The issue weighing heaviest on the minds of most EAAers and the rest of general aviation can be summed up in two words: user fees. While EAAers know their annual convention represents one week out of the year-round proactive advocacy their association accomplishes, user fee discussions will be held throughout this week, and "because the EAA community is made up of aviation’s most passionate and active participants, it possesses the credibility, respect, and influence to bring Washington to Oshkosh," added EAA President and AirVenture Chairman Tom Poberezny.

"Representatives of all the principal elements of the user fee issue—the House, the Senate, the administration, and the general aviation industry—are coming to AirVenture to discuss this issue with our members," Poberezny added.

Several meetings and events this week will focus on user fees including:

• Wednesday, July 25, 11:30 a.m. - NATCA Pavilion - Tom Poberezny and leaders from AOPA, GAMA, and NBAA conduct a user-fee panel discussion.

• Thursday, July 26, 11:30 a.m. - Honda Pavilion - FAA Administrator Marion Blakey provides the administration’s view on aviation finance reform at the annual Meet the Administrator session.

• Saturday, July 28, 11:30 a.m. - Sporty’s Pavilion - Members of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Aviation will discuss the status of FAA finance legislation and answer your questions about user fees.

• Saturday, July 28 - Throughout the day, key lawmakers will make appearances and discuss the issue with members.

During last year’s panel discussion here, GA leaders effectively argued against the position shared by the major airlines and the FAA—that a new system of user fees is needed to fund the next-generation air traffic control system and that GA is not currently paying its fair share.

The GA community’s steadfast position is it already pays fuel taxes and other fees to cover its share of an air traffic system, which was designed primarily for the airlines. The current tax-based funding system also provides ample revenue for modernization.

Conversely, over the past year, the airlines have run misleading print ads and cartoon television commercials blaming GA for their routine delays at major hub airports.

There are presently three versions of the FAA budget reauthorization—the FAA and the Senate version (both of which include user fees on GA) and the House bill, which does not.

The process will continue with floor debate in Congress beginning in September 2007, followed by a joint conference committee meeting to reconcile the House and Senate versions. EAA and other general-aviation groups are voicing support of the House bill, H.R. 2881.

"When we look at examples from other parts of the world such as Europe and Australia, we see that, once in place, even narrowly defined user-fee structures eventually expand their reach," Poberezny said. "As the lawmaking process moves into the final stretch, the EAA community is mobilizing to push hard for the right solution, as outlined in the House bill. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007 will serve as the launching pad for this concerted effort."