the_other_dougreeves
Well Known Member
This came to me from US Airways today. Needless to say, I am not impressed.
TODR
We need your help making air travel more efficient
Tell Congress to take action and modernize air traffic control
The summer of 2007 has been difficult for air travelers and
airlines alike. Throughout the airline industry, delays are at
record levels and are only expected to rise in the coming years
without addressing the technology behind air travel. America?s
outdated air traffic control system must be modernized to ensure
that the delays travelers are experiencing become a thing of the
past. Today?s system is based on 1950s-era technology that?s
unable to keep pace. Adding to the problem are the growing
demands of thousands of corporate aircraft?which compete for
increasingly scarce airspace, but don?t pay a fair share of the
system costs.
The solution is modern technology and modern funding to support
air traffic control systems.
Congress is debating important ?FAA reauthorization? legislation
which will help make critical air traffic control modernization a
reality. US Airways and the airline industry are urging Congress
to take advantage of this key opportunity to utilize
state-of-the-art digital technology to improve air traffic
control and reduce delays caused by congestion. At the same time,
Congress has the opportunity to reform the outdated 1970s funding
formula which forces airline passengers to subsidize corporate
aircraft. The concept we?re advocating is called ?cost-based
funding,? and it will ensure that all users of the nation?s air
traffic control system pay their fair share.
The pending legislation has reached a key juncture. We?ve put
together a brief overview about the important issues Congress is
debating. We?re joining other airlines to ask our customers and
employees to express their views to Members of Congress. It only
takes a minute and can help reduce delays and stop unfair taxes.
Modern, Digital Technology
US Airways supports building a modern air traffic control system
designed to handle the demands of air travel today ? and
tomorrow.
Today, air traffic control systems rely on 1950s-era technology
like radar and analog navigation that's inefficient and unable to
handle the volume of traffic in the air. With more flights than
ever, this outdated technology causes delays both in the air and
on the ground. We believe that modern digital technology provides
the infrastructure necessary to handle air traffic now and in the
future. Modern, digital technology is also cost-effective,
scalable and reliable. Together, we can reduce delays and create
a system that fosters safe and efficient growth.
Upgrades
No New Airport Taxes
US Airways opposes the $2.2 billion increase in Passenger
Facility Charges proposed by the House of Representatives.
Passenger Facility Charges?or ?PFCs??are special taxes Congress
allows airports to collect from individual airline passengers.
PFC taxes are imposed each time a passenger passes through an
airport. But the tax is actually added to the price of the
ticket, and airlines are forced to collect the tax for airports
at the time the passenger pays for a ticket.
Today, most airports charge passengers a PFC tax of $4.50. Under
a proposal pending in the House of Representatives, the amount
each airport can collect would be increased from $4.50 to $7.00
per passenger. A $7.00 PFC tax would add $28 to the price of most
roundtrip connecting tickets?that's four trip ?legs? at $7 each.
That means a traveling family of four could pay an astonishing
total of $112 in PFC taxes! This is especially unfair to
travelers from smaller cities who must connect to reach their
destination. They?ll pay twice as much as those from hub cities
who can fly nonstop, meaning passengers from small and rural
communities will subsidize airport projects at big hubs.
Cost-Based Funding
US Airways supports the concept of ?cost-based? funding.
Commercial airlines cannot afford to continue subsidizing other
system users, including corporate business jets.
A recent FAA study confirms that taxes paid by commercial
airlines and their customers generate 94% of the revenues paid
into the Airport & Airway Trust Fund. Yet commercial airlines are
responsible for only 73% of the costs associated with operating
and maintaining the air traffic control system. In contrast,
corporate aircraft are paying for only 6% of system cost, even
though they account for 17% of system use. Likewise, taxes paid
by commercial airlines and their customers fund $1 billion
dollars annually in Airport Improvement Grants which heavily
subsidize airports from which commercial airlines don?t benefit.
A Reasonable Fee to Support Modernization
US Airways supports a proposed $25 per flight surcharge to be
paid by all turbine-powered users of the air traffic control
system.
Senators Jay Rockefeller and Trent Lott have jointly proposed a
$25 per flight ?modernization surcharge? for all turbine-powered
users of the air traffic control system. Such a fee represents a
fair and simple mechanism to ensure that corporate aircraft pay a
greater share of the system costs they generate. Further, the
Rockefeller-Lott proposal would establish new bonding authority,
meaning that revenue generated by their proposed ?modernization
surcharge? could be leveraged through bonding to expedite
modernization of the air traffic control system.
TODR
We need your help making air travel more efficient
Tell Congress to take action and modernize air traffic control
The summer of 2007 has been difficult for air travelers and
airlines alike. Throughout the airline industry, delays are at
record levels and are only expected to rise in the coming years
without addressing the technology behind air travel. America?s
outdated air traffic control system must be modernized to ensure
that the delays travelers are experiencing become a thing of the
past. Today?s system is based on 1950s-era technology that?s
unable to keep pace. Adding to the problem are the growing
demands of thousands of corporate aircraft?which compete for
increasingly scarce airspace, but don?t pay a fair share of the
system costs.
The solution is modern technology and modern funding to support
air traffic control systems.
Congress is debating important ?FAA reauthorization? legislation
which will help make critical air traffic control modernization a
reality. US Airways and the airline industry are urging Congress
to take advantage of this key opportunity to utilize
state-of-the-art digital technology to improve air traffic
control and reduce delays caused by congestion. At the same time,
Congress has the opportunity to reform the outdated 1970s funding
formula which forces airline passengers to subsidize corporate
aircraft. The concept we?re advocating is called ?cost-based
funding,? and it will ensure that all users of the nation?s air
traffic control system pay their fair share.
The pending legislation has reached a key juncture. We?ve put
together a brief overview about the important issues Congress is
debating. We?re joining other airlines to ask our customers and
employees to express their views to Members of Congress. It only
takes a minute and can help reduce delays and stop unfair taxes.
Modern, Digital Technology
US Airways supports building a modern air traffic control system
designed to handle the demands of air travel today ? and
tomorrow.
Today, air traffic control systems rely on 1950s-era technology
like radar and analog navigation that's inefficient and unable to
handle the volume of traffic in the air. With more flights than
ever, this outdated technology causes delays both in the air and
on the ground. We believe that modern digital technology provides
the infrastructure necessary to handle air traffic now and in the
future. Modern, digital technology is also cost-effective,
scalable and reliable. Together, we can reduce delays and create
a system that fosters safe and efficient growth.
Upgrades
No New Airport Taxes
US Airways opposes the $2.2 billion increase in Passenger
Facility Charges proposed by the House of Representatives.
Passenger Facility Charges?or ?PFCs??are special taxes Congress
allows airports to collect from individual airline passengers.
PFC taxes are imposed each time a passenger passes through an
airport. But the tax is actually added to the price of the
ticket, and airlines are forced to collect the tax for airports
at the time the passenger pays for a ticket.
Today, most airports charge passengers a PFC tax of $4.50. Under
a proposal pending in the House of Representatives, the amount
each airport can collect would be increased from $4.50 to $7.00
per passenger. A $7.00 PFC tax would add $28 to the price of most
roundtrip connecting tickets?that's four trip ?legs? at $7 each.
That means a traveling family of four could pay an astonishing
total of $112 in PFC taxes! This is especially unfair to
travelers from smaller cities who must connect to reach their
destination. They?ll pay twice as much as those from hub cities
who can fly nonstop, meaning passengers from small and rural
communities will subsidize airport projects at big hubs.
Cost-Based Funding
US Airways supports the concept of ?cost-based? funding.
Commercial airlines cannot afford to continue subsidizing other
system users, including corporate business jets.
A recent FAA study confirms that taxes paid by commercial
airlines and their customers generate 94% of the revenues paid
into the Airport & Airway Trust Fund. Yet commercial airlines are
responsible for only 73% of the costs associated with operating
and maintaining the air traffic control system. In contrast,
corporate aircraft are paying for only 6% of system cost, even
though they account for 17% of system use. Likewise, taxes paid
by commercial airlines and their customers fund $1 billion
dollars annually in Airport Improvement Grants which heavily
subsidize airports from which commercial airlines don?t benefit.
A Reasonable Fee to Support Modernization
US Airways supports a proposed $25 per flight surcharge to be
paid by all turbine-powered users of the air traffic control
system.
Senators Jay Rockefeller and Trent Lott have jointly proposed a
$25 per flight ?modernization surcharge? for all turbine-powered
users of the air traffic control system. Such a fee represents a
fair and simple mechanism to ensure that corporate aircraft pay a
greater share of the system costs they generate. Further, the
Rockefeller-Lott proposal would establish new bonding authority,
meaning that revenue generated by their proposed ?modernization
surcharge? could be leveraged through bonding to expedite
modernization of the air traffic control system.
