LEXIS-NEXIS® Academic Universe-Document

LEXIS-NEXIS® Academic

January 24, 1999, Sunday, FINAL EDITION

SECTION: COMMENTARY, Pg. 2

LENGTH: 428 words

HEADLINE: Use all airfare taxes for airports;

BODY:

Except to nervous fliers, it is not news when an airplane takes off and lands successfully. However, it is news when an entire calendar year passes and not a single life is lost to an accident aboard a scheduled U.S. airliner.

But that's what happened in 1998. Not since the National Transportation Safety Board began keeping records in 1967 had that occurred. Considering there were 14 million flights, that's a notable achievement. THE NATION'S AIRLINES carried 615 million passengers in 1998, but within a decade, that figure is expected to exceed 1 billion, which is one of the reasons Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater wants to raise the federal airport ticket tax. He says the nation's aviation system needs widespread investment, including money to modernize the air traffic control system, rebuild airports and retrain personnel.

Few of the millions of Americans who fly would argue against additional fees to improve infrastructure and maintain safety. Before any increase is approved, however, there should be a better accounting of the money that is collected now.

Currently the federal government levies an airline ticket tax of 8 percent of a passenger's fare, plus $ 2 for each leg of a trip. The money is deposited in the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, but, as with many government fees, not all of it goes for its intended purpose. Almost half is diverted for a multitude of nonaviation purposes or left on the federal ledger sheet to improve the appearance of the national budget.

Rep. Bud Shuster, R-Pa., chairman of the House Transportation Committee, is planning to introduce legislation requiring that all federal ticket tax money be spent on airport improvements. Shuster predicts that of the $ 10 billion projected to be collected this year, only $ 5.6 billion will be used for aviation needs.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, has been advocating reform of the funding system for years. He has been a proponent of replacing the ticket tax with user fees "that will ensure the costs of air traffic control services are fully borne by those who use them. Cost-based financing will enable us to better identify and remedy inefficiencies."

BOTH MEN have the right idea: Improve efficiency before increasing taxes. Last year Congress rejected the Clinton administration's request to raise the ticket tax. The lawmakers should do the same this year. They should also make sure that fees collected to help aviation are used for that purpose.

NOTES: EDITORIALS

LOAD-DATE: January 25, 1999