Wed, Nov 19, 2003
FAA Boss Sends Pointed Letter To Members of the US Senate
Administrator's Letter to Senators
November 17, 2003
Dear Senators:
I have received your
November 13, 2003 letter regarding the issue of contracting out
functions performed by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
employees. It is unfortunate that the recent debate on FAA's
pending reauthorization bill, Vision 100 - -The Century of Aviation
Reauthorization Act has led some to confuse maintaining the
status quo of the FAA's Contract Tower Program with privatizing our
nation's air traffic control system. Let me be absolutely
clear: the Administration has no plans to
privatize the nation's air traffic control system.
I welcome and respect the Committee's duty to perform oversight
of the FAA. I look forward to participating in the hearings you
described, as there are many misconceptions as to the FAA's plans
with respect to competitive sourcing that I would like to correct.
In the meantime, if the legislation is enacted in its current form,
you have my commitment that during the current fiscal year the FAA
will not contract out any air traffic separation and control
function currently performed by the FAA. Further, during
that period, the FAA will not convert any Visual Flight Rule (VFR)
tower to a contract tower.
I look forward to working with the Committee on the important
challenges facing the Federal Aviation Administration. The
Conference Report contains many provisions which will provide us
with important tools to enhance aviation safety, security, and
capacity. I hope that my assurances to the Committee will allow us
to move forward on this important piece of legislation.
Marion C. Blakey
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