To the Editor:
President Trump’s signing of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” on July 4th represents a significant step forward for Wyoming’s aviation community. The $12.5 billion investment in air traffic control (ATC) modernization — including expanded controller hiring, upgraded technology and improved safety systems – addresses critical needs that pilots across our state have experienced firsthand.
My background as a commercial pilot with over 4,000 flight hours and current board member of the Wyoming Pilots Association has helped me understand how air traffic control enables safe operations across Wyoming’s terrain and vast distances. Whether conducting wildlife aerial surveys for state agencies, navigating between remote locations, or coordinating emergency response flights, reliable ATC service supports the access that rural communities depend on.
Aviation provides critical connectivity for Wyoming. From energy sector operations in remote locations to wildlife management surveys that cover thousands of square miles, aircraft enable access that ground transportation cannot always provide. Our state’s 34 public airports serve as vital infrastructure connecting rural communities to essential services and economic opportunities.
However, I’m deeply worried about renewed discussions around privatizing air traffic control. Having served on the Wyoming Aeronautics Commission, I understand how privatization could shift resources toward high-traffic metropolitan areas while reducing service quality for the smaller airports that rural states like Wyoming depend on. When special interests drive decisions about critical infrastructure, communities outside major metropolitan areas risk losing access.
The targeted investments in President Trump’s modernization plan represent the right approach – strengthening the existing system through better staffing and upgraded technology while maintaining public oversight. This ensures that rural aviation’s needs remain a priority, not an afterthought.
Wyoming pilots deserve an air traffic control system that serves all users safely and equitably. Let’s build on this historic investment the right way.
Ray Lee
Commercial pilot, Wyoming Pilots Association board member, former Wyoming Aeronautics Commissioner, Cody
https://www.codyenterprise.com/news/opinion/article_f65ff296-d1c6-49c4-ac25-a0fed5104b16.html