Six Associations Join Together In Slamming The Proposal
Six leading general aviation associations have come out strongly against a proposal to privatize Air Traffic Control included in the 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform and Reauthorization (AIRR) Act.
The groups include EAA, NBAA, GAMA, AOPA, HAI and NATA. They issued a joint statement Wednesday shortly after the details of the plan were announced.
"General Aviation is an important American industry that generates over $219 billion in total economic output, supports 1.1 million jobs, and includes a network of thousands of airports and heliports that connect many rural communities to the rest of the world," the statement reads.
"After a thorough and detailed review of Chairman Bill Shuster’s (R-PA) proposal to remove our nation’s air traffic control operations from the FAA, we have concluded that these reforms, while well intentioned, will produce uncertainty and unintended consequences without achieving the desired outcomes.
"We believe Chairman Shuster has raised the issue of reform in a meaningful and thoughtful manner and while we enjoy the safest most efficient air traffic control system in the world, we also believe that reforms, short of privatization, can better address the FAA’s need to improve its ability to modernize our system.
"We have concluded that any structural and governance reforms that require protections for an important sector of users is fundamentally flawed.
"In addition, the billions of dollars and time that would be spent transitioning our nation’s air traffic control system to a not-for-profit entity can be better applied to the continuing progress to update and modernize our air traffic control system.
"Moreover, with strong bipartisan opposition in both the House and Senate to remove air traffic control operations from the FAA, we believe efforts should focus on developing a long-term FAA Reauthorization that creates the stability and funding necessary and that can reach the President’s desk for signature.
"We are committed to addressing needed reforms that create predictable and stable funding for the FAA including biennial budgeting, consolidating unneeded and outdated facilities, procurement, and certification reforms, and putting to use some of the balance from the Airways and Airport Trust Fund to expedite technology deployment. We are ready and willing to work with all industry stakeholders and Congress to advance the consensus needed to improve our current system.
"We strongly believe finding agreement on these reform issues will provide the FAA with the tools necessary to ensure that our nation’s air traffic control system remains the envy of the world," the group's statement concluded.
Some of the associations released individual statements as well.
“As Congress debates FAA reauthorization, NBAA has continually supported measures aimed at aviation system modernization. It is imperative we ensure the U.S. has the world’s best air transportation system, today and in the future,” NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen said.
“But let’s not confuse modernization with privatization. Our nation's ATC system is and always will be a monopoly, and that monopoly must operate in the public’s best interest. This bill proposes to strip control over that monopoly from the public’s elected representatives, and essentially hand sweeping authority to a group of private parties, which will likely make decisions based on their business interests.”
Bolen (pictured) noted that among the many potentially harmful consequences of such an outcome are the possibility that access to the nation’s airports and airspace could become restricted.
“For a variety of reasons, we know that the citizens, companies and communities relying on general aviation for connectivity, civil services and other needs will be the ones most at risk if America’s aviation system is turned over to a private board largely unaccountable to Congress,” Bolen continued.
“NBAA has long supported implementation of targeted solutions to identified problems to ensure America’s aviation system remains the world’s best in all aspects, for the next five years, 10 years, 25 years and beyond. What we don’t support is a plan to give away control over the nation's aviation system.”
Following the introduction of the House FAA bill, NBAA signed on to a position statement issued by the association and five other aviation organizations, opposing ATC privatization.
“We believe Chairman Shuster has raised the issue of reform in a meaningful and thoughtful manner, and while we enjoy the safest most efficient air traffic control system in the world, we also believe that reforms, short of privatization, can better address the FAA’s need to improve its ability to modernize our system,” the statement reads. “We have concluded that any structural and governance reforms that require protections for an important sector of users is fundamentally flawed."
“As the largest association of pilots and aviation enthusiasts, AOPA is focused on reforms to our air traffic system that will work for all users of the system," said AOPA president and CEO Mark Baker. "A privatization proposal that requires protections for a large segment of aviation has a high potential for unintended consequences as well as increase costs and uncertainty. We will continue to work with the Administration, Congress, and industry stakeholders on reforms and efficiencies necessary to make certain our air traffic control system remains the envy of the world.”
(Source: News Releases. Images from file)
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.16.24)
See All