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From: marcum@sun.uucp (Alan Marcum)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: Shortage of professional pilots?
Message-ID: <3383@sun.uucp>
Date: Wed, 19-Mar-86 14:38:02 EST
Article-I.D.: sun.3383
Posted: Wed Mar 19 14:38:02 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 22-Mar-86 03:21:40 EST
References: <1096@terak.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
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> AOPA is calling for the FAA to use $20 million of the Airport and Airway
> Trust Fund to finance a "National Pilot Training Program".  They note
> that over the past 15 years there have been major declines in pilot
> training...
> 
> And should we who *are* pilots be forced to subsidize the training of
> potential job-market competitors through the Trust Fund?
> -- 
> Doug Pardee -- CalComp -- {elrond,savax,seismo,decvax,ihnp4}!terak!doug

Well, that's an interesting one, Doug.  One the one hand, the Trust Fund
hasn't really been doing aviation much good lately, because of raids for
the general coffers.  On the other hand, I agree that it isn't quite
what I had in mind for that fund.  On the other hand, one might argue that
$20M isn't all that much from the Trust Fund, given it's size (though
on an absolute scale, gee, I could sure by a nice airplane with the
interest on the interest on $20M!).  On the other hand, maybe if we
don't start here, we'll never get anything from it.  On the other
hand, if we start diluting the fund, and the purpose for the fund,
it won't do us as much good as it could.  On the other hand......

I think it's misuse of the fund, regardless of other arguments.  Use
the fund to improve AIRPORTS and AIRWAYS, maybe even to promote
research on various aspects of flight.  But for pilot training?  Yes,
it's expensive; so's college.  If it's worth it, we'll find a way,
besides government handouts.  If the Trust Fund is supported by USER FEES,
let the trust fund benefit the users who paid!
-- 
Alan M. Marcum				Sun Microsystems, Technical Consulting
...!{dual,ihnp4}!sun!nescorna!marcum	Mountain View, California