EAA's Jack Pelton Makes A Case Against ATC Privatization | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.14.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.15.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.16.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-07.17.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.11.25

Mon, Aug 07, 2017

EAA's Jack Pelton Makes A Case Against ATC Privatization

Says Control By Airlines Is A 'Bad Idea' In Editorial

EAA Chairman Jack Pelton is adamant that turning over control of ATC to a non-profit largely controlled by the airlines is a "bad idea."

In an editorial written for The Hill, Pelton (pictured) said that the plan put forth by House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) is not privatization in the true sense of the word at all. Such privatization, he said would mean "applying for-profit principles and benefits to a market opportunity with the goal of enhancing choice, efficiency and freedom. This proposal does none of that — it simply creates a corporate monopoly largely under the control of commercial aviation interests."

He said that the arguments that the plan would make air travel less expensive, faster and safer don't stand up to close scrutiny.

Pelton writes that, when looking at examples from other countries, privatizing the air traffic control system has led to a sharp drop in General Aviation activity. Canada saw sharp fee increases to cover fixed costs when the economy slowed, and that led to even less revenue when GA pilots cut their flying hours. The U.K. turned to a taxpayer bailout when flying fell sharply after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Pelton says he is concerned about reduced access for GA pilots to airports under a privatized system.

Pelton said that Congress should do its job properly and consistently funding the FAA so that equal access to the air traffic system for all users is maintained. He quotes Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), a member of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee for Transportation and Housing which recently rejected the privatization proposal during a markup hearing, as saying the plane "appears to be a solution in search of a problem."

(Image from file)

FMI: Original OpEd

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (07.15.25): Charted Visual Flight Procedure Approach

Charted Visual Flight Procedure Approach An approach conducted while operating on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan which authorizes the pilot of an aircraft to proceed >[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (07.15.25)

“When l became the Secretary of Defense, I committed to rebuild our military to match threats to capabilities. Drones are the biggest battlefield innovation in a generation, >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.15.25)

Aero Linx: Stearman Restorers Association Welcome to the Stearman Restorers Association. The Stearman Restorers Association is an independent “Not for Profit” 501C-3 Co>[...]

NTSB Final Report: Kjelsrud Gary Kitfox

Airplane Exhibited A Partial Loss Of Engine Power When It Was About Halfway Down The Runway Analysis: The pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane was departing from his pr>[...]

NTSB Prelim: Cessna A150L

The Flight Path Was Consistent With Low-Altitude Maneuvering On June 18, 2025, about 0922 mountain standard time, a Cessna A150L airplane, N6436F, was substantially damaged when it>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC