Hendricks: 'The Committee Should Build On Its Excellent Work Begun In The Last Reauthorization'

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) provided members of the Senate Commerce Committee with its views on air traffic control reform on Monday in advance of its hearing entitled, “FAA Reauthorization: Air Traffic Control Modernization and Reform.”

NATA President and CEO Thomas L. Hendricks expressed support for the injection of more private sector practices into the FAA suggesting, “The Committee should build on its excellent work begun in the last reauthorization and continue to assist the agency toward a more efficient operating structure. We believe it is possible to develop and deploy cutting-edge technology within the government structure and this is already occurring at the FAA.”

In its statement, NATA expressed doubts about proposals to change the organizational structure of the FAA, particularly questioning the advisability of separating air traffic from the FAA’s safety oversight arm as well as the potential threat such proposals pose to America’s vibrant general aviation community. “We are particularly concerned by Business Roundtable’s corporatization proposal – what we view as a classic example of logrolling.  Entirely funded via user fees and controlled in perpetuity by a board of industry insiders, general aviation would find itself in constant peril and the travelling public paying ever increasing fees,” said Hendricks.

Hendricks concluded, “While maintaining the status quo risks our nation’s supremacy in aviation, it is equally true that radical change to the FAA’s management structure and funding poses equal risks, including to the safe and stable nature of the world’s best air traffic control system.”

FMI: www.nata.aero