Many airlines, though not all, have been pushing the U.S. to “privatize” the air traffic control system. [1] Delta is the only major U.S. airline that is opposing a plan from House Republicans to separate the nation’s air traffic control system from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). [2] President Donald Trump told airline and airport executives Thursday that he is interested in privatizing America’s air traffic control system and improving the nation’s airports and roads, which he called obsolete. [3] WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump gave a friendly ear Thursday to concerns from Dallas-based Southwest Airlines and other carriers about the need to modernize the nation’s air traffic control system. [1] Even more important to airlines is the state of the countrys aging air traffic control system, which has contributed to congestion around major airports. [4] Shuster and others in Congress, along with the airline industry, think it’s time for someone other than the FAA to operate the air traffic control system. [2] The U.S. airline industry reiterated its strong support earlier this week for its principal Washington cause: privatizing the nation’s aging, inefficient, air traffic control system and removing it from the Congressional budgeting process. [2] In addition to job creation and economic growth, industry sources expect the airline executives to especially broach the subject of modernizing the nations air traffic control system. [5]
The report, which was requested by Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), comes as Republicans in the House are pushing to privatize large portions of the nation’s air traffic control system. [2] The chances that the federal government could hand off the U.S. air traffic control system to private management are increasing, say advocates who report they are getting supportive feedback from President-elect Donald Trump and his team. [2] A Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives panel approved legislation to privatize the U.S. air traffic control system on Thursday as part of a six-year bill to authorize funding for the Federal Aviation Administration. [2] As managed by the Federal Aviation Administration, the nations air traffic control system has for decades prompted complaints about faltering funding from Congress and a top-heavy bureaucracy that is slow to exploit new technology. [2]
Delta has said the independent air traffic control proposal would amount to a privatization of the nation’s flight navigation system, which the company has said will result in higher air fares for U.S. passengers. [2] Shuster and other privatization advocates argue that spinning off air traffic control into a non-government entity would allow for a more efficient system and rapid, cost-effective improvements of technology, in part by avoiding the government procurement process. [2]
The transportation department’s watchdog said Wednesday that it examined similar at least semi-private air traffic control systems in four countries and found “significant differences” between the FAA and other nation’s airplane navigation sytems “operational and financing structures, as well as their approaches to modernization efforts. [2] The report contrast the findings about the partially privatized foreign air traffic control systems in other parts of the world to the FAA, which has come under fire for rising costs and delays in the implementation of a new satellite-based flight navigation system known as NextGen. [2] It’s called NextGen, and very simply put, it would replace the current air traffic control system with one based on GPS satellites, which would be more precise and allow more flights, closer together. [2] Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA) introduced legislation today that would remove 30,000 federal employees from the governments payroll while simultaneously turning much of the nations air traffic control system over to an independently operated, non-profit corporation. [2] A report from the Department of Transportation’s Inspector General found “significant differences” between the U.S. air traffic control system and other nation’s methods for managing flight movements. [2] The big news is that Shusters bill would create a new, non-profit, non-governmental, self-funding organization that would take over operation and further development of the nations air traffic control system. [2] Fifty-five percent of voters are opposed to a Republican plan to privatize some facets of the nations air traffic control system, according to a new poll released on Thursday. [2] Nick Calio, president and CEO of Airlines for America, the trade association that represents the major airlines, said after the White House meeting that Trump was “extraordinarily positive” when airline executives urged him to spin off air traffic control operations from the Federal Aviation Administration and place them under the control of a private, nonprofit corporation. [6] Gary Kelly, CEO of Southwest Airlines, told Trump during the meeting the top priority for helping airlines would be to “modernize the air traffic control system.” [6] House Transportation Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), along with some of the nations major airlines, has advocated for a proposal to separate air traffic control from the federal government. [5] The FAA said it has spent $7.5 billion on modernizing air traffic control in the last seven years, resulting in $2.7 billion in benefits to passengers and airlines. [3] The proposal, which calls for the creation of a new nongovernmental organization that would take over air traffic control from the FAA, has created divisions in the airline industry at a time when lawmakers are debating a new aviation funding measure. [2] Some airline executives and Republicans in Congress have proposed privatizing air traffic control because they say the Federal Aviation Administration has moved too slowly on modernization and would benefit by being removed from the uncertain congressional budget process. [3] Several U.S. carriers, including American and Southwest, have pushed to “privatize” the system by shifting oversight of air traffic control from the Federal Aviation Administration to a nonprofit corporation. [4] GOP leaders in the House have pushed to create a private air traffic control organization that would be separate from the FAA as the agency struggles to meet deadlines for upgrading the flight navigation system. [2] Mica and other supporters of privatizing at least some of the FAA’s air traffic control functions have often cited the creation of a similar system in Canada that is known as NavCanada. [2]
The FAA’s funding is set to expire in September, and Republicans in Congress are pushing to privatize at least some air traffic control functions that are currently performed by the agency as it considers a potential extension of the aviation spending. [2] Delta has been a vocal opponent of privatization, calling for continued improvement of air traffic control under the current management structure. [4] Like the Gulf carrier issue, the airline industry isnt united on the best path forward for air traffic control. [4] The union that represents U.S. air traffic controllers signaled Monday that it could consider a Republican plan to privatize some facets of the nations air traffic control, but only after lawmakers approve a new round of funding for the Federal Aviation Administration. [2] The Houses Aviation Innovation, Reform and Reauthorization bill would remove 30,000 employees from the federal payroll, transitioning air traffic control responsibilities to a non-profit corporation. [2] Kelly, seated across from Trump, pitched the president on the idea of creating a nonprofit group to handle air traffic control. [1] Shuster told The Hill last month that he has talked to Trump “a couple of times” about the idea of overhauling air traffic control, adding that Trumps “response has been positive.” [5] Elaine Chao, President-elect Donald Trump‘s nominee to run the Department of Transportation, steered clear of taking a position on privatizing air traffic control (ATC) during her nomination hearing Wednesday before the Senate Committee on Science, Commerce Transportation. [2] The poll also found that while 43 percent of people support the general idea of privatizing government functions, just 26 percent of people supported doing so for air traffic control. [5] The leaders of seven different FAA unions appealed to House lawmakers to reject efforts to privatize the agencys air traffic control functions. [2] Proponents of the proposal, however, have emphasized that the FAA still would maintain oversight of air traffic control. [5] Unlike the U.S., most countries separate their air traffic control operations from their aviation safety oversight agency. [6] The telephone survey, conducted by Global Strategy Group on behalf of the Alliance for Aviation Across America, the Air Care Alliance and the League of Rural Voters, shows that 88 percent of respondents rated the FAAs current air traffic control operations as positive. [5] The prospect of privatizing air traffic operations–and possibly, the procurement responsibilities for NextGen air traffic control modernization–raises many questions. [2] Unlike its counterpart in the House, however, it does not de-federalize air traffic control. [2]
While Trump supported modernizing the air traffic system, he did not explicitly endorse privatization, said another participant, Kevin Burke, president of Airports Council International-North America. [3] Airlines — with the notable exception of Delta — have complained the FAA is taking too long to modernize the air traffic system. [6] Major airlines and their trade associations are pushing hard to overhaul the nations air traffic control system, urging the Trump administration to take it out of government hands for the first time in nearly 60 years. [7] President Donald Trump shared with airline and airport executives his thoughts on privatizing America’s air traffic control system during a White House meeting this Thursday, arguing the system is “totally out of whack,” as told by the Washington Post. [8] Business aviation and other interests are stepping up their campaigns against a push for a user-funded independent air traffic control system in light of last weeks meeting between President Donald Trump and airline and airport interests. [9]
Some Republican Congressmen have joined airline executives in proposing the privatization of the air traffic control system, currently overlooked by the Federal Aviation Administration. [8] United Airlines President Scott Kirby discussed the company’s support for privatizing the air traffic control system when he was in Houston last week. [10]
Today, NPR broaches the next step in privatization : turning the entire air traffic control system over to a private company to run. [11] “That really speaks to how people are understanding of the unique role the FAA plays in our air traffic control system,” said Air Care Alliance executive vice president Charles (Lindy) Kirkland. [9] President Trump says he likes the idea of privatizing the nation’s air traffic control system, a topic that most people won’t understand or consider with the big pictures, and understandably so. [11] “We all agree that we need to modernize our air traffic control system,” added Alliance for Aviation Across America executive director Selena Shilad. [9] The National Business Aviation Association said in a statement Monday that it could not support any plan to privatize the nations air traffic control system. [7] Canada‘s air traffic control system is run by a nonprofit private company with pilots assessed user fees for services rendered. [11] The nation’s air traffic control system is one of those government programs that actually works. [11] “Our air traffic control system is considered the best,” Moran said, citing its safety record and passenger volume. [7]
Afterward, Airlines for America president and CEO Nicholas Calio had said he was “encouraged by in-depth understanding of our industry and the need to reform our air traffic control system.” [9] Sharon Pinkerton, vice president of industry trade group Airlines for America, says air traffic control is “very technology focused and we need to have a very nimble organization and one that’s not subject to politics or an annual appropriations process, that’s going to enable it to get NextGen done quickly.” [11]
Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly was pleased with the idea to remove air traffic control operations from the FAA and place them under the supervision of a private nonprofit corporation. [8]
Not everyone supports the privatization of air traffic control. [10] It’s not just industry and the GOP that support extracting the air traffic control organization from the FAA. The union that represents air traffic controllers is on board too. [11] Some put the blame on the FAA, for the snails’ pace roll out of NextGen. Robert Poole, a transportation analyst with the Reason Foundation, a libertarian think tank, calls the air traffic control function of the FAA “a 24-hour, seven days a week, high-tech service business trapped inside a government bureaucracy.” [11] According to a recent phone survey by Alliance for Aviation Across America, the League of Rural Voters and the Air Care Alliance, 62 percent of those polled either strongly or somewhat opposed privatizing air traffic control functions “by taking it from the FAA and turning it over to a nonprofit corporation.” [10] Unlike the U.S., most countries separate air traffic control duties from their aviationsafety organizations, but privatizing operations is uncommon as well. [8]
U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, who chairs the House of Representatives Transportation Committee, has met with Trump and incoming Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to make his case for moving the nation’s 14,500 air traffic controllers and their mission out of government control and into a non-profit organization. [2]
The FAA would retain its role as an oversight agency Shuster won surprising support from the controllers union, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, which argued that spinning off controllers into a private entity would protect them from the threat of government shutdowns and uncertain federal funding. [2] National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Paul Rinaldi said Monday that Congress should focus first on extending the FAA’s funding, but he said he would be willing to talk about efforts to reform the agency after the aviation money is firmly put in place. [2] Some lawmakers in both parties object to removing air traffic operations from the control of Congress because it would reduce their influence over aviation. [6] Each of the four nations we examined–Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France–has maintained government control of safety and regulatory functions but has commercialized their air traffic operations via independent air navigation service providers (ANSP). [2]
The new air traffic operator is to have a 13-member board of directors, with four of them representing airlines, three representing the owners and operators of private planes and one for aerospace manufacturers. [2] WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump told airline and airport executives Thursday that he is interested in privatizing America’s air traffic control system and improving the nation’s airports and roads, which he called obsolete. [12] “We want to get the government out of the role of managing the air traffic control system,” Gary Kelly, Southwest Airlines Co’s chief executive officer, told Trump during the picture-taking session. [13] Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly told Trump the best way to help airlines would be to “modernize the air traffic control system [14] Washington, DC, Feb. 9, 2017 – National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen today issued the following statement, regarding comments made in conjunction with a meeting between President Donald Trump and several airline CEOs, which included discussion of creating a privatized Air Traffic Control (ATC) system, funded by user fees – a concept long pushed by the airlines. [15]
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump called the U.S. air traffic control system out of date on Thursday and criticized its $10 billion yearly price tag but stopped short of calling for privatization of the program. [13] The majority of Americans across gender, political affiliation and age groups oppose privatization of the U.S. air traffic control system, according to a recent poll. [16] Although voters surveyed were evenly split on the merits of privatizing government services generally, when asked about operation of the air traffic control system, those surveyed were opposed to privatization 62% to 26%–a ratio of more than 2:1. [16]
Some airline executives and Republicans in Congress have proposed the privatization of air traffic control because they say the FAA has moved too slowly on modernization and would benefit by being removed from the uncertain congressional budget process. [14]
The privatization effort has the backing of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, although other FAA unions are opposed. [6] The letter comes two days after National Air Traffic Controllers Association president Paul Rinaldi called upon Washington leaders to ensure a stable funding stream for the agency. [2] That frustration led Shuster to a radical proposal a year ago: Move 14,000 air traffic controllers, and the NextGen modernization staff, to a nonprofit corporation. [2] The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the union that represents controllers, came out in favor of Shuster’s legislation earlier this year. [2] In a significant move executive board of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the union representing controllers, announced its support Wednesday for the legislation. [2]
Self-funded ANSP models such as Airservices Australia, DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung, NATS, and Nav Canada are being discussed by a surprising set of people, given the history of prior debates over “privatizing” U.S. air traffic control. [2]
Opponents of spinning off air-traffic control say that the plan would give too much oversight to airlines, that the government should maintain control for national security reasons and that the existing system isnt broken. [2] The chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said he is drafting legislation to create a federally chartered but “fully independent, not-for-profit” corporation intended to operate and modernize the U.S. air-traffic control system. [2] As expected, it doesnt follow the lead of House Republicans who want to shift the agencys air-traffic control system and some 38,000 employees under the control of an independent, nonprofit corporation. [2]
The proposal to put air traffic control under the purview of a private boardmakes us extremely nervous.” [9] Edwards said these problems could be solved by removing air traffic control from federal hands, as dozens of other countries already have. [7]
The airlines are pushing for privatization of the Air Traffic Control system. [17] Major airlines have pushed to privatize the air traffic control system, though Delta opposes privatization of the system. [18]
Among those surveyed, 88% had a positive view of the job done by the FAA in operating the air traffic control system, and 8% of surveyed voters had a negative view. [16] Trump said he had been informed that ongoing modernization efforts to the air traffic control system were already obsolete by the pilot of his private jet. [13]
“Trump was extraordinarily positive”, when airline executives urged him to spin off air traffic control operations from the Federal Aviation Administration and place them under the control of a private, non-profit corporation, said Nick Calio, president of Airlines for America. [14] The Federal Aviation Administration spends nearly $10 billion a year on air traffic control funded largely through passenger user fees, and has about 28,000 air traffic control personnel. [13]
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump told airline and airport executives Thursday that he supports privatizing America’s air traffic control system, according to a top airline industry lobbyist who was in the meeting. [19] Infrastructure: At a meeting with airline industry executives, President Trump complained about the nation’s costly, inefficient, outmoded air traffic control system. [20]
Most major airlines have pushed to privatize the air traffic control system, though Delta opposes it. [21] Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly said the top priority for helping airlines is to modernize the air traffic control system. [18] The airline industry wants us to believe they can band together and operate the nations air traffic control system fairly, efficiently and most important to those who fly, safely. [22]
The plan for privatization leaves little room for government supervision over an inherently governmental function, would transfer all government air traffic control to an AMTRAK-like entity controlled by the airlines, and grant a long list of demands sought by the air controller union, including the right to strike. [17] At the top of the list, no doubt, is the airlines favorite pet project: the privatization of air traffic control. [23]
While Trump supports modernizing the air traffic system, he did not explicitly endorse privatization, said Kevin Burke, president of Airports Council International-North America. [14] CEOs from American, Delta and United will meet with President Trump Thursday, and likely will discuss placing limits on foreign air competition, and air traffic control privatization. [17] Up north, meanwhile, the Canadian air traffic control system — which is the second busiest after the U.S. — has already deployed truly state-of-the-art technology throughout its system, letting it handle 50% more traffic while trimming its work force by 30%. [20] For that and many other reasons, we remain unconvinced that privatizing the air traffic control system would lead to improvement. [24] That is to say, the Chairman is citing this report, among many from the IG, as basis for ” privatizing” and/or “corporatizing” the Air Traffic Control System. [24]
In August 2015, the Chairmen and then later, the Ranking Members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Subcommittee on Aviation requested that the U.S. DOT Inspector General of review the causes of recent disruptions and whether FAA possesses the ability to manage air traffic control crises that arise within the National Airspace System (NAS). [24] House Transportation Committee chairman Bud Shuster has been pushing legislation that would spin off the U.S. air traffic control along the lines of Nav Canada, so far with little success. [20]
Republicans proposed last year to privatize air traffic control services and place them under the control of an airline dominated board. [24]
The National Air Traffic Controller Association is pro-privatization, while other FAA unions are against it, reasoning they have made significant progress regarding modernization throughout the past ten years and airlines have been direct recipients of the benefits. [8] National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Paul Rinaldi said Monday that Congress should focus first on extending the FAA’s funding, but he said he would be willing to talk about efforts to reform the agency after the aviation money is firmly put in place. [11] While the business and rural interests outlined their concerns and latest poll results, an organization that represents consumer interests, the Americans Against Air Traffic Privatization, also came out with warnings following the Trump meeting. [9]
Although Trump accepted the obsolete nature of the system compared to other countries’ airports and welcomed the idea to take back control, he did not, however, endorse privatization explicitly, said a participant of the meeting to the Washington Post. [8] ” meeting between President Trump and airline executives pulled the curtain back on the true incentives behind privatizing our nation’s ATC system: corporate control at the exclusion of workers and taxpayers,” spokeswoman Julia Alschuler charged, adding, the “meeting makes clear that this would be an unprecedented giveaway to special interests in Washington.” [9]
The Alliance for Aviation Across America, along with the League of Rural Voters and the Air Care Alliance, last week released the results of a poll showing 62 percent of the respondents opposed privatization of the nations ATC system, while only 26 percent supported it. [9] By contrast, Poole says an air traffic system operated outside the FAA “wouldn’t have civil service culture, they wouldn’t be as risk averse and status quo oriented as they are, they’d be able to hire and keep really top notch engineers and software writers and program managers and hold them accountable for results.” [11] The idea may have picked up some steam this week when the union for air traffic controllers who’ve been victimized by the gridlock in Washington signaled it might support turning the whole operation over to private interests, The Hill reported. [11]
Some in Congress and the airline industry have been highly critical of long-running attempts to improve the air traffic control system, an effort dubbed NextGen, and have called for a massive privatization of air traffic controllers and other Federal Aviation Administration staff. [25] WASHINGTON – A top airline industry lobbyist says President Donald Trump was “extraordinarily positive” when airline executives urged him to support privatizing America’s air traffic control system. [26]
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — CEOs from the major U.S. Airlines will meet with President Trump on Thursday and will likely discuss air traffic control privatization and further limitations on foreign air competition. [27] The plan for privatization leaves little room for government oversight over an inherently governmental function, would transfer all government air traffic control to a AMTRAK like entity controlled by the airlines, and grant a long list of demands sought by air controller union including the right to strike. [27]
Trump is calling for privatization of the air traffic control system. [28] Southwest chief executive Gary Kelly picked up that theme later in the meeting, noting that the airlines’ top priority would be to “modernize the air traffic control system” and arguing that money spent thus far has done little to help, according to a pool report from the meeting. [25]
The industry wants to accelerate the rollout of NextGen, a satellite-based control system that would replace ground-based radar technology. [7]
Although FAA has established a new policy for enhancing facility operational contingency plans, 3 including new requirements for transferring airspace and air traffic control responsibilities to other facilities (i.e., airspace divestment), the Agencys procedures for updating contingency plans remain incomplete. [24] FAA has taken steps to improve the effectiveness of its operational contingency plans ; however, significant work remains to mitigate the impact of air traffic control disruptions. [24]
Privatize air traffic control, and Trump can make air travel cheaper, faster and safer. [20] Contingency plan training has not been fully implemented at all air traffic control facilities because the plans themselves are not yet complete. [24] What’s the difference In 1996 Canada sold its government-run air traffic control to a nonprofit corporation called Nav Canada. [20]
“Many residents blame the increase in noise to the Federal Aviation Administrations upgrade of its flight navigation system, known as NextGen. The multi-billion dollar initiative is designed to modernize the nations air traffic control systems by switching from radar to satellite navigation.” [28]
The privatization effort has support from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, although other FAA unions are opposed. [14] The National Air Traffic Controllers Association is supporting the measure because they claim that it would stabilize the funding stream for the FAA rather than leaving it up to the whims of a gridlocked Congress. [29]
, the airlines are pushing for privatisation of the ATC system and the plan for privatisation leaves little room for government oversight over an inherently governmental function, would transfer all government air traffic control to a AMTRAK like entity controlled by the airlines and grant a long list of demands sought by air controller union including the right to strike. [30] The criticism of the FAA comes as some members of Congress and most of the major airlines push to spin off the air traffic control operation into a separate organization, and as FAA tries to implement the long-delayed NextGen system to modernize its aging technology. [31]
Airlines have complained the FAA is taking too long to modernize the air traffic system. [26]
He says he expects Trump will back legislation to spin off air traffic control operations from the Federal Aviation Administration and place them under the control of a private, nonprofit corporation. [26] Nick Calio, president and CEO of Airlines for America, said after a White House meeting between Trump and airline and airport executives that he expects Trump will back legislation to spin off air traffic control operations from the Federal Aviation Administration. [32] While Trump sounded a sympathetic note on a possible air traffic control overhaul, which U.S. airlines except for Delta support, participants at the meeting said he stopped short of backing the initiatives like the one pushed by lawmakers like House Transportation Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.). [31]
Although Trump did not directly refer to the FAAs ongoing effort to modernize the U.S. air traffic control system by name, in focus were other topics including the timing, investment and a Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure proposal by Chairman Bill Shuster to separate the FAAs current role as the U.S. Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) into a nonprofit corporation separated from its role as the nations civil aviation safety regulator. [33] WASHINGTON, U.S. – U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed interest in privatizing the country’s air traffic control system and improving the nation’s airports and roads, which he called obsolete. [34] President Donald Trump mocked the Federal Aviation Administration’s overhaul of the air traffic control system on Thursday and pledged to rebuild the nation’s airports without hiking costs for travelers. [31]
A recent inspector general report, meanwhile, showed that the aviation agency has struggled to modernize the air traffic control system, an effort dubbed NextGen, which aims to establish a precise satellite-based surveillance system and digital data communications for air traffic controllers and pilots. [34]
Privatization has become one of the biggest buzz words used by major media outlets and aviation industry leaders to describe the proposed overhaul of the FAA. However, supporters of the proposal to restructure the FAA have pointed out that private companies are already used as contractors by the FAAs Air Traffic Organization (ATO) to staff some U.S. Air Traffic Control (ATC) towers. [33] Nick Calio, president of Airlines for America, the trade group that represents most major airlines except Delta, said Trump was “extraordinarily positive” when airline executives called on him to remove air traffic control operations from the hands of the Federal Aviation Administration and place them under the control of a private, non-profit corporation. [34]
U.S. airline profits have soared to record levels as four big airlines control 85% of ever shrinking seats, while passengers face reduction in flights, longer less reliable air travel especially from small and medium size cities. [17] General aviation groups fear that any such move would lead to the airlines having out-sized control over the new entity and impose fees and restrictions on GA. (In fact the airlines are demanding seats on the board of any private entity) The fact is any such move would be the largest transfer of government property to the private sector in history and would be a total abrogation of Congress’s responsibility to fund the national airspace system. [23]
Major airlines and the union representing air traffic controllers are behind it. [20] In the aftermath of the Chicago Center incident, FAA updated its contingency plan policy to include goals to achieve 90 percent capacity at the top 30 airports with the most passenger activity within 24 hours, and 90 percent capacity at facilities that manage air traffic at high altitude and in the vicinity of airports within 96 hours. [24] Strong contingency plans and internal controls are vital to recovery from large-scale disruptions to air traffic services, regardless of the cause. [24] ” Aviation system inefficiency and delays cost passengers and the economy over $30 billion every year, but unfortunately, the FAAs chronic inability to modernize air traffic services technology is also negatively impacting their ability to address major operational disruptions and reduce delays. [24] “This report adds to the sea of evidence supporting the need for real reform in modernizing and managing air traffic services, and letting the FAA focus on its safety mission.” [24] “In response to the Chicago Center fire, FAA planned to initiate a comprehensive evaluation of how planned NextGen capabilities could enhance the resiliency and continuity of NAS operations for all air traffic services. [24] Started in 2004, NextGen was supposed to replace the outdated radar, radio communications, and strips of paper still used by air traffic controllers. [20]
During the meeting between aviation executives and President Trump Thursday, airlines expressed the need for new management of the FAAs billion-dollar effort to upgrade the air traffic system, claiming that a newly formed nonprofit corporation could get the upgrade completed faster and would provide more actionable benefits to airports and airspace users. [33] Issues likely to be discussed at the meeting are: Air Traffic Control (ATC) privatisation and further limitations on foreign air competition. [30] “There are 252 air traffic control towers run by three private companies. [33] “We’ve spent billions of dollars on the air traffic control modernization but its not making any meaningful progress.” [33]
Ford is on tape asking air traffic controllers: “Was that airliner meant to be underneath me” The FAA is now investigating the incident. [35] “I hear we’re spending billions and billions of dollars, it’s a system that’s totally out of whack,” Trump said of the air traffic system. [25]
POSSIBLY USEFUL
JetBlue confirmed in an email to The Hill that the airline will be participating, and so will Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines and executives from air cargo carriers and airport officials, according to CNN Money. [5] A spokesperson for American Airlines said their annual leadership conference in Texas is “unfortunately” preventing their CEO from making the meeting, but the company “looks forward to working with this administration to ensure all Americans have access to safe and efficient air travel.” [5] Delta Air Lines CEO Edward Bastian and United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz are slated to attend the meeting, according to the chairmen of Delta’s and Uniteds pilot groups. [5] Among the other officials participating in the event were Delta Air Lines chief executive Ed Bastian, United Airlines chief executive Oscar Munoz, Alaska Airlines chief executive Brad Tilden, JetBlue Airways chief executive Robin Hayes and FedEx president Dave Bronczek. [1]
Heads of several major U.S. airlines will sit down with President Trump at the White House Thursday morning to discuss the industrys role in jobs and the economy. [5] When U.S. airline CEOs enter the White House for a meeting Thursday with President Donald Trump, theyll be sitting down with the only commander in chief to have also owned an airline. [4]
Airline and airport executives who emerged from the White House meeting called it a positive session. [3]
Airport officials told Trump they’d like to increase the fee airline passengers pay airports as part of their tickets so that the money could help with modernization. [3] He sounded skeptical about raising fees that airline passengers pay to fund airport improvements. [3] Protests against last month’s order clogged airports, and airlines struggled to comply with the requirement to ban some of their passengers from traveling. [3] The bill stalled, however, after running into opposition from other top lawmakers and business-jet owners, who fear that the private corporation’s board would be dominated by airlines, and that they would lose access to larger airports and pay a larger share of the system’s costs. [3] The presidents words which also included an apparent broadside aimed at the head of the Federal Aviation Administration drew rapid praise from airlines that favor splitting air-traffic from the FAA. Such a measure was included last year in House legislation setting FAA policy, but stalled in the Senate and wasnt included in the final bill. [2]
American, Delta and United have pushed the U.S. government for several years to crack down on the foreign airlines over alleged government subsidies theyve received. [4] American, Delta and United have long cried foul over their charge that three state-owned airlines in the Middle East have used large government subsidies to boost their expansion into the U.S. That would distort the market, putting U.S. carriers at a competitive disadvantage. [1]
The U.S. airlines and their unions say Norwegian and the Middle Eastern carriers threaten American jobs. [3] American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said in a letter to employees that the Trump order “does not affect the values that this company is built upon — those of diversity, inclusiveness and tolerance.” [3] United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz, who was at the session with Trump, has also criticized the order. [3] Airlines could look to the Trump administration for a lift on a litany of smaller issues. [4] Trump, who once ran his own airline, pledged to help the airlines deliver “the greatest service” with minimum delays and at the lowest cost. [3]
The president asked why airline corporations had allowed the government to invest in a faulty system. [6] The current FAA-run system costs $2.07 per mile, 8 cents cheaper than Nav Canada charges, according to a recent study by Bob Mann, an industry consultant and former American Airlines executive. [2] Trump, speaking at a meeting of airline executives and other aviation industry officials, made the strongest comments to date from the White House on problems with the air-traffic system. [2] President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with airline executives in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017. [3] In meeting with Trump, the airline executives sat down with a man who was once one of their own. [1]
A privatization effort stalled in Congress last year, but airlines are likely to try again when the FAAs funding comes up for reauthorization later this year. [4] Delta (DAL), the world’s second-largest airline, remains opposed to privatization. [2]
Advocates of full privatization or a hybrid public-private corporation believe a new structure would bring more reliable funding than the current mix of unstable congressional appropriations and a hodgepodge of taxes that go into a fund that supports air navigation as well as airport infrastructure and other functions. [2] Besides Southwest, Trump met with the chief executives of Delta, United, and JetBlue, executives from air cargo companies, and officials from several airports. [6]
The poll, conducted by the Global Strategy Group on behalf of the Air Care Alliance, League of Rural Voters and Alliance for Aviation Across America, found that 55 percent of voters oppose the idea of “privatizing the ATC functions of the FAA ‘by taking it from the FAA and turning it over to a non-profit corporation.’” [2] Another hot-button issue that is likely to come up during the White House meeting on Thursday is the Obama administrations controversial decision to allow Europe-based Norwegian Air Shuttle to expand to the U.S. through an Irish-based subsidiary called Norwegian Air International. [5] Earlier this week White House press secretary Sean Spicer praised the economic impact of Norwegian Air, which is basing pilots in the U.S. and ordering U.S.-made planes from Boeing. [3]
“Doug shares President Trump’s commitment to modernizing our nation’s infrastructure and looks forward to working with his administration to ensure all Americans have access to safe and efficient air travel.” [4] The discussion came as part of what appeared to be a far-reaching conversation about overhauling the Federal Aviation Administration and other parts of air travel. [1]
A key player in air traffic–pilots–have an open mind about the proposal but have devised an “absolutely essential” four-part test for any reform legislation To gain pilots support, Canoll said, any new system must be as safe as the FAAs, structured as a not-for-profit financed by “fair and equitable” fees across all airspace users, and offer collective bargaining rights to employees. [2]
In the months since then, both before and after the short-term FAA rescue by Congress, there has been extensive private discussion among aviation stakeholders about how the United States is the only developed nation whose ATC system can become a political football, held hostage to overall national government budget problems. [2] On February 27, it sent a strongly worded letter to the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate committees that deal with aviation saying that the funding and governance system for the FAA is broken and needs to be replaced. [2]
Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., the chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said the change that most airlines have embraced would provide more stable funding for operations and for upgrading equipment. [2] FAA officials maintain that they have made significant progress over the past 10 years of the modernization effort, and that airlines have begun to reap the benefits of those changes. [6] Like their counterparts from other industries, airline CEOs are trying to forge a relationship with a president who has championed business-friendly policies but is also unafraid to target a company in a tweet. [4] A Southwest Airlines spokesman said CEO Gary Kelly plans to attend. [4] These groups support Mr. Shusters plan, including not only commercial airlines but also the air-traffic controllers union, which had objected to similar plans in the past. [2] The U.S. airlines contend these subsidies, which they estimate at $50 billion, unfairly distort the competitive market. [4] Robert Mann, an airline consultant and former American executive, said airline leaders were wise not to bring up the subject on Thursday. [3] Missing from the bunch was Doug Parker, chief executive of Fort Worth-based American Airlines. [1]
“I don’t know that it’s clear exactly what the administration’s focus will be in aviation,” Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly said during a January earnings call. [4] Critics say such a move would incur costly new fees on airlines and private pilots alike. [2] Airlines oppose an increase, and Trump said he doesn’t like raising fees, participants said. [3]
Its less his industry background –he owned Trump Airlines from 1989 to 1992 –and more his views on international competition, infrastructure investment and regulatory reform that have airline executives optimistic about what his administration can do for their businesses. [4] Trump also hedged his bets — at least in the part of the meeting viewed by reporters — on one appeal from the airline industry that has obvious ties to the president’s “America first” approach. [1]
Steve Dickson, has argued that privatizing air-traffic control wont reduce heavy traffic in the Northeast and could distract from current efforts to ease congestion. [2] In its response to a Department of Transportation Inspector General report on different models, the FAA noted earlier this month that it “controls 60 percent more flights than all 40” of the European airspace control centers combined. [2] Not only does Delta oppose the spin-off plan, but so do some Republican members in Congress, who worry about removing the operations from the control of appropriators and tax-writers. [5]
The AFL-CIOs Transport Trades Department, a coalition of unions whose members work in aviation, has said its willing to consider changes but strongly opposes any privatization plans that involve a for-profit corporation or shifting FAA employees to a private entity. [2] Abstract: In 1996, Congress established the Airport Privatization Pilot Program (APPP; 49 U.S.C. 47134; Section 149 of the Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 1996, P.L. 104-264) to increase access to sources of private capital for airport development and to make airports more efficient, competitive, and financially viable. [2] Only two U.S. commercial service airports have completed the privatization process established under the APPP. One of those, Stewart International Airport in New York State, subsequently reverted to public ownership. [2]
Capping months of studies and deliberations about possible privatization by industry officials and outside experts, a hearing on Tuesday morning highlighted bipartisan support for taking up the issue as part of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill. [2] Only 29 percent of voters say they approve of the plan, although 51 percent of voters say they support other forms of government privatization, according to the poll. [2]
The union representing the nations air-traffic controllers hasnt jumped on the privatization bandwagon either, but its president has publicly expressed a willingness to talk about options while demanding changes to provide stable funding. [2] That Senate Republicans remain divided on the issue was evident at Chaos confirmation hearing, where Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) said he opposed the privatization plan and pressed Chao to move forward with NextGen. [2] Mr. Shuster and his colleagues have pointed to this as a rationale for privatization, but they conveniently ignore the problems private companies often have with such large technical projects. [2]
The Senate voted 95-3 to approve a Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill that beefs up airport security, promotes widespread uses of commercial drones and streamlines certification of new safety systems for private planes. [2] President Donald Trump called the U.S. air-traffic system “obsolete” Thursday in comments that were cheered by proponents of taking the job of monitoring the skies away from government. [2] With Congress gearing up to reauthorize the FAA by September, Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., is taxiing down the legislative runway with a plan to transform the current “dysfunctional” system by moving much of its management of 15,000 employees out of government and into a new corporation. [2] In a speech and a list of legislative “principles” released Monday, Rep. Bill Shuster, a Pennsylvania Republican who has strongly hinted about such plans, asserted that the current federally run system has been battered by budget roller coasters and failed to keep up with traffic growth. [2] At a recent congressional hearing, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster, R-Pa., argued that “in the same amount of time that we’ve pursued NextGen, Verizon has updated its wireless system not once, not twice, not three times, but four times in the last 10 years.” [2] Though the U.S. has spent huge sums on a NextGen program to update the system with satellite-based technology, the effort has been plagued by delays, funding problems and other issues. [1] The U.S. has invested billions of dollars into the NextGen program meant to modernize the system with satellite-based technology. [4]
RANKED SELECTED SOURCES
(39 source documents arranged by frequency of occurrence in the above report)
1. (69) Trump Slams Air-Traffic System, Cheering Privatization Advocates | AFSCME Privatization Update
2. (18) Trump Shows Interest in Privatizing Air Traffic Control | NBC New York
3. (16) Why not privatize the sky | NewsCut | Minnesota Public Radio News
4. (16) Lack of ATC Disaster Contingency Plan does not mandate Privatization | FAA Insight by JDA Journal
5. (16) Alliance for Aviation Across America: Trump Meeting Heightens Opposition to ATC Reform
6. (15) Foreign subsidies and air traffic control on the radar of airlines meeting with Trump on Thursday | Airlines | Dallas News
7. (13) FlyersRights – Hotline: 1-(877)-FLYERS-6
8. (12) Trump laments ‘out of whack’ air traffic system after meeting with Southwest, other airlines | Airlines | Dallas New
9. (12) Trump to meet with airlines amid air traffic control debate | TheHill
10. (12) Trump considers urges from airline executives to privatize air traffic control
11. (11) Airlines want government out of airspace; take their case to Trump | The Herald
12. (10) Donald Trump Supports Privatizing Air Traffic Control | Fortune.com
13. (9) Trump criticizes billions in spending on U.S. air traffic control – One America News Network
14. (9) Atlanta’s Delta Air Lines to hire 25,000 workers, CEO say
15. (9) Will Trump Sell Out Aviation because the Airlines Want Him to Do So | The Huffington Post
16. (8) Here’s How Trump Can Make Air Travel Great Again | Stock News & Stock Market Analysis – IBD
17. (7) NBAA Calls for Modernized ATC That Serves All Americans
18. (7) The Journal 02/09/2017 | Trump tells airline execs he’s here to help
19. (6) Will Donald Trump privatize air traffic control Finance Post
20. (6) Trump ‘positive’ on air traffic control change
21. (5) Delta announces plans to hire 25,000 employees after CEO meets Trump
22. (5) 7 Things You Need to Know About US Air Traffic System Reform – Avionics
23. (4) Morning Transportation – POLITICO
24. (4) Trump shows interest in privatizing air traffic control The Daily Reporter
25. (4) The Latest: Trump ‘positive’ on air traffic control change | National Politics | herald-review.com
26. (3) United president shows support for privatizing air traffic control – Houston Chronicle
27. (3) Most Americans Opposed To ATC Privatization – AVweb flash Article
28. (3) Major U.S. Airlines To Meet With President On Thursday, Seek To Block Competition
29. (3) Is Trump open to Bill Shuster’s plan to privatize air traffic control « Hot Air
30. (3) TRUMP slams FAA while GOP congress wants to PRIVATIZE it.
31. (3) Trump discusses interest in privatizing air traffic control – San Antonio Post
32. (2) Trump shows interest in privatizing air traffic control | Fremont Tribune – Government and Politics | fremonttribune.com
33. (2) THE BURNED OVER DISTRICT: The Conundrum of Flight
34. (2) La Jollans complain about airport noise | San Diego Reader
35. (2) US Airlines CEOs To Meet Trump Over Foreign Carriers Competition
36. (1) Lobbyist: Trump supports privatizing air traffic control – The Santa Fe New Mexican: National And World News
37. (1) Business Briefs: Credit union opens second Food City unit | Times Free Press
38. (1) Trump Shows Interest in Privatizing Air Traffic Control – ABC News
39. (1) Trump shows interest in privatizing air traffic control – ABC-7.com WZVN News for Fort Myers, Cape Coral & Naples, Florida
http://newyorkcityhightech.com/airlines-pushing-privatization-of-air-traffic-control-system/