Would Place Air Traffic Control Under A Non-Profit Corporation

Representative Bill Shuster (R-PA) (pictured), chair of the House Transportation Committee, told the Aero Club of Washington that he plans to introduce a bill in Congress to privatize the nation's Air Traffic Control system.

In his speech Monday, Shuster said that leaving the government in charge of ATC is "the surest road to failure."

The Associated Press reports that Shuster said that he believes the the U.S. is in danger of losing its lead in commercial aviation. "It's questionable whether our (air traffic) system is capable of just sustaining current demands — delays already cost passengers and the economy $30 billion a year. But, there's no question whether this system can handle the growth that's coming. It can't," he said.

The non-profit envisioned by Shuster would be controlled by the airlines and other industry stakeholders. The proposal is supported by Airlines for America, and controllers are "keeping an open mind" about any shift, according to the AP.

Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR), the ranking Democrat on the committee, said he has several "very serious" concerns about the idea, including its constitutionality and the logistics of separating ATC from the FAA.

Shuster said he plans to introduce the bill in July.

FMI: http://shuster.house.gov