Chart Fees Would Be Passed on to Customers

Airservices Australia wants to impose licensing fees to provide data for aeronautical information publications, including Jeppesen charts. If levied, the Englewood, Colo.-based company said the additional charges would be passed along to customers. Jeppesen opposes the fees, viewing them as “multiple taxation” because they would be in addition to Australia’s existing ATC and navigation user fees. Australia is the first country to request such fees, and Jeppesen fears such a “precedent-setting initiative could be very costly and have far-reaching effects” on operators if more countries follow Australia’s lead. Jeppesen, which has not yet signed the license-fee agreement, said it is in discussions with Australian officials to reach an acceptable resolution and is still obtaining data.