Allied Pilots Association spent $160K lobbying in 1Q

The Fort Worth, Texas-based group, which has more than 12,000 members, lobbied on legislation dealing with funding for the Federal Aviation Administration, according to the form posted online April 18 by the House clerk's office. Besides Congress, the union lobbied the Transportation Department in the first three months of the year.

The general aviation industry and commercial airlines disagree over how much each should have to pay for upgrading the nation's air traffic control system and other aviation programs. Congress has approved a temporary measure to continue FAA funding through June, but the larger issue of reauthorizing the agency is unresolved.

The House passed a bill in September that would have increased the jet fuel tax for noncommercial planes, the aviation gasoline tax and the cap on fees airports charge passengers for capital improvements. Commercial airlines and the Bush administration say the bill does not fairly link fees to system use, but the aircraft owners' association and other general aviation groups oppose user fees.

The Senate is working on similar legislation.

The union last week asked the National Mediation Board to help speed talks, which began in September 2006, on a new labor contract with the nation's biggest carrier.

American is owned by AMR Corp.