Just when you thought lawmakers were starting to catch on about how bad the idea of user fees is, Aviation Week reports that another tax is threatening to cripple aviation in the United States. A clean energy bill employing a cap-and-trade carbon reduction strategy has made it through the House and moved on to the Senate.

It sounds as though this system would feel just like user fees for us GA pilots. Similar programs are already law in Europe and they are part of the reason it's so expensive to fly there. US aviation industry groups like the GAMA and NBAA are objecting to this legislation, but I worry that they represent a small portion of potentially affected businesses.

I do feel that we can and must do more to protect our environment. I've always been a tad skeptical about the reasoning behind carbon credits, but we will have to fund this some way. Luckily, the aviation industry is slowly starting to catch on to the need for more efficient engines and I think we will start seeing more options.

At worst, a system like this should reward people for operating efficient aircraft. A piston single emits a lot less carbon than a 737. Some piston singles emit less than others. Maybe this legislation would serve as a wakeup call to engine makers and aircraft manufacturers and remind them that it's time to find ways to do more with less or work on alternative energy.

If a bill like this passes I foresee a lot more glider launches using winches, increased LSA sales and some real money put into researching alternative energy for electric aircraft motors. Maybe this tax would be a good thing - a force pushing us in the right direction.

If so, the question then becomes: would the aviation industry survive long enough to make needed changes under the pressure of these taxes? I sure hope so. What do you think?