Trump to announce ATC privatization
06-09-2017, 10:37 AM
#21
Line Holder
Joined APC: Oct 2015
Posts: 79
It's a bad idea that, like a cockroach, keeps coming back.
ATC does need modernization. Vacuum Tubes are still in widespread use. The technology to modernize is here. It works wonderfully. The problem is that, as part of the bureaucratic bloat that is our federal government, it's a mind-numbingly slow process and precious money gets wasted along the way. So, rather than fix the root of the problem (bureaucracy), the critters in DC want to create a whole new program. That always works.
It's "interesting" that the airlines (except Delta) are in full support of this. On one hand, it's natural because they are a heavy user of the system. That's only part of the story, though. Consider that the airlines also would like more butts in their seats and not traveling by other means (private, fractional, charter). A user fee system would be a great burden on those operators.
Here's my idea: keep the current funding system. Remove ATC functions from the FAA and create a new agency under DOT just for the purposes of Air Traffic Control. Call it the Federal Air Traffic Control Administration (for example). Instead of a parent/child relationship, FAA and FATCA would have a sibling relationship. There would still be bureaucratic bloat, but less of it and each agency would be better able to concentrate on what are it's essential functions.
Air Traffic Control is an essential public safety function. Initial reports suggested that the "new" ATC would be a non-profit government corporation (like Amtrak) but now I keep seeing references to a non-profit private corporation. The government corp would have limited congressional supervision. The private corporation would only have what supervision is called for in the contract. I bet Lockheed-Martin is drooling all over this like a starving dog over a steak.
Some more food for thought: Why would Delta be opposed to a privatized, user fee based ATC system (other than their own study)? Delta Private Jets, Inc.
ATC does need modernization. Vacuum Tubes are still in widespread use. The technology to modernize is here. It works wonderfully. The problem is that, as part of the bureaucratic bloat that is our federal government, it's a mind-numbingly slow process and precious money gets wasted along the way. So, rather than fix the root of the problem (bureaucracy), the critters in DC want to create a whole new program. That always works.
It's "interesting" that the airlines (except Delta) are in full support of this. On one hand, it's natural because they are a heavy user of the system. That's only part of the story, though. Consider that the airlines also would like more butts in their seats and not traveling by other means (private, fractional, charter). A user fee system would be a great burden on those operators.
Here's my idea: keep the current funding system. Remove ATC functions from the FAA and create a new agency under DOT just for the purposes of Air Traffic Control. Call it the Federal Air Traffic Control Administration (for example). Instead of a parent/child relationship, FAA and FATCA would have a sibling relationship. There would still be bureaucratic bloat, but less of it and each agency would be better able to concentrate on what are it's essential functions.
Air Traffic Control is an essential public safety function. Initial reports suggested that the "new" ATC would be a non-profit government corporation (like Amtrak) but now I keep seeing references to a non-profit private corporation. The government corp would have limited congressional supervision. The private corporation would only have what supervision is called for in the contract. I bet Lockheed-Martin is drooling all over this like a starving dog over a steak.
Some more food for thought: Why would Delta be opposed to a privatized, user fee based ATC system (other than their own study)? Delta Private Jets, Inc.
06-09-2017, 02:30 PM
#22
Banned
Joined APC: Jan 2015
Posts: 516
That doesn't articulate how private ATC would be "better"...only cheaper. And it is arguable that privatized would actually be less expensive, given the FAA's total 2015 budget was $15.7B and Airport & Airway Trust Fund revenues (paid directly by users in the form of fuel excise taxes and ticket fees) for 2015 were north of $14.5B.
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