What we CAN do is sue the bastards. First, it can tie the whole idea up for years and make FAA put their legal resources there, rather than harassing airmen. Second, it can help alert society to the evils of FAA. Third, it can (finally) begin to establish a precedent that we’re going to defend ourselves. And don’t wait for AOPA, they’re just lobbyists. We need brave souls who’ll put it all on the line.

Taking property without due compensation is commonly used to stop things like this. If the FAA is going to do anything that lessens the value, either monetary or otherwise, of a through-the-fence home or business, they have to compensate appropriately unless they can demonstrate otherwise, and again that can tie things up for years.

But the bottom line is this: Why did we accept the federal airport money in the first place? Aviators as a group have more money than the average bear, why were we burdening the taxpayers to support our fun? We never deserved those dollars and now the piper wants to be paid. It turns out that money was far too expensive. As are ATC services and much more, we’d be far better off to be paying for what we use rather than sticking society for the bill. There ain’t no free lunch.