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

FMI: www.faa.gov