In this September 2014 photo, Field Morey, an FAA-Certified Flight Instructor from Medford, Oregon, applies an Alaskan flag sticker to the side of his 2013 Cessna Corvalis TTx four- passenger airplane after landing in Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

In this September 2014 photo, Field Morey, an FAA-Certified Flight Instructor from Medford, Oregon, applies an Alaskan flag sticker to the side of his 2013 Cessna Corvalis TTx four- passenger airplane after landing in Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

State may charge aircraft registration fee

You have to register your car with the state of Alaska each year. You may soon have to register your plane, too.

The State of Alaska is proposing a new aircraft registration fee to partially offset the cost of maintaining the state’s 240 rural airports. As proposed, the fee would be $150 for a private plane and $250 for a plane used for business.

The fee is expected to raise between $1.3 million and $1.4 million for Statewide Aviation, the branch of DOT that oversees the state’s airports. Statewide Aviation has an annual operating budget of about $40 million, and a quarter of that is covered by the state’s aviation fuel (jet fuel and avgas) tax, plus leases for hangars and other airport spaces.

The remaining $30 million comes from the state’s general fund, and the fee is intended to close some of the gap, said Richard Sewell, aviation policy planner for the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.

The fee is not yet confirmed — Alaskans have until Jan. 5 to comment on the proposal by email at statewideaviation@alaska.gov.

“We’ll have to see what the comment period brings us,” Sewell said.

Since 2016, Gov. Bill Walker has asked the Alaska Legislature to boost the state’s motor fuel taxes — including the aviation gasoline and jet fuel taxes — to cover some of the expenses of the Department of Transportation.

The gas taxes would raise much more money for aviation needs than the aircraft registration fee would, but the gas tax increase remains stalled in the Legislature’s finance committees, and the registration fee is being pursued in a regulation, not a law, which means it bypasses the Legislature.

Rep. George Rauscher, R-Sutton, has some thoughts about that approach. Rauscher, who was in Juneau for the ongoing special session, was one of about a dozen people who attended a public hearing last week on the proposal.

In his Capitol office on Friday, he said he views the new registration fee as a tax, and he’s alarmed that the Department of Transportation seems to be bypassing the Legislature as it imposes this tax.

“Going forward, once one administrative department starts using this method for recovering costs … where do we go? Is every department going to come up with this idea now?” he asked.

According to documents provided by the state, the program is expected to cost about $30,000 to administer per year, and the state does not intend to start an enforcement effort.

Tom George of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots’ Association is a member of the statewide advisory committee that guides Statewide Aviation. By phone, he said the board hasn’t issued an opinion on the registration proposal.

It has, however, repeatedly recommended increases to the fuel tax as the most equitable way to cover the expenses of the airport system.

“From what we know at the moment, that’s our best shot,” he said.


• Contact reporter James Brooks at james.k.brooks@juneauempire.com or call 523-2258.


Rep. George Rauscher, R-Sutton, says he’s skeptical of a proposal to require a registration fee for all aircraft in the state. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Rep. George Rauscher, R-Sutton, says he’s skeptical of a proposal to require a registration fee for all aircraft in the state. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

More in News

The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October of 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Ships in port for t​​he Week of April 22

Here’s what to expect this week.

The exterior of Floyd Dryden Middle School on Tuesday, April 2. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
CBJ seeking proposals for future use of Marie Drake Building, Floyd Dryden Middle School

Applications for use of space in buildings being vacated by school district accepted until May 20.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Tuesday, April 23, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, and Speaker of the House Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, speak to legislators during a break in the March 12 joint session of the Alaska House and Senate. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska Senate plans fast action on correspondence problem, but House is ‘fundamentally divided’

State judge considering delay in ruling striking down program used by more than 22,000 students.

A view of the downtown Juneau waterfront published in Blueprint Downtown, which outlines an extensive range of proposed actions for the area’s future. (Pat McGonagel/City and Borough of Juneau)
Long-term blueprint for downtown Juneau sent to Assembly after six years of work

Plan making broad and detailed proposals about all aspects of area gets OK from Planning Commission.

Public safety officials and supporters hold signs during a protest at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday afternoon calling for the restoration of state employee pensions. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Protest at Capitol by police, firefighters calls for House to pass stalled pension bill for state employees

Advocates say legislation is vital to solving retention and hiring woes in public safety jobs.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Monday, April 22, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage, turns to listen to a proposed amendment to the state budget on Monday, April 3, 2023, at the Alaska State Capitol. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska House panel removes proposal to raise the state’s age of sexual consent to 18

Rep. Andrew Gray, author of the idea, says he will introduce a revised and updated version.

The Hubbard, the newest vessel in the Alaska Marine Highway System fleet, docks at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on April 18. It is generally scheduled to provide dayboat service between Juneau, Haines and Skagway. (Photo by Laurie Craig)
Ongoing Alaska Marine Highway woes are such that marketing to Lower 48 tourists is being scaled back

“We just disappoint people right now,” AMHS’ marine director says during online public forum Monday.

Most Read