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The Arizona summer has certainly lived up to its reputation this year with some especially hot and uncomfortable weather. However, I managed to get a brief reprieve during my trip to Oshkosh where the temperatures were substantially cooler. Overall, it was a great show as always, and I was pleased to see several fellow APA members during the week.

In addition to the exhibits and daily airshows, there were a number of great forums and workshops on a wide range of subjects. I took the time to attend the joint industry/FAA meeting regarding the upcoming Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certificates (MOSAIC) rulemaking. As you may recall, the MOSAIC rulemaking is related to what will qualify as a Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) in the future (yes, the 172 will be one of them), Sport Pilot privileges and LSA maintenance. The good news is that the FAA is on track to have the rule released by the time AirVenture gets underway next year. As always there is no free lunch, and the ASTM committee that is writing the accompanying LSA standards will have a lot of work to do. However, I’m confident they will make ends meet, as they say, and have this important work completed by the time the rule is ready for release. Stay tuned!

On a subject closer to home, I wanted to follow up on the proposed Cottonwood (P52) transient landing fees Jim Timm mentioned in last month’s Executive Directors Report. Based on the significant increase in flight training activity in Arizona, Cottonwood has become an alternate airport for pattern work for Embry-Riddle in Prescott. This has led to an increase in noise complaints from residents and a subsequent proposal by the city to implement transient landing fees for all non-resident aircraft with the primary objective of discouraging repetitive pattern work.

Consequently, the Cottonwood City Council and Airport Commission received a presentation from Vector Airport Systems that provided the details of their PLANEPASS ADS-B based system for logging aircraft operations and billing landing fees. The Vector system captures your aircraft registration information from ADS-B and you will receive a bill in the mail if you land or perform a touch and go. Alternatively, you can register for a Vector account and pay online. Landing fees can be billed on a flat rate basis or can be aircraft weight based (per 1,000 lbs) depending on the fee structure established by the airport. I believe the proposed fees for Cottonwood are in the $5 - $10 range, although this is notional at this point. The Vector system has been implemented at a number of airports across the US including Bullhead City (KIFP). Vector indicated that they are in discussions with other Arizona airports including Casa Grande (KCGZ), Deer Valley (KDVT), Goodyear (KGYR) and Glendale (KGEU).

Obviously, APA is strongly opposed to the implementation of landing fees at any general aviation airport in Arizona and we have been working with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) to establish our position on these fees. Toward that end, we issued a joint letter to the City of Cottonwood outlining our position on these fees and reiterating that transient landing fees will not discourage flight school pattern work, but will discourage our members from visiting Cottonwood. We included the Arizona Airports Association and the FAA Phoenix Airport District Office on distribution.

To be clear, these fees have not been implemented by Cottonwood and may never be. However, the fact that Vector is in discussions with other Arizona airports is concerning and warrants continued attention. We’ll keep you posted on any new developments on this subject.

If you’re interested in learning more about the discussions going on in the Cottonwood Airport Commission and City Council on this subject, go to the following link: https://www.cottonwoodaz.gov/844/Transient-Landing-Fee-System

Fly Safe!

Chris

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