Reaction To Pending Approval of FAA Reauthorization Bill

The House of Representatives last week passed the huge FAA Reauthorization Bill, sending it on to the Senate where it's expected to be the subject of debate in the coming week. There are, of course, those who like it and those who don't. Here's a brief sampling...

NBAA Commends House Leaders For Passage Of FAA Reauthorization Bill

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Friday praised the U.S. House of Representatives for passage of critical aviation legislation and called for Senate leaders to act quickly to ensure final passage by Congress before the end of next week.

NBAA President and CEO Shelley A. Longmuir commended House Aviation Subcommittee Chairman John Mica (R-FL) and House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Don Young (R-AK) in particular for their leadership in gaining passage of H.R. 2115, Vision 100 - The Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act, which is critically important to all sectors of the aviation industry. "As I have emphasized before, this legislation provides for a strategic investment in an industry that feeds our national, regional and local economic engines," stated Longmuir.

Of particular importance to the general aviation community is the bill's call for increased investment in general aviation airports, $100 million in aid to general aviation entities harmed by the events of September 11, and a plan to restore access for all security-qualified general aviation operators to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

"NBAA's 7,500 Members rely on a safe, secure and efficient aviation system for time-critical, mission-driven transportation in communities all over the globe," said Longmuir. "Passage of this bill will inject nearly $60 billion of critical and timely investment in the nation's aviation system."

On the other hand, there are those who just don't like it at all -- at least, not the provision that calls for privatization of 69 air traffic control towers...

Litigation not Privatization

The Republican controlled Congress was able to pull it off and get the Aviation Bill through the House in spite of intense lobbying, against it, from concerned parties. Now, it goes to the Senate where the Democrats have threatened a filibuster.....and so they should.

PATCO does not support the privatization of Air Traffic Controllers or other Federal Jobs and it should be recognized for what it is....the Reagan agenda.  The FAA/Bush plan is to accelerate this anti-PATCO policy and preserve the legacy of  President  Reagan. When Reagan fired the PATCO Air Traffic Controllers in the strike of 1981 and banned them for life,  he promised the American public that he would rebuild the Air Traffic Control system.  His plan was smoke and mirrors which included the closing of FAA small towers and  contracting them out to non-union contractors and kept the PATCO controllers out of the FAA.  Years later, and trillions of dollars of taxpayers monies spent, the failed plan and truth of the Reagan agenda is clear and concise...dismantle the system, sub- out the Professional workers, and continue to keep the majority of  PATCO controllers “Locked Out” in spite of the ban being lifted by President Clinton. 

FAA Administrator, Marion Blakey, recently said she is concerned over FAA future staffing needs because of the number of retirements expected among current Air Traffic Controllers, but she fails to mention the available source of  PATCO Controllers that her agency has discriminated against and refused to hire. She is silent about the Federal Age Discrimination lawsuit that has been filed  in Miami, Florida on behalf of thousands of highly qualified PATCO Controllers who reapplied for their jobs and yet, are still illegally locked out.....interesting.  

The FAA is breaking the law and the Bush Administration’s policy on privatization is nothing more than a sham, designed to ignore and suppress the PATCO Controllers and continue the failed Reagan policy.  Litigation not privatization is where the truth lies, and therefore, we must trust only in a court of law.

FMI: www.nbaa.org, www.patco81.com