The alliance believes the per-flight user fee is very regressive, applying equally to a jumbo jetliner flying out of JFK with 300 people aboard and a turboprop aircraft flying in controlled airspace from a small town with only five people aboard.

The alliance also believes the proposal would require a large and expensive bureaucracy of billing agents and collection agents, Thus, the $25 per-flight fee represents a huge hidden cost to operators that dramatically exceeds the amount of the fee itself.

For more information, go to the Web site: www.AviationAcrossAmerica.org

Opponents say:

• The taxes will favor big airports and commercial airlines, saving them money.

• The new taxes will cost small plane users more money, and thus the small businesses who rely on them will pay more.

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E-mail: lynn@desnews.com