just about enough of RA's being generated by GA aircraft flown by pilots who don't know their butt from a hole in the ground. I'd be thrilled if GA aircraft were banned from controlled airspace

Can I touch you?
 
Re: Partial FAA Shutdown at midnight, today (7/22/2011)

I've reached a point in my life where I'm a-ok with this. That's sacrilege to some folks around here, but I've had just about enough of RA's being generated by GA aircraft flown by pilots who don't know their butt from a hole in the ground. I'd be thrilled if GA aircraft were banned from controlled airspace unless the pilot can pass a PC every 12 months and operate on an IFR flight plan.

You must be flying in some crazy airspace that I haven't been witnessing...
 
Re: Partial FAA Shutdown at midnight, today (7/22/2011)

I've reached a point in my life where I'm a-ok with this. That's sacrilege to some folks around here, but I've had just about enough of RA's being generated by GA aircraft flown by pilots who don't know their butt from a hole in the ground. I'd be thrilled if GA aircraft were banned from controlled airspace unless the pilot can pass a PC every 12 months and operate on an IFR flight plan.

This post strikes me as incredibly hypocritical. Unless you flew in the military, general aviation is probably where you began your career. That doesn't matter now though, because you're flying for an airline.

I really hope this post was in jest.
 
Re: Partial FAA Shutdown at midnight, today (7/22/2011)

I've reached a point in my life where I'm a-ok with this. That's sacrilege to some folks around here, but I've had just about enough of RA's being generated by GA aircraft flown by pilots who don't know their butt from a hole in the ground. I'd be thrilled if GA aircraft were banned from controlled airspace unless the pilot can pass a PC every 12 months and operate on an IFR flight plan.




You can't be serious.....
 
Re: Partial FAA Shutdown at midnight, today (7/22/2011)

Yeah, the System is fine and totally reasonable. It's all them bubbas out there flying around like their tax dollars pay for the System that are the problem. As long as it's just us ATPs out there (wait, do you even have an ATP, Mr. Train?) we'll all be totally rational and safe. I, for one, have never done anything dumb in an airplane. Not once. And I'm sure that none of you ever have, either.
 
Back
Top