Air Traffic Controllers' Union Open To A Conversation On The Issue

As congress dithers about the federal budget, and in anticipation of cuts to the FAA, stakeholders are again starting to talk about removing the U.S. Air Traffic Control system from government control, and moving it to private or semi-private management.

More than 30 industrialized nations have privatized their air traffic control systems, according to a report in Bloomberg News, and such a move could shield the ongoing development and implementation of NextGen from political maneuvering. Elected officials from both parties have expressed concerns about the slow pace of the implementation of NextGen.

Paul Rinaldi, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said at a conference on NextGen in June that "we should have this discussion. I don't have the answers, but I do know the current system is broken."

NATCA has previously been strongly opposed to such a move.

The idea has been floated before. Such a proposal to create a government corporation to manage air traffic control put forth by then-President Bill Clinton drew the support of only two of 535 lawmakers. Fees proposed by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama also have met with vigorous opposition.

Now, the FAA is again talking about furloughing employees as further budget cuts are considered for FY2014. FAA Administrator Michael Huerta has said that the furloughs will slow the progress of NextGen.

House Transportation Committee Chair Bill Shuster (R-PA) said he is willing to "think big" on this issue, according to Republican Committee Staff Director Holly Woodruff Lyons.

FMI: www.faa.gov