This is my comment- Wonder if they will post it?
First, I will assume you are prejudice against foreigners, as you complain about non-English speaking pilots. I must also assume you do not know that to get a certification in the US, you are required to read, write, speak and understand the English language. Also that English is the international language of Aviation, and all certificated(licensed) pilots are REQUIRED to use it during all flight operations. So, to start, your group is both prejudiced and ill-informed.
Second, I must believe that you are in favor of higher taxes, and more unemployment. You see, General Aviation airports pull in a lot of money- and from that money is paid local taxes- those evil foreign students and the companies teaching them, are paying taxes you would otherwise be responsible for. Also, those businesses employ flight instructors- members of your own community(and usually underpaid for their efforts), who probably deal with the same companies you work for, spending their money(made from those evil foreigners, paying to learn a useful, employable skill) at local businesses, which also pay taxes. Also, the fuel used has taxes paid from it- taxes used to support the aviation system, and also state taxes. Lets see, 800 takeoffs & landings a day, using about 6.8 gallons/hour, so about .68 gallons for a circuit of the field(maybe a little less) from fuel taxed(in Az. at $.347/gal) is only about $188.77 a day, but that is considering only that used for 1 takeoff, flight about the pattern, and one landing. Lets assume the average pilot will be flying about 2 hours, from switch on to switches off, roughly 13 gallons. And let us only assume about 5/8 of those 800 daily flights meet the 2 hour criteria, and all of those are in moderate fuel sippers- Cessna 172s. $2,255.50 a day. So lets take the two figures- $2,255.50 + 70.79(3/8 of 188.77, for the 3/8 who just do pattern work.) and make it $2,326.29 a day tax revenue generated, which you do not need to pay... Now, we\'ll figure 350 days a year fully flyable weather- it is Arizona, after all, great flying weather. $814,201.50 taxes raked in. Of course this number is incorrect- it is LOW, possibly only 50% of the actual figure, as many pilots do not just make 2 hour trips. But with all those flights, a lot of fuel is sold, and all of it taxed- and by my figures, that is $814,201.50 YOU do not need to pay.
Now lets look at our underpaid flight instructors, not to mention the other support staff & operations- mechanics, line boys, etc. and figure the instructor is making around $25,000 a year. Of that, about 25% goes to state and federal takes, and a good deal goes into rent, mortgage, and other housing payments in your township. Then there is the money spent in local businesses. And don\'t forget the money spent by the STUDENTS- those foreigners you already have admitted to being worried about, since you are prejudiced against them. They all bring money into your community.
Third- look at your community- 462,823 people(2008 info). About 333,232 of age to pay taxes. Lets say 25% don\'t own homes, or rent, where the tax money goes to the city. So249,924 taxpayers. And of those, another 10% are exempt for some reason. 224,931 people paying tax. So, eliminating that $814,201 would only be about $4 per person, per year. Nothing at all. But that was only for FUEL TAX. What about all the other taxes- generated revenue for your state and city generated by the airport. Sure- you are only complaining about the students- the rest of the airport is fine! You\'ll spend the $4.00! But what about the sales taxes, employment taxes, and other revenue they generate. I\'m sure it is only a few hundred dollars per person. And sure, the local stores can survive- they don\'t need foreigner\'s business. And flight instructors can go elsewhere(I think your tax base just shrunk a little- when the instructors left, and those businesses depending on their purchases failed) So your tax rates go up.
Oh, and I guess you never read of the history of \"your\" airport- and I quote from your own city web page:\"Originally opened in 1941 as a pilot training base for Royal Air Force pilots during World War II, Falcon Field Airport is committed to providing the public with a valuable air transportation resource that enhances the aeronautical industry for the community by maintaining a high level of safety and friendly professional service. \" The RAF was foreigners. And America, being the nice country we are, gave them a place to learn to fly to save their nation. And now we should throw those other evil foreigners out, so you can be a bigoted NIMBY. Grow up and quit crying. There is no danger from the so-called language issue: they have to know enough English to follow the tower\'s instructions when they are solo, which is not too long, and not early in the lesson. And there is an FAA Certificated flight instructor with them the rest of the time- And they definitely speak English! I love your use of \"Competing for space\" What a great battle cry. But false- the tower is controlling that.
Simple economics- Students leave, Taxes Increase. But THAT is what you want! To be ignorant, overtaxed bigots. Please send your student pilots here, to NJ- we can use the revenue & jobs! Especially in this economy!
By the way, Does the Yankee Air Force know you are illegally using the photo of their aircraft without permission, to promote an anti-aviation program? They will know soon- it has already been brought to their attention, I\'m sure!
I\'m also forwarding this website address to a few letter organizations, and informing them you are promoting anti-aviation bigotry...
Have a great day!
Scott
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