05/01/82 Baker/Stop HR 264329921M M.
The U. S. House of Representatives is on the verge of
passing a bill, H.R. 2643, which will be disastrous for general
aviation. We urgently need your help to stop it® Here's what
H.R. 2643 will do to you:
1® IT WILL TRIPLE YOUR FUEL TAX BILL® We know that
high fuel costs are one reason people are not
flying. Under H.R. 2643, the new tax would be 120
per gallon.
2. Most of the fuel taxes you would pay under H.R.
2643 would be used to pay for FAA'S ADMINISTRATIVE
COSTS, SALARIES AND OVERHEAD. Congressmen and
bureaucrats refer to this as "operations and
maintenance."
3. The modest amount that would remain for airport
development would be devoted primarily to AUTOMATIC
ENTITLEMENT FUNDING FOR LARGE HUB, AIR CARRIER
AIRPORTS which are capable of supporting themselves®
Very little would be used for projects which benefit
general aviation.
4. H.R. 2643 would allow airport authorities to
establish MONOPOLY FIXED -BASE OPERATIONS at airports
where FBO's have previously been required to compete
for general aviation's dollar. Obviously, reduced
competition does not serve the interests of the
general aviation pilot.
7315 Wisconsin Avenue (Air Rights Building) / Bethesda, MD 20814 / Telephone: (3011) 654-0500 / Telex: 89-8468 / Cable Address: AOPA, Washington, D.C.
Member: International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations When writing ALWAYS use your AOPA number.
5. General aviation aircraft would again be required
to pay CUSTOMS OVERTIME CHARGES for entering the U.S.
at any hour on Sundays and holidays. The current $25
charge is now assessed only at night. Separate
legislation is under consideration to double this to
$50.
Any one of these reasons alone would be reason enough to
oppose H.R. 2643, but taken together, they are a nightmare fur
general aviation. Please contact your Congressman by telephone,
letter, mailgram or in person and ask him to vote "NO" on H.R.
2643. If you don't know the name of your Congressman, contact
your local courthouse, post office or Federal Information
Center. If they can't tell you, call AOPA at (301) 951-3927.
You can reach your Congressman's office through the Capitol
switchboard, (202) 224-3121.
Please, do it for yourself and for ge-gral aviation.
Si,Ycer�ly,
resident