All
← Back to Squawk list
Senate Panel Advances FAA Reauthorization Without Trump Privatization Plan
A Senate committee has thrown cold water on the Trump administration’s controversial plan to transfer the nation’s air traffic control system from the Federal Aviation Administration to a private non-profit organization. (www.govexec.com) More...
Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
As a long time FAA contractor, this privatization scheme has no clear purpose which is what worries me. The system is a safe (way safe) as constituted and modernization is well under way (slowly but I am not sure that is a bad thing). On my watch, all of the NAS computer systems were replaced with modern equipment and GPS is being integrated with ATC operations as we speak. I suspect the motives of the administration and the House and why would we want to trust the airlines with more influence. ATC's are arguably the weirdest group of people you would ever want to meet (the only group that is weirder are IT people which is what I am) but with few exceptions, they do their job with incredible passion and never lose sight of the mission. Yes, there are problems with FAA management but these are open to the light of day and can and are being addressed. The system is a national asset which works just fine and there is no reason to give it away.
So, they say that "GA" will have a "Place at the table? With the big-money airlines at the same table, who is ever going to listen to GA or take any of their recommendations? I don't see how it will ever be "equal".
Nope it won't be equal. The airlines will become the masters and commanders of ATC, airports, and the airspace system. GA has been losing its place at the table for 20 years and in my lifetime I'm sure the airlines will finally win and GA will be gone forever.
Um, they are NOT equal. Sorry, facts of the herd.
What you say may be true, on its face, but what GA does represent should, if anything, have a much larger role.
What GA does represent are the non-flying public, (ie every citizen) that benefits from an open and equal and unfettered access to interstate air commerce. We all benefit. Using the Nash modifications to Adam Smith's theories, we all gain, if we act in our own best interests, AND in the best interest of society.
An air traffic control organization run by the airlines, with decreasing input from the general public over time will result in all of us, flying and not-flying public alike. They will act in their own best interests as their history (from Pan Am to United) has repeatedly and amply demonstrated. Do you really want an airline that sells you a non-refundable shoebox to sit in, then decides it wants its seat back and dumps you without notice far from home, in charge of access to the airways??
What GA does represent are the non-flying public, (ie every citizen) that benefits from an open and equal and unfettered access to interstate air commerce. We all benefit. Using the Nash modifications to Adam Smith's theories, we all gain, if we act in our own best interests, AND in the best interest of society.
An air traffic control organization run by the airlines, with decreasing input from the general public over time will result in all of us, flying and not-flying public alike. They will act in their own best interests as their history (from Pan Am to United) has repeatedly and amply demonstrated. Do you really want an airline that sells you a non-refundable shoebox to sit in, then decides it wants its seat back and dumps you without notice far from home, in charge of access to the airways??
I did not say I agree. Just, saying what it is....reality.
