Trump could clear path for privatizing Air Traffic Control

Good.

More things should be privatized.

Kai

 

Like anything else, it will be good for some and bad for others. It will almost certainly be good for the airlines, and probably not so good for people who want to fly around and get $100 hamburgers.

You can look at the Canadian ATC system and see what that looks like-- it's already privatized. In some ways, it's good, but it's also a pain to get invoices all the time, and it's not cheap.

A fuel tax was a simple and fairly equitable way to pay for ATC services. The new system will doubtless keep the fuel tax (so fuel won't get any cheaper) and will also now include new fees for using the ATC system.

All that said, I'm generally in favor of privatizing things, so I'm sort of on the fence about it.

 

The storyline used to justify the privatization is filled with half truths.

There is already money that should be going to the FAA but is not because someone at one time thought people might be using Avgas in the cars. So there is tax money for aviation that has been diverted to other things.

The other item is how the annual congressional budget process won't make consistent funding for the FAA. Claiming that as an excuse is a bit convoluted.

They could easily bump up the fuel tax if the issue is really about funding.

See what group is screaming loudest for the change; US airlines. See who is set to get the most committee seats on this new organization; airlines. If you like private/corporate aviation this is not a good proposition.

 

Trump utilizes private aviation to the hilt. Not a chance. More fake news.

 

I sure hope so.

 

Right on the money Jeff. Privatizing the ATC system is just a way to line the pockets of the airlines and screw the general aviation public. After the last big airspace grab in the late 80's the FAA tried to justify a "user fee" because after they made sure that you had to be in contact with ATC then they wanted to make sure you paid for it. If the "user fee" was based on the number of seats in the aircraft and not "by the aircraft" there would be a whole bunch less of a push by the airlines for user fees.

This topic comes up every 10 years or so because the airlines are paying the fuel tax every day and it they see it as a big ticket item that they could get rid of and line their pockets with the cash it would free up.

If you look at what is causing airspace congestion and high traffic areas it's the airlines and they're the ones who should be paying for it.

 

That had me thinking back to Reagan's firing the PATCO controllers. It took years for the ranks to be filled to sufficiency.

Are there digital aids now that require fewer actual controllers than in the past? That reduce the workload?

 

Look at the "board" composition. 4 from the airlines 2 from the airline pilot union but only 2 from all of corporate and gen av. Talk about veto proof.

 

There are already contract towers at some airports.

 

Have been for yrs, but you don't get a monthly invoice for using them.