Brief Description: Adjusting aviation fees and taxes.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen and Swecker).

Senate Committee on Transportation
House Committee on Transportation

Background: Under current law and with few exceptions, Washington pilots, and airmen or airwomen (e.g., certain mechanics, aircraft dispatchers, and air-traffic control tower operators), must register with the Washington State Department of Transportation. The registration fee is fifteen dollars. Effective during the current fiscal biennium (July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2005), seven dollars of each fee must be deposited into the aeronautics account to be used solely for airport maintenance. The remaining eight dollars must be deposited into the aircraft search and rescue, safety, and education account, to be used for: (1) search and rescue efforts; (2) safety and education; and (3) volunteer recognition and support. Effective July 1, 2005, this distribution expires and the entire fifteen dollar registration fee must be deposited into the aircraft search and rescue, safety, and education account.

Summary: Certain provisions regarding aviation fees and taxes are revised as follows: (1) the state pilot and airman/airwoman registration requirement is repealed; (2) the aircraft search and rescue, safety, and education account is repealed; (3) the aviation fuel tax is increased one cent to eleven cents per gallon; and (4) air carriers, subject to the commercial aircraft exemption from the aviation fuel tax, are defined.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      47   1
House      95   1   (House amended)
Senate      38   4   (Senate concurred)

Effective: July 1, 2005