billiebob,
Thankyou for educating us on those points. By your only addressing my 'incorrect' remark, i assume you agree on the others - thanks for the support.
I'll answer the second part of your question first - pedantics really - keygrip implied that only employees of the united states support the faa - I'm pretty sure the money comes from all taxpayers, not just federal employees. And quite rightly so. Too bad fees cant be paid in the UK too - but as long as Airports are privately owned instead of being public, theres not much you can do.
Plus, Keygrip implied that there were landing fees in the US - there arent, because the FAA pays for airport operations - which means that yes, indirectly we all pay in a sense. However, there is no invisible fee charged to the taxpayer every time someone does a touch and go or flies an ILS. That is simply ridiculous. The FAA has finite funding. There are a zillion non-towered airports dotted around - with no one to count touch and goes.
Anyway, my whole point was that the Cost to the pilot of flying into (K)MCO or MCO or OIA or whatever, is zero. Hence its a pretty good place to go.
As for relevence - if you look at the title of the Thread - it was about one person sharing their views on landing fees at Bournemouth (Not about UK landing fees in general.) Read it again if you like (i dont think its changed.)
Anyway, by its nature, a discussion if fluid and can change direction.
This one started off about Bournemouth, progressed on to Fees in general, then to where to get Big airport experience, then I simply talked about US Fees (or lack thereof to the pilot).
Seems like a logical progression to me. Again, apologies if I have upset you by trying to take part.
Last edited by rudestuff; 14th August 2006 at 19:44.