CorvAircraft> Somewhat off-topic - You're about to pay more to fly

[Dave Morris "BigD"]

William Wynne likes to say
"How much would someone have to pay you to quit flying forever?"

On September 2007, we are all going to find out "How much would you 
be willing to pay, to be allowed to fly?"

I'm posting this here because often people who are building airplanes 
are so caught up in building, they don't keep close tabs on what is 
going on in aviation.  While I was building my airplane, I let my 
membership to AOPA lapse, because I figured, well, I'm not really 
flying, so I don't need AOPA.  Consider this a friend tapping you on 
the shoulder about something that is going to happen in the next 
couple of months.

On September 2007, the Congress has to re-authorize funding for the 
FAA.  The president's new budget wants to change the entire funding 
mechanism from a system based on aviation fuel taxes to an a la carte 
menu system, where pilots have to pay for weather briefings, pay for 
landings, pay for IFR clearances, etc.

If, when you finish your KR or your 601 or other airplane, you are 
going to want to fly with the same freedoms you can now, please keep 
an eye on what is going on.  Write your congressman (www.House.gov) 
if you don't like what you see.  Join AOPA.  Join EAA.  Don't let 
this slip through the cracks without your input!

Regards,
Dave Morris
DO NOT ARCHIVE

For reference, here is how User Fees have played out in other 
countries that implemented them:
    * Germany charges $1.50 per minute for a weather briefing and 
$105 annually for Internet access to weather information
    * In the United Kingdom, it costs almost $30 per "live voice 
consultation," plus an additional $5.31 for each forecast product used
    * In Austria, the average 10-minute briefing costs $22.20
    * The Philippines charges $9.50 for the preflight package, 
including the mandatory flight plan filing charges.
    * The Netherlands charges $10 - $50 for a Cessna 172 to land
    * The Philippines charges $9.50 for IFR and for night flights 
that rely on electronic navigation aids
    * Austria charges $70 for a general aviation aircraft to land, $5 
for a shuttle ride from the aircraft to the terminal, and $12 for a 
security screening to return to the aircraft after refueling
    * Israel charges $356 for an annual certification of 
airworthiness renewal and $243 for an instrument proficiency review
    * The Netherlands' private pilot written exam costs up to $1,000