Implementation of charges postponed for around a month as AOPA says measures are made in thrall of airlines
Privatised Canadian air traffic control (ATC) and navigation services provider Nav Canada has delayed by around a month its decision on whether to implement user fees for general aviation and may back off from their introduction completely in the face of vociferous opposition from the GA community.
Nav Canada says: “A decision on the proposals, including implementation dates, is now anticipated in April.”
More time is needed, it concedes, to consider the comments and suggestions made in 200 submissions received from stakeholders during the consultation period, which ended on 10 February. Under the new proposal, aircraft weighing less than 2,760kg (6,075lb) would be charged a daily fee for the use of eight Canadian airports. The fee would start out at C$5 ($4) a day, and go up to C$10 by 2008.
The US Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) says: “We hope that Nav Canada’s decision to delay implementation means that they are rethinking their proposal. AOPA opposed the original proposal in formal comments because the change in methodology targets general aviation.” AOPA argues that, since the commercialisation of air traffic control in Canada, and the imposition of direct fees for ATC services, the system is being dominated by the interests of the airlines.
“Not only is Nav Canada trying to collect more from GA,” the association says, “it is also attempting to ‘segregate’ users and drive GA away from some airports.”
Nav Canada’s board of directors, AOPA says, is heavily biased with four commercial air carrier representatives, versus only one representative for business and general aviation, three from the federal government, and two representing the ATC unions.
“This proposal underscores why AOPA opposes a user fee-based system in the United States,” says Andy Cebula, AOPA executive vice-president of government affairs. “It reinforces AOPA’s stance that Congress, or Parliament in the case of Canada, is the appropriate ‘board of directors’ for a national air transportation system.”
AOPA suggests Nav Canada’s motives for imposing user fees on GA is an attempt to pay off its “$116 million shortfall”. Nav Canada dismisses these claims, saying: “We are a revenue-neutral company. The proposed changes aim to better balance the charges between large and small aircraft, better reflect the impact of new technology and better absorb the financial impact of fluctuations in air traffic.” It adds: “If user fees are to be imposed for GA, costs for other services may be reduced or even removed.”
■ Flexjet is expanding its services into Canada, home to parent company Bombardier. Flexjet Canada will offer for the first time point-to-point travel in Canada and will use three aircraft – two Learjet 45 light jets and a large cabin Challenger 604 – diverted from its corporate fleet. Flexjet has around 20 owners based in Canada. The Montreal-based operation is also designed improve service for customers travelling between Canada and the USA, Bombardier says.
KATE SARSFIELD / LONDON
Source: Flight International
