As Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker prepares to declare July as general aviation appreciation month at a ceremony at a local airport on Friday, the state’s legislature is scheduled to hold a hearing a day earlier on a proposed bill that would establish a $1,000 landing fee for general aviation in the state.
However, Massachusetts state Sen. Julian Cyr, who submitted the bill, now says he has plans to extensively revise the measure when it comes before the relevant committee. The bill was proposed ostensibly to reduce carbon emissions generated by what Cyr sees as “luxury aircraft owned by the ultra-wealthy.” From feedback he has received from aviation advocates, it’s “clear that more exemptions should be included,” Cyr told AIN.
“Specifically, flights used for pilot training, sightseeing tours, and smaller Cessna-like airplanes and/or those registered in Massachusetts and owned by a Massachusetts resident.” Additionally, he said, “We can revise to exempt planes operating on sustainable aviation fuel and electric aircraft. It seems reasonable that any landing fee would be prorated given the size of the aircraft.”
The governor’s office has not yet responded to AIN’s inquiries regarding its stance on the proposed bill.