AOPA and ATC Privatization

"Chip Jones" wrote in message
link.net...

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
m...

"Chip Jones" wrote in message
news:POo5b.26667
119. PROHIBITION ON AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL PRIVATIZATION
\
The converence report (which has yet to be acted on):

(a) IN GENERAL- Until October 1, 2007, the Secretary of Transportation
may
not authorize the transfer of the air traffic separation
and control functions operated by the Federal Aviation Administration on
the date of enactment of this Act to a private entity or to
a public entity other than the United State Government.
(b) LIMITATION- Subsection (a) shall not apply--
(1) to a Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control tower
operated under the contract tower program on the date of
enactment of this Act;
(2) to any expansion of that program through new construction under
subtitle VII of title 49, United States Code; or
(3) to a Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control tower
(other
than towers in Alaska) identified in the Report of the
Department of Transportation Inspector General dated April 12, 2000, and
designated `Contract Towers: Observations on the Federal
Aviation Administration's Study of Expanding the Program'.


What is added is the sunset limitation. This is really not much of an
issue as it's off 3 fiscal
years and most likely would be modified by a subsequent reauthorization
bill. It's purely wishful
thinking on someone's part that it wouldn't be modified before then.

I disagree. The sunset limitation was added during the conference. Both
the House and the Senate Bill expressly forbade ATC privatization
indefinitely. This battle was fought and won by both NATCA and AOPA in
both
houses of the Congress. The addition of sunset language in Conference
that
did not exist in either version of the Bill is extraordinary.

An excellent idea, however.