Fees & Alaskan Pilots on NPR Morning Edition

[AuntPeggy]

This morning, I heard a short news item on NPR Morning Edition talking about the FAA fees and how they will cause a hardship on Alaska's pilots who should not have to pay the increased fees.

It is interesting to note that the tie-breaking vote to allow FAA User Fees legislation out of committee came from the same Alaskan senator who later introduced an amendment to exempt Alaskan pilots from the fees.

 

[Ken Ibold]

Clever political move for him, IMO. The congresscritters who want the user fees will remember his act, increasing his political capital. They'll gladly give an exemption to Alaska, because, well, it's different there. And then he'll be able to trumpet the exemption he "won" for Alaska pilots.

So it's good politics, but lousy public policy. Business as usual in the capital.

 

[KennyFlys]

Stevens is no less two-faced than any other member of Congress. Pilots at large will become a pawn in favor of the larger campaign contributors (Read airlines and airline lobbyist). Should this go through, we can only hope a large number of businessmen who depend on GA for their operations will remember this down the road.