Why is general aviation suddenly involved?
Last year, Silver State Helicopters based out of the Sacramento area pulled a similar disappearing act, with many flight students paid in full tuition money. Why anyone would pay 100% in advance for flight training is beyond me, and the scope of this document. Nonetheless, two of our state’s legislators decided that while others were reviving AB-48, it would be a good idea to add flight schools, and by default, flight instructors to the bill. Of course experience would suggest that the legislators in our state have no idea of what general aviation is, or the benefit to the state (we all own part of this lack of education issue) and didn’t bother to seek expert or stakeholder opinions. What”s the Issue? The issue is the outrageous fees associated with this bill, and the onerous bureaucratic processes that no flight school or independent instructor can afford, or should have to deal with (think federal tax forms and you get the idea). Here is the fee schedule. Read it carefully, and then
