Ramped-Up Implementation Will Add Jobs... At First

ANN APRIL 1st "SPECIAL" EDITION: In a surprise move, the Obama administration has put NextGen Air Traffic Control on a fast track. Make that a really fast track.

Emerging from a hasty meeting with the US House Aviation Subcommittee, Ray LaHood (above) addressed reporters yesterday to discuss rumors of an imminent change in philosophy regarding the nation's air traffic control system.

LaHood confirmed a Government Accountability Office study predicts subsidies for purchases by aircraft owners of ADS-B, RNAV, RVSM and other equipment required for rapid implementation of NextGen in the US could get the new system up and running in just 18 months, and would pay for itself by reducing controller salary expenses and freeing the agency once and for all from the high costs of replacing vacuum tubes.

"At this critical time for our nation's economy, we have determined that subsidizing these costs for both commercial and general aviation will not only allow quick roll-out of NextGen, but provide more than 7,000,000 high-paying jobs for avionics techs," LaHood said. "When we looked at the numbers, there was just no way we could wait."

Acting FAA Administrator Lynne Osmus, who appeared with LaHood, commented, "My immediate predecessors danced around this issue, but let's face it. The FAA has a terrible relationship with its unions right now, and we're losing veteran air traffic controllers faster than we can find warm bodies."

Osmus continued, "We've recruited using Craig's List, the sides of buses, ads printed on lunch trays in high school cafeterias and even e-mail spam. Nothing's worked. If we can expedite this shift to new technology, controllers can essentially retire as fast as they can fill out the paperwork, and we can replace them with automation."

An official press release issued moments later revealed how the program will be administered. Each household in the US which includes a registered aircraft owner may request up to two "NextGen Converter Box Coupons" valued at $400 each, which can be used as credit against the purchase of ADS-B-ready Garmin GTX 330 transponders, and other equipment as it becomes available for NextGen. All aircraft with FAA airworthiness certificates which are currently equipped for IFR will be eligible, including some Light Sport Aircraft.

In depth analysis by ANN has determined that for the average owner of a Cessna 172, the coupons would bring the projected price of equipping for NextGen down from $34,500 to just $34,100.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the union representing FAA air traffic controllers, had no official comment, but spokesman Doug Church said he expects the union to stage a press conference later this week to declare a "Code Red Double Secret Staffing Emergency."

LaHood adds that the program will begin its rollout on Monday, April 13th, in time for many aircraft owners to augment the coupons with tax refunds and 2009 federal stimulus checks which will follow. He was asked how the government plans to start the conversion program without a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, public comments, or even a rough idea how NextGen will work, while facing a shortage of qualified avionics techs.

He explained. "Just as we found the necessary expertise to administer the coupons within the US Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration, we will leverage expertise developed within the Transportation Security Administration to immediately impose undefined programs which look unworkable. They do it all the time."

FMI: www.wannabeacontrollerprettyplease.gov