Our current Air Traffic Control
system, run by the Federal Aviation Administration and funded by Congress, has
an airspace comprised of 21 zones divided into individual sectors. These
divisions include Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC), Air Route
Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC), the Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON),
Air Traffic Control Towers (ATCT), and Flight Service Stations (FSS)
(Freudenrich, 2018). President Trump wants to hand over this infrastructure to
a private, nonprofit entity with its own board made up of federal officials,
unions, airlines, and airports. The intent is for the FAA to oversee the
private entity, which would be funded by user fees such as takeoff and landing
charges, as opposed to the preexisting taxes on passenger tickets and fuel
(Marshall, 2017).
Regardless of what
happens, the Air Traffic Control system is in need of an upgrade. This upgrade
comes in the form of what we call the NextGen system. NextGen would eliminate
radar based tracking and introduce solely GPS options, it would get rid of
controller’s
voice commands for digital ones, and it would introduce more advanced software
in regards to flight planning. Ultimately, NextGen would allow the system to
operate more efficiently for cheaper, in addition to allowing aircraft to plan
faster and more direct routes (Marshall, 2017).
ATC
privatization is a well spoken about and against topic. The biggest issue people
have with privatizing, from everything I have researched, is the financial
aspect. Privatization essentially involves a shift from taxation to user fees
and ultimately results in an increase for general aviation. The National
Business Aviation Association (NBAA), along with a hundred other general
aviation organizations, oppose the privatization of ATC (NBAA, 2017). The NBAA,
according to a letter written to Congress, explained that types of reforms
would better the FAA’s
need to improve its ability to modernize our system, as opposed to implementing
something as expensive, and uncertain with room for unintended consequences
within privatizing (NBAA, 2017).
General
Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) also opposes the implementation of
ATC privatization. According to GAMA, they do not think we should risk nor
delay the United State’s
aviation system “for
a risky transition to a new privatized entity for which only untested
assertions about rewards or results can be made” (GAMA, 2017). Although other
countries have shifted to a privatized system like I will mention shortly, none
of those countries are as large or advanced as the current Air Traffic Control
system we have in the US.
ATC
privatization is being utilized in numerous overseas countries, to include
Canada, Switzerland, New Zealand, France, Germany, Australia, and the United
Kingdom (IBD, 2017). Most of the company’s
listed believe a private company can (and has) do a better and more efficient
job of investing new technology, lowering costs and improving reliability.
Rather than unreliable government funding, user fees, like I mentioned above,
are successfully paying to operate their systems. According to research, the
government’s
role overseas is limited to regulating the systems for safety, and more
responsibility and flexibility is given to those private owners (IBD, 2017). Most
of these company’s
have experienced success after transitioning to the private sector and believe
it is ran more efficiently than the current system in the United States.
The
privatizing of ATC is currently still in the implementation phase. The bill
would have to be introduced and approved by the House of Representatives, of which has been done in the past but denied (New York Times, 2016). There are
many conflicts of interest revolving around this subject, so it is not as easy
as the FAA making the decision to privatize or not to privatize on its own. As
to whether or not I believe the current ATC system would be more efficient if
it was privatized, I’m certainly conflicted like many others. There are pros
and cons to each side, but what exactly would
be the “right call” in regards to long-term success and efficiency? I am all
for advanced technology and creating something newer, greater, and more
efficient, so if things like the NextGen system or reevaluating government vs.
private sector options will give us that, then I’d gladly get behind it. The
dedicated time, resources, and advancements privatization offers could be that
efficient nudge the industry needs.
References:
Freudenrich, C. (2018). How Air
Traffic Control Works. Retrieved from https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/air-traffic-control.htm
GAMA (2017, June 5). GAMA Responds to
White House Air Traffic Control Privatization Principles. Retrieved from https://gama.aero/news-and-events/press-releases/gama-responds-to-white-house-air-traffic-control-privatization-principles/
Investor’s Business Daily (IBD).
(2017, June 5). Trump Wants To Privatize Air Traffic Control; Canada And Europe
Prove It Will Work. Retrieved from https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/trumps-plan-to-privatize-air-traffic-control-would-follow-canadas-and-europes-lead/
Marshall, A. (2017, June 6). So What’s
The Deal With Air Traffic Control Reform? Retrieved from https://www.wired.com/2017/06/trump-air-traffic-control-explained/
NBAA (2017). Largest-Ever Coalition
of GA Groups Tells Congress No To ATC Privatization. Retrieved from https://www.nbaa.org/news/pr/2017/20170712-045.php
New York Times (2016, February 15).
Don’t Privatize Air Traffic Control. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/15/opinion/dont-privatize-air-traffic-control.html
Very well written. I'm also conflicted with what side I support. Both sides have discussed good pros and cons but more leading to it being a better thing for the industry. If the private contractors can take over and implement the NextGen system faster, they might have a strong pull towards there side
ReplyDeleteI think the track record of other countries successfully managing private ATC systems for many years now is a good indication of its potential here for us. On the downside, privatized ATC is poised to deal a hard hit to GA if implemented. User fee distributions would have to be adjusted with leniancy for GA to keep aviation alive at the local level.
ReplyDeleteSome statements made on here were very on point, so to speak. I agree with you stating that the ATC privatization all comes down to the financial aspect of the operation. I also think that the issue is a matter of how can the change be beneficial to all parts of the industry (GA and airlines). The problem is though, it will never be possible to make a change that will benefit both sides equally. I am certain that one side, probably the GA, would experience a huge hit with if such changes to be made.
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