Comments on: The Massachusetts governor is shopping for a private jet http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/06/14/the-massachusetts-governor-is-shopping-for-a-private-jet/ A posting every day; an interesting idea every three months... Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:36:01 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: ghengis http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/06/14/the-massachusetts-governor-is-shopping-for-a-private-jet/comment-page-1/#comment-82709 ghengis Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:58:24 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/06/14/the-massachusetts-governor-is-shopping-#comment-82709 I'd bet five bucks that they're going to use homeland security dollars (or homeland security as an excuse) Some lame rationale like they need to be able to get bio-warfare experts up from some army base in Virginia at a moment's notice. I can almost get the idea that the gov's of Texas or California might be able to justify the occasional charter or air-taxi ride, but we gotta get the elected officials to understand that they aren't royalty. Oh yeah, and as for the tax, I think unless the general aviation community gets some better PR guys, it’s pretty much screwed. Flying is in danger of being so expensive that no regular guys do it; it runs the risk of being thought of as a frivolous hobby that only benefits doctors, lawyers, CEO’s etc. If that happens, there’ll be no constituency for not taxing it to death or for keeping airports open. I just saw an excellent film “One-Six Right” (highly recommended), and the beautiful camera work blew me away, but the film spent a fair amount of time on the challenges of just keeping even a very popular airport open. I’d bet five bucks that they’re going to use homeland security dollars (or homeland security as an excuse) Some lame rationale like they need to be able to get bio-warfare experts up from some army base in Virginia at a moment’s notice. I can almost get the idea that the gov’s of Texas or California might be able to justify the occasional charter or air-taxi ride, but we gotta get the elected officials to understand that they aren’t royalty.

Oh yeah, and as for the tax, I think unless the general aviation community gets some better PR guys, it’s pretty much screwed. Flying is in danger of being so expensive that no regular guys do it; it runs the risk of being thought of as a frivolous hobby that only benefits doctors, lawyers, CEO’s etc. If that happens, there’ll be no constituency for not taxing it to death or for keeping airports open.
I just saw an excellent film “One-Six Right” (highly recommended), and the beautiful camera work blew me away, but the film spent a fair amount of time on the challenges of just keeping even a very popular airport open.

]]> By: philg http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/06/14/the-massachusetts-governor-is-shopping-for-a-private-jet/comment-page-1/#comment-82700 philg Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:24:18 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/06/14/the-massachusetts-governor-is-shopping-#comment-82700 Probably. I'm digging for a little more information. I think that initially Governor Patrick was looking into a lease (same cost but easier to bury). Perhaps we should thank Governor Patrick. His proposed sales tax on aircraft would destroy a lot of Massachusetts aviation jobs. With his new Learjet, though, he will be creating some. Probably. I’m digging for a little more information. I think that initially Governor Patrick was looking into a lease (same cost but easier to bury).

Perhaps we should thank Governor Patrick. His proposed sales tax on aircraft would destroy a lot of Massachusetts aviation jobs. With his new Learjet, though, he will be creating some.

]]> By: Mark http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/06/14/the-massachusetts-governor-is-shopping-for-a-private-jet/comment-page-1/#comment-82648 Mark Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:21:59 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/06/14/the-massachusetts-governor-is-shopping-#comment-82648 Phil, I assume a purchase of that significance would require the approval of the state legislature or at least an oversight committee, no? Phil,
I assume a purchase of that significance would require the approval of the state legislature or at least an oversight committee, no?

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