Control Tower Controversy brewing in the FAA

"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Matthew S. Whiting" wrote in message
...

Because most private companies that perform functions similar to
governmental agencies are more efficient.


Sure, susccessful private companies are forced by competition to be more
efficient or fail. But you can't have competition in ATC.

Automation is the natural competitor of civil service.

"Matthew S. Whiting" wrote in message =
...
Steven P. McNicoll wrote:
=20
Why would private ATC be more efficient?
=20
Because most private companies that perform functions similar to=20
governmental agencies are more efficient. I think new technology =
would=20
be adopted faster and with less bureaucracy. I think controller=20
performance would be rewarded more effectively. Last I knew, most =
civil=20
service jobs still had a lot of focus on seniority, more like a union=20
workforce in the private sector than a professional workforce in the=20
private sector.
=20
No way to know for sure unless it happens, but I'd bet money on =
greater=20
efficiency. I'd also bet money that general aviation, at least =
anything=20
other than corporate aviation, would all but cease to exist in 10-20 =

years.
=20
=20
Matt
=20

My home airport has a non-FAA tower, and I operate frequently
into several other airports with non-FAA towers.
My experience is that few of the private controllers attain even the =
average
level of ability and courtesy I've learned to expect at FAA towers.
Of course, some controllers are good, but I have heard shocking displays
of carelessness and discourtesy on the frequencies of one particular
"privatized" tower in my region of the Midwest.
I doubt such a condition could occur in an FAA tower.

I can think of many reasons to criticize the FAA as an agency, but I =
think of
the Air Traffic Control branch as a distinctly separate, very =
professional group.

I've come to the viewpoint that privatization of ATC would be bad for =
U.S. aviation.
---JRC---

John R. Copeland wrote:

My experience is that few of the private controllers attain even the average
level of ability and courtesy I've learned to expect at FAA towers.

That's been my experience, too.

Dave
Remove SHIRT to reply directly.

Matthew S. Whiting wrote:

Because most private companies that perform functions similar to
governmental agencies are more efficient. I think new technology would
be adopted faster and with less bureaucracy. I think controller
performance would be rewarded more effectively. Last I knew, most civil
service jobs still had a lot of focus on seniority, more like a union
workforce in the private sector than a professional workforce in the
private sector.

Seniority is a nonfactor at the FAA. We only use it to bid our days off
twice a year.

Newps wrote:


Matthew S. Whiting wrote:

Because most private companies that perform functions similar to
governmental agencies are more efficient. I think new technology
would be adopted faster and with less bureaucracy. I think controller
performance would be rewarded more effectively. Last I knew, most
civil service jobs still had a lot of focus on seniority, more like a
union workforce in the private sector than a professional workforce in
the private sector.


Seniority is a nonfactor at the FAA. We only use it to bid our days off
twice a year.


That is truly good to know. Are annual increases merit based or COLA?
What are the promotion criteria?


Matt

"Newps" wrote in message
news:aIrub.236709$Tr4.696802@attbi_s03...


Matthew S. Whiting wrote:

Because most private companies that perform functions similar to
governmental agencies are more efficient. I think new technology would
be adopted faster and with less bureaucracy. I think controller
performance would be rewarded more effectively. Last I knew, most civil
service jobs still had a lot of focus on seniority, more like a union
workforce in the private sector than a professional workforce in the
private sector.

Seniority is a nonfactor at the FAA. We only use it to bid our days off
twice a year.

Bull!! Seniority is a major (the major?) key in any bureaucracy or Union.

Cub Driver wrote:

Let's put it this way. If you had a very valuable package that just
had to get there, would you take it to the post office or to Fed Ex?

USPS. It's a mile away. Sure, I have to pay for express mail and insure the
package, but that's still cheaper than driving 25 miles to the nearest FedEx
office and paying *their* prices.

George Patterson
The actions taken by the New Hampshire Episcopalians (ie. inducting a gay
bishop) are an affront to Christians everywhere. I am just thankful that
the church's founder, Henry VIII, and his wife Catherine of Aragon, and his
wife Anne Boleyn, and his wife Jane Seymour, and his wife Anne of Cleves,
and his wife Katherine Howard, and his wife Catherine Parr are no longer
here to suffer through this assault on traditional Christian marriages.

In article , "G.R. Patterson III"
writes:

The actions taken by the New Hampshire Episcopalians (ie. inducting a gay
bishop) are an affront to Christians everywhere. I am just thankful that
the church's founder, Henry VIII, and his wife Catherine of Aragon, and
his
wife Anne Boleyn, and his wife Jane Seymour, and his wife Anne of
Cleves,
and his wife Katherine Howard, and his wife Catherine Parr are no longer
here to suffer through this assault on traditional Christian marriages.


Geo,
This made my day. Sent a copy to several friends.

Chuck

"G.R. Patterson III" wrote in message
...


Cub Driver wrote:

Let's put it this way. If you had a very valuable package that just
had to get there, would you take it to the post office or to Fed Ex?

USPS. It's a mile away. Sure, I have to pay for express mail and insure
the
package, but that's still cheaper than driving 25 miles to the nearest
FedEx
office and paying *their* prices.

Hmmm.... FedEx picks up at MY house. Maybe you should cut your grass so they
can find yours, George. :~)

BTW, my last two "Priority Mail" packages from the USPS never arrived (One
in September, one this past couple weeks). I've had that happen with UPS
just once in seven years, and never with FedEx.