The fight against aviation user fees picked up more steam last week as a new broad-based coalition of rural and grassroots organizations joined the general aviation industry in its opposition to the Bush Administration's FAA funding proposal. The coalition, called the Alliance for Aviation Across America (AAAA), comprises many of the general aviation industry groups that have spent the past two years battling the Bush Administration's push for new user fees. But AAAA extends beyond the aviation "alphabet" groups to include a number of states and airports, as well as charitable, medical and other organizations which fear that the proposed user fee scheme could limit or end air service to small communities.

AAAA also establishes a whole new set of allies for the general aviation industry - organizations that represent family farms and rural communities - which typically have not gotten involved in aviation issues. The varied members include the National Farmers Union, American Corn Growers Association, the Mississippi Livestock Marketing Association and the League of Rural Voters. AAAA also includes hundreds of individuals and companies that signed on as members with a mission statement that they are "dedicated to properly modernizing America's air traffic control system to enhance safety, promote efficiency and expand capacity in order to ensure ALL Americans have access to air transportation."

The coalition last week formally kicked off a lobbying and public relations effort with a conference call involving members of the media. Phil Boyer, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association who participated in the kickoff said, "This alliance goes beyond the aviation community." Boyer said the coalition demonstrates how small communities depend upon general aviation. "Our coalition is here to send a clear message to lawmakers that we stand united against a radical 'user fees' proposal which would decimate businesses and communities around our country through a huge tax hike," said Gene Wright, a contract pilot who is mayor of Quinwood, W.Va. "This special interest legislation would benefit no one but the big commercial airlines."

Niel Ritchie, the executive director of the League of Rural Voters, said his organization opposes the Administration's proposal because "We are committed to finding ways to grow and strengthen rural economies. Many of the rural communities have been abandoned by commercial aviation and have come to depend on general aviation." The League fears that the FAA proposal would impose severe economic hardship on local airports and towns while the nation's airlines stand to gain, Ritchie said. "The airline-backed plan is a poison pill for rural towns and communities across America," he said. "This huge tax hike would ground many of these small planes and puddle jumpers that are the lifeline to these communities, impacting access to specialized medical care, disaster relief and business resources."

Charitable groups also are weighing in out of the fear that charitable flights might be the first to get eliminated under a more costly tax schedule. "It is really foolish to think that a private aviation system dominated by airlines will be managed for the public benefit," said Rol Murrow, who founded the Emergency Volunteer Air Corps, which encourages use of general aviation aircraft to provide emergency and disaster relief services. He is also co-founder, chairman, and president of the Air Care Alliance, an association of nonprofit flying organizations.

The coalition will strengthen the lobbying efforts of the GA industry by providing new avenues on Capitol Hill. GA groups have been leading the effort to preserve the existing FAA financing system while the major airlines and FAA have mounted a strong campaign to overhaul the system and increase general aviation costs. The Administration proposal would triple the fuel tax plus impose a series of new user fees and costs for certification, licensing and use of controlled airspace and congested airports.

Lanny Greenberg, a former FAA employee and current manager of a federal contract air traffic control tower in Jackson, Miss., noted that few details have been released about the specific fees. But he added the specifics aren't as important as the fact the proposal opens the door to fees for services and raises the possibility that fewer pilots will opt for those services. "We do not believe this bill is in the public interest," said Henry Ogrodzinski, president and chief executive of the National Association of State Aviation Officials. "In fact, it's a terrible bill. It would have a devastating impact on small businesses and small airports."