NATCA Going Down in Flames

Emily wrote:

Jay Honeck wrote:
So.. how much would you be willing to pay, per use, for this privatized
ATC that you advocate?

Zero. I would fly VFR, without them.

How could you get away with flying VFR 100% of the time?

A privatized ATC and GA user fees may not be tied to each other. But
let's assume GA fees for ATC services. Very likely many GA pilots,
including myself, will reduce or eliminate the use of those services.

That brings us to the law of unintended consequences. A lamebrain
Congress institutes GA user fees. Where before I get traffic
advisories when puttering above my airport to ensure safety and
facilitate commercial aircraft arrival/departures, now I blow it off.
I have already had one near-miss with a CRJ around 9000' MSL (not
high above the ground here). Cases like that are bound to increase.
In addition, since the local ATC cannot ask me to change directions
commercial aircraft will have to change directions to avoid me at an
unverified altitude.

One scenario is an economic detriment. The other risks many lives.

Ron Lee

But
let's assume GA fees for ATC services. Very likely many GA pilots,
including myself, will reduce or eliminate the use of those services.

When that happens, the now privatized ATC will probably petition the FAA
for rules mandating ATC contact. They already mandate "weather" briefings.

In addition, since the local ATC cannot ask me to change directions
commercial aircraft will have to change directions to avoid me at an
unverified altitude.

This will be used as a reason to require positive control. Likely the
floor of the A could be brought down to Great Britan levels.

Jose
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On 2006-09-06, Jose wrote:
This will be used as a reason to require positive control. Likely the
floor of the A could be brought down to Great Britan levels.

The floor of class A in Great Britain (most of the British Isles is
class G airspace up to FL245) is only low in a few places. In a light
plane (anythign under 2 metric tonnes) you aren't charged any ATC fees.

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