Shuster: 'We Can't Continue To Tinker Around The Edges' Of Air Traffic Control Restructuring

The Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General has released a report that looks at the privatized Air Traffic Control models from other nations as the U.S. Congress prepares to consider such a system domestically.

The OIG examined the systems employed by Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. Each has maintained government control of safety and regulatory functions but has commercialized their air traffic operations via independent air navigation service providers (ANSP). Unlike FAA, the ANSPs are financially self-supporting, and they do not embark on large modernization efforts or conduct extensive aviation research and development.

The OIG says that while several differences make comparisons between the U.S. aviation system and other countries’ systems difficult, such as the size and complexity of the U.S. system, there are several lessons that can be learned from examining other nations’ experiences in separating their aviation functions, including issues related to maintaining safety oversight and transitioning to the new organization.

The DOT IG report found that other industrialized countries have successfully separated their air traffic control (ATC) functions from their safety oversight and regulatory functions without compromising safety.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) released a statement following the release of the report.

“If we want to finally modernize our aviation system, reduce delays, and generate more efficiencies in our skies, we can’t continue to just tinker around the edges. We have to take action that transforms the way we do things,” Shuster said. “Today’s DOT IG report shows that other major industrial countries have successfully separated their ATC functions without negative impacts to safety, and these systems are able to make enough money to be self-sustaining. As Congress continues to work on FAA reauthorization and reform legislation, these examples demonstrate that ATC reform is a viable option that can benefit consumers and the aviation community.”
 
The U.S. aviation system is the busiest in the world and passenger levels are expected to reach one billion passengers annually by the end of the next decade. However, this growing demand will further burden an air traffic control system that is based on decades-old technology. Repeated federal efforts to modernize the system have failed, despite spending billions of taxpayer dollars. Furthermore, American innovation in the industry continues to be stifled by bureaucracy, and federal aviation funding remains subject to political uncertainty and budget battles. The Committee continues to develop legislation that ensures a safe, efficient, modern aviation system that benefits passengers with fewer delays and greater reliability, fosters innovation, and secures America’s future competitiveness in aviation.

FMI: IOG Report, http://transportation.house.gov