Fuller's 'First Monday' Newsletter Raises Some GREAT Questions

Former AOPA Boss, Craig Fuller, publishes a monthly missive, called the "First Monday" Newsletter, in which he opines about all manner of subjects. The most recent effort raises questions about the plans, scheduled for Monday morning, by the Trump Administration to announce significant changes to the nations's Air Traffic Control system... a radical plan in which the President appears ready to set it up as an independent corporation outside of the FAA... a plan that has faced swift and aggressive opposition by all but a number of airlines... who seem think they they'll find a way to run the whole game.

Fuller's analysis, even before the specifics are announced, are intriguing...

"Reportedly, from the Rose Garden of the White House the President will share the results of a policy process conducted by his White House Economic Policy Council to reform the nation's air traffic control system. This after hearing just several weeks ago from airline CEO's that the nation would be better served by giving them more control of the system and placing it in a private entity.

After some additional outreach, a small group of smart people seemingly decided that they could do what has not been done in almost 40 years....they alone could draft a plan for air traffic control that better serves the nation.

What is so curious about this process is that the aviation community is, by necessity, one of the most collaborative groups in Washington, D.C. Literally hundreds of representatives from all segments of the aviation community (including over 100 from the airlines) meet regularly and have been charting the course to modernize the air traffic control system for almost a decade in the NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC).

Does it take time? Yes!  Because while modernizing the system, the air traffic control operation must manage fifty to sixty thousand flights a day. The fact that modernization has advanced with the full participation of each segment of the community while we have maintained the safest, largest, most complex and most efficient system in the world is remarkable. And, it's been done through periods of budget upheaval in Washington.

So, while it is very important for the new Administration to ask what could be done to further the modernization of the nation's air traffic control system and how best can we maintain the pace of change, for a group that must consider themselves the smartest people in the room to suddenly share their "principles" for reforming the system seems just a bit presumptuous."

The lengthy document looks at the plan, in light of its effect on a number of aviation segments and leaves one with the strong impression that the administration may be rushing this plan without proper study... or rationale.

Craig concludes the missive, stating that, "To conclude, I do believe raising important questions about sustained funding and infrastructure investment in our air transportation system is a good thing and something in which the Trump Administration should rightfully engage. To do so forces all segments of the aviation community to focus on what really is important with a hope that necessary and important initiatives will be widely embraced. However, change will only really come when the Administration and the aviation community actually work on a solution together through forums that exist to do just that!"

To read the entire newsletter, (which we highly recommend...), click on the link in the FMI below and be sure to subscribe to the newsletter... its well worth your time to do so. 

FMI: Craig Fuller's 'First Monday' Newsletter for June 5, 2017