WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 10, 2013) – General aviation organizations are expressing disappointment with President Obama’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2014 that includes a $100.00 per flight user fee on general aviation, as well as a change in the current tax depreciation schedule for general aviation aircraft.
The $100.00 per flight user fee idea was previously rejected by Congress on several occasions, and national general aviation groups will continue to work hard to ensure that the user fee proposal doesn’t see the light of day. “We need to embrace ideas that create jobs, reduce burdens imposed on businesses, and improve our nation’s economy,” said Thomas L. Hendricks, president and CEO of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA). “This user fee proposal will kill jobs, create burdens on businesses, and dampen our economy.”
A letter opposing user fees on general aviation, signed by 223 bipartisan members of Congress, and sent to the President last week, mentioned that the proposal should be abandoned once and for all.
The President proposes a $3.77 trillion budget for the 2014 fiscal year, which begins October 1, 2013. According to House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin), the President’s budget proposal raises taxes by $1.1 trillion, increases spending over current levels by $964 billion, and adds $8.2 trillion to our nation’s debt.
The President also proposes to increase the depreciation recovery period for general aviation aircraft, from its current five years to seven years, which would have a negative impact on aircraft manufacturing.
