Mr. Babbitt Needs to Get in Shape

Some functions come naturally to most humans, eating, sleeping, even defending ourselves … at least most of the time. But the message the House of Representatives just sent FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt with passage of the European Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act of 2011 is pretty clear. Our administrator needs to find a sparing partner and get himself in shape for the scuffles ahead with Europe.

For years, the European Union has promoted its plan to reduce aviation’s carbon footprint anywhere in the group’s 21-nation states, despite the fact that research shows this industry contributes far less to global warming than just about any other segment such as automobiles — between two and three percent by most calculations.

No matter. It’s their union and they are free to make their own choices. Problem is that this new EU plan will significantly affect our industry here in the states because the EU intends to hold every country responsible for complying with their carbon trading scheme if they fly into EU airspace.

Most other countries are having a little heartburn with the plan, as is ICAO, the United Nations body focused on aviation that believes one country or one region setting it’s own standards – higher or lower than the rest of the world – is a rally bad idea, and one that will be enormously difficult to enforce.

While the EU’s heart might be in the right place as they wrestle with the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, many aviation leaders outside the EU are skeptical of the trading scheme … and with good reason.  The unmentioned one, two punch is the huge bureaucracy that will be needed to manage the new system, not to mention the opportunities for someone to make some significant revenues off aircraft operators dragged kicking and screaming into compliance, especially since the EU intends to hold an airplane hostage to the cost of the entire length of the trip. If an aircraft departs Dallas for Paris for instance, the EU intends to collect fees equivalent to the entire length of the trip, not simple for the time flying in EU airspace, meaning international aviation – whether it’s Part 121, Part 135 or a GA biz aircraft flying Part 91 is most likely going to take the biggest hits. Guess where that cash is headed?

Enter the Administrator

You’re probably wondering what this all has to do with Mr. Babbitt.

Well, those nice folks in our own House of Representatives, according to the NBAA, have empowered our FAA administrator to use any means at his disposal to be certain flight operations of U.S. air carriers and corporate operators are not obstructed in any way. Only one thing though … they forgot to mention what tactics Mr. Babbitt might want to try to convince the EU that we’re not playing that game. Ignoring the plan won’t work since the Europeans are very good about impounding aircraft that don’t play by their rules.

I think Mr. Babbitt should just cut to the chase and go duke it out with his EASA counterpart in Brussels, kind of the way Southwest Airlines Herb Kelleher did when he challenged the CEO of Stevens Aviation to an arm-wrestling match over the use of the phrase “Plane Smart.” But since this fight is probably going to get ugly rather quickly Randy, don’t waste time working on your arm wrestling like Herb. Kelleher knew the other guy had a sense of humor. Embroiled in economic woes that are at times worse than what we’re seeing here in the states, I doubt the EASA folks will be laughing. In fact, this upcoming fight between Europe and the rest of the world has the potential to leave many bodies along the way to a settlement.

So start training now for that big match with the Europeans Randy. And you better book some time at Gold’s Gym on 3rd St. SW pretty soon, because the EU trading scheme goes into effect January 1, 2012.

Didn’t Congress mention that date to you? Must have been in the fine print.

Rob Mark, Publisher

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