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From: ths@lanl.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: Test cost ??
Message-ID: <21267@lanl.ARPA>
Date: Fri, 8-Feb-85 10:16:43 EST
Article-I.D.: lanl.21267
Posted: Fri Feb  8 10:16:43 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 13-Feb-85 01:51:45 EST
References: <10400013@hpfcmt.UUCP> <20628@lanl.ARPA> <404@ssc-vax.UUCP>
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Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory
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> Why are we pilots so accepting of the idea that we should pay money, as users,
> to help regulation of aviation. What I am getting at here is that automobile
> drivers and highway users don't have to pay for their test to obtain an
> operator license....

I would like to take exception to this argument. I believe that in just about
every state in the Union, you have to pay a fee "each year" for a drivers
license. We pilots DO NOT have to renew each year. Although I believe
that the "services" such as towers and FSS should not be charged for each
use (as they are in Europe), we pilots should support the initial fees
for flight tests and written tests. These are one time only costs that are
easily monitored. How much do you suppose it really cost the taxpayer
for the FAA to administer a flight or written test?

I would support a user fee for the issuance of a pilot certificate to help
support general aviation and keep from having to pay user fees for the
really important services whose use contributes measurable to safety
(FSS and ATC).

What do the rest of you think?