Reply #86: I can't follow your points

[MajorChode]

First, no subsidies exist for private airports. If an airport isn't public, there is no AIP funding, period.

Next, I can't agree with your assertion that subsidies lower the cost of fuel because there are literally hundreds of airports that receive zero AIP funding either directly from the feds or through state programs and they still have fuel that's as cheap or cheaper than the Ft. Meade example you gave. The reason why some airports have fuel that's much more expensive is because those FBOs offer services not available at the smaller airports. The cost of fuel at the vast majority of airports is mainly a reflection of how much it costs to refine and deliver that fuel to that location plus a small profit margin. It's no different than the fuel you pump in your vehicle. The reason why aviation fuel is more expensive than auto fuel is because it's refined in much smaller batches and is delivered in smaller quantities.

Finally, I don't know that most people "who own their own planes are either corporate execs or own their own companies." Actually I'm pretty sure the reverse is true and I'm pretty sure the numbers aren't even in the same ballpark. I'm also reasonably sure that if all the subsidies for airports disappeared, you're not going to keep one additional public library open and I would argue that the reverse would happen in many areas. All transportation in this country is subsidized in one way or another, and for very good and valid reasons. I'm sure along the same lines you could also argue that we could feed more poor babies if we just didn't build as many expensive off ramps from the freeways to small communities, but I can't say that such an argument wouldn't be based purely on emotion rather than reason.