Let The Credit-Claims Begin... Though This Effort Was NOT GA's Best
For all intents and purposes, the current effort to replace the current ATC system with a Privatized organization under the control of an airline dominated ruling board seems to have failed... for now... but the path to the next fight for such an effort is already being planned.
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), ATC Privatization's most prominent driving force has apparently given up on this issue, and since he's not seeking reelection, its going to be up to another politician to make it happen. In the meantime, though, because of the looming short-term extension of FAA coming to a head by the end of March, something had to give.
And Shuster's NOT happy about it... Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) released the following statement regarding H.R. 2997, the 21st Century AIRR Act:
“Many, including myself, continue to believe that the air traffic control provisions of the 21st Century AIRR Act are good government reforms, and necessary for the future efficiency, effectiveness, and safety of our entire Nation’s aviation system and its users.
“We built strong support for this critical reform over the last two congresses, and we had a golden opportunity to move beyond the status quo and accomplish positive, transformational change with this bill.
“Despite an unprecedented level of support for this legislation – from bipartisan lawmakers, industry, and conservative groups and labor groups alike – some of my own colleagues refused to support shrinking the federal government by 35,000 employees, cutting taxes, and stopping wasteful spending.
“Although our air traffic control reform provisions did not reach the obvious level of support needed to pass Congress, I intend to work with Senator Thune and move forward with a reauthorization bill to provide long-term stability for the FAA.”
Simply put; if we get a clear and unrestricted FAA Reauthorization, that should hold off most ATC Privatization efforts for the full term of the expected four year reauthorization... but since this was an issue favored by the President and a number of other high-ranking politicians, the potential for a separate, more 'creative' effort remains.
E-I-C Note: Wednesday should be interesting as various aero-alphabets attempt to claim credit for this failure of the ATC Privatization fight to take hold... even though the GA/BizAv effort was often abysmal and poorly organized. We're going to be particularly amused if AOPA tries to claim credit after coming to the party so late and so timidly. We may have a few years before we have to fight this anew... but it WILL show up again and we sincerely hope that the aero-groups get their act together long before then... not only because they need to, but because this industry deserves so much more than its gotten thus far. -- Jim Campbell, ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief
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