A congressman from Fond du Lac says he’ll fight an attempt by the Federal Aviation Administration to charge the Experimental Aircraft Association $500,000 for air traffic controllers at this year’s AirVenture.
Congressman Tom Petri says the federal agency is already benefiting from the air show, because when pilots fly to and from Oshkosh for the world famous air show, a part of the tax on their fuel goes to the FAA. “Once you take into account that, I’m confident that they’re actually making money for the federal government, and they’re trying to charge them twice. It’s ridiculous.”
Petri says he believes the agency is exceeding its authority. He says Wisconsin’s delegation in Washington D.C. also opposes the move. The leader of the EAA says the FAA is demanding the money, or else it won’t provide the controllers.
Petri says the issue is coming up because of the sequestration cuts, but Congress gave the FAA more flexibility to deal with them.
AirVenture 2013 is scheduled for July 29 – August 4.
Mike Kemmeter, WHBY