Several groups presenting the interests of agriculture and rural Americans have written a letter to Congress opposing the privatization of the nation’s air traffic control system.
A news release from the Alliance of Aviation Across America said the privatization proposal, which is being pushed by big commercial airlines, would remove air traffic control from congressional oversight and put it under a private board of mostly commercial interests.
The release states there are 5,000 airports across the county, 3,300 of which are public-use airports. Only 509 airports have commercial air service.
The groups contends that under a privatized system, a private board dominated by the largest commercial operators would direct resources and investments to the largest hub airports and urban areas where these investments would be most likely to benefit their bottom line.
The opposition groups include the Agricultural Retailers Association, Alliance for Aviation Across America, Crop Life America, League of Rural Voters, National Agricultural Aviation Association, National Council of Agricultural Employers, National Farmers Union, National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, National Women in Agriculture Association, and the USA Rice Federation.
http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2017/04/efforts-to-privatize-air-traffic.html