Courier Reports Charlevoix to Consider $1.00 Flight Tax

[Rachel Teague]

Below is a link to the regulations regarding the enactment of a Passenger Facility Charge (enplanement fee). There are opportunties for the Beaver Island Community to get involved in this process. I have just started to research and read but thought it important to get out to the community so you could do your own research.

The regulation is 14 CFR Part 158

http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wais ... 58_04.html

[Chamber of Commerce]

Thanks Rachel!

One thing is clear so far ........... Beaver can have a say with the FAA. At best SLOW the process of approval and perhaps STOP it. Maybe a Federal Government Hearing on Beaver Island. Lets hope it won't be nessary.

[Jim]

Somehere in an earlier posting, someone stated that the mayor and the city manager "were gracious and charming" at the meeting. Beware of charm; it always precedes seduction.

[Dan Wardlow]

Thanks, Rachel, for posting that link. I would encourage everyone interested to wade through 14 CFR Part 158. Here's an interesting tidbit:

Section 158.11 a) Subject to the requirements of this part, a public agency (our townships fit the description of a "public agency" in this regulation) may request that collection of PFC's not be required for passengers enplaned on a flight to an airport in a community that has a population of less than 10,000 and is not connected by a land highway or vehicular way to the land-connected National Highway System within a State.

So it's important to get the townships on board!

[Chamber of Commerce]

Thanks Rachel! I think our local government will be on our side Dan.
_____________________________________________________
§ 158.11 Public agency request not to require collection of PFC's by a class of air carriers or foreign air carriers or for service to isolated communities.
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(a) Subject to the requirements of this part, a public agency may request that collection of PFC's not be required forâ??

(1) Passengers enplaned by any class of air carrier or foreign air carrier if the number of passengers enplaned by the carriers in the class constitutes not more than one percent of the total number of passengers enplaned annually at the airport at which the fee is imposed; or

(2) Passengers enplaned on a flight to an airportâ??

(i) That has fewer than 2,500 passenger boardings each year and receives scheduled passenger service; or

(ii) In a community that has a population of less than 10,000 and is not connected by a land highway or vehicular way to the land-connected National Highway System within a State.

(b) The public agency may request this exclusion authority under paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section or both.

[Doc. No. FAAâ??2000â??7402, 65 FR 34541, May 30, 2000]

[Dan Wardlow]

Note that public agencies, as defined in the act, include Tribal Councils. So perhaps the Little Traverse Band would also like to request the waiver of the fees on behalf of its island members?

[Chamber of Commerce]

Note that public agencies, as defined in the act, include Tribal Councils. So perhaps the Little Traverse Band would also like to request the waiver of the fees on behalf of its island members?

Yeper the Tribal Council toooooooo I would bet that the City will not get their $1.00 bugeted fee. Who wants to bet they do?

[Dan Wardlow]

I think the city should go ahead and apply to the FAA for the fee, and Beaver Island's townships and the Tribal Council can request an exemption under 158.11. That way Charlevoix will have the fee in place for when British Air announces its London-Charelvoix direct daily service. I'm sure they'll make a lot of money on that route when it opens up!

[Rachel Teague]

Fresh Air Aviation met with the City of Charlevoix Mayor on Thursday and provided suggestions for new revenue opportunties at the Airport. From reading the regulations is appears that the Townships can request the $1 enplanement fee not be collected for passengers traveling to Beaver Island so the Airport needs to find other revenue options. With so many interested in finding more realistic solutions for the Chalrevoix Airport we are hopeful for a positive outcome for all parties involved.

[Chamber of Commerce]

Thanks Rachel for calling attention to the regs. Now there is a BIT MORE reason for the City of Charlevoix to look for other sources.