Says Proposal To Spin Off ATC Could Jeopardize FAA Reauthorization

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx says that spinning off ATC from the FAA could jeopardize the agency's overall funding.

The leadership of the House Transportation Committee introduced an FAA reauthorization bill Wednesday that would separate ATC from the agency and create a separate not-for-profit corporation that would run the nation's air traffic control system.

The Hill reports that in a briefing for reporters Tuesday, Foxx (pictured) said he is taking a "wait-and-see" attitude towards the proposal, but that the tight timeframe for passing the authorization for the agency is a cause for concern. "We're concerned obviously because we don't know what's on the other side of March. Regardless of what happens, we always prefer certainty and predictability," Foxx said.

Foxx said that he has studied privatized air traffic control systems such as those in place in Canada to see if any parallels can be drawn, but the U.S. system is more "complicated" that those in countries that have moved to privatized ATC systems.

Most of the nation's airlines have come out in favor of a privatized system, but most of the associations that represent GA and business aviation are against the proposal, particularly if it includes user fees.

(Image from file)

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