FW: The Rockwood Report, April 2008

 

 

 

I just finished reading the DOT Inspector General’s report on airspace usage that came out last year. OK! OK! I read the first third and scanned the remainder with my eyes crossed. Great literature it ain’t.

 

Why did I do this? Because I wanted to see if it would shed some light on the war between the ATA (Air Transport Association) and the alphabets representing the private aircraft sector.

 

It didn’t.

 

Given that it is based on ancient data from 2005; given that it admits that business jet usage is not tracked as a separate category; and given that the specificity of its conclusions are limited to statements like; "air carriers and non-air carriers, including general aviation and business jet operators, all make sufficient use of the [national airspace] so as to materially contribute to FAA's costs and congestion in general.", what it does do is explain why we have a war.

 

SOMEWHERE along the line SOMEONE came up with the idea that the private aviation sector should pay more money into the NAS system. I’m guessing here, but I suspect it is more likely this came from ATA than from NBAA. Anyway, this idea took root within the current administration. Anytime you try to move cost burdens from one group to another, there is going to be consternation.

 

What curls my toes is the idea that this is being done in an environment where NO ONE CAN QUANTIFY THE REAL COSTS VS BENEFITS for the affected groups. So, we are going to make a multi – billion dollar decision based on who has the best PR department.

 

And yet we continue to ask why we are losing faith in our governance.

 

I’ll be cheerier next month.

 

 

Bob Rockwood

202-682-4000 (Main phone number)

540-554-8113 (Direct phone number)

racersblue@earthlink.net (Direct email)

www.bristolassociates.com (Web address)

 

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