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Airlines Push To Kill General Aviation



 
 
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  #1  
Old January 20th 16, 06:14 PM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
Larry Dighera
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 3,953
Default Airlines Push To Kill General Aviation

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/GA-Groups-Protest-ATC-Changes-225545-1.html

GA Groups Protest ATC Changes
By Mary Grady

Anticipating that Congress will consider changes to how the FAA functions and
gets its funding in the upcoming session, 15 general-aviation advocacy groups
signed on to a letter today asking the leaders of transportation policy in the
U.S. House to hear their “real and long-standing concerns” about the expected
proposals. “Some big airlines have pushed for a new governance and funding
model for our nation’s aviation system, based on systems in other parts of the
world,” the letter (PDF
http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/20160119-Association-Letter-ATC-Reform-More-Than-Just-User-Fees.php)
states. The GA concerns “go well beyond the user-fee issue,” according to the
letter. “These concerns are based on our operating experiences in foreign
systems, as well as thoughtful analysis about what those systems might look
like in the United States.”

Mark Baker, president of AOPA, told AVweb today his organization wants to be
sure that “the needs of our community” are considered in any potential changes
to how ATC is financed and structured. “That’s why it’s so important that we
have ample time to review the actual text of any legislation, so we can make
informed decisions to address our concerns with the present system and any
proposed changes,” he wrote in an email. “Ultimately, we will protect the
interests of general aviation, ensure user fees are not included in any final
bill, and that whatever structure is in place will support the entire aviation
community, including GA, for the long term.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------
  #2  
Old January 27th 16, 10:59 PM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
Larry Dighera
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 3,953
Default Airlines Push To Kill General Aviation


http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Politicians-Weigh-In-On-ATC-Privatization-225591-1.html

Politicians Weigh In On ATC Privatization

By Russ Niles

Political momentum is gathering against the proposal to fundamentally change
the way the federal government funds and administers the National Airspace
System. A week after two influential Republican congressmen categorically
stated that no new user fees would be accepted to fund a privatized system, two
Democratic members are joining a grassroots liberal movement to end the whole
privatization debate. In a statement released Tuesday, Rep. Elijah Cummings
(D-MD) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) said they were joining an online
petition http://signforgood.com/airtrafficcontrol/ that has gathered 130,000
names to stop the privatization bid. "An FAA reauthorization bill that includes
severing and privatizing Air Traffic Control has not emerged, but, as petitions
submitted today from the public demonstrate, the long suspense has
understandably fed fears for public safety, loss and downgrading of middle
class jobs, and increased costs passed on to passengers — unacceptable
tradeoffs," Norton said in a statement quoted by The Hill
http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/267035-dems-look-to-ground-private-air-traffic-control-plan.
A week before, Republican GA advocates Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) and Rep. Todd
Rokita (R-IN) wrote an opinion piece
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-budget/266093-no-reason-to-stall
in the The Hill that suggests they've heard the aviation industry's concerns
about "per-flight" user fees clearly.

In the article, the congressmen say they're in favor of kicking the table over
on the current system but not if it hurts GA. "We have stood front and center
in the fight against per-flight user fees on general aviation," they wrote.
"That position remains unchanged, and we would not even entertain this
transition discussion if we found out it would harm the general aviation
community. Ultimately, we want to ensure that these aviators reap the benefits
of a modern, efficient air traffic control system." The system they envision is
a "user-funded, user-governed, not-for-profit organization, all in a manner
that protects the small aircraft operators and private pilots who use the
system." The debate is ramping up as the deadline to pass a reauthorization
bill for the FAA looms on March 31.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://signforgood.com/airtrafficcontrol/

Signature needed: Tell Congress not to privatize our air traffic control system

Every day, the men and women working for FAA's Air Traffic Control (ATC) keep
our nation's skies safe for air passengers. The busy holiday travel season is
no different as they work to ensure we make it home to spend quality time with
our loved ones. We can and should expect our air traffic control system to keep
working far into the future.

But Republicans in Congress and lobbyists for some of the biggest airlines are
rushing to privatize ATC operations and jeopardize a system that is second to
none where safety is concerned. A few countries have privatized their ATC
systems and the results have been what you probably expect: higher costs for
passengers, less democratic oversight, and job losses. Privatizing ATC
operations here would also hurt rural communities who depend on smaller
airports to thrive. In just a few weeks, the Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee will be taking up the issue and they need to hear from you!

Please help stop this disastrous proposal. Republicans on the relevant
committees are making this their first priority when they return to Washington
in January, so we have to speak up now. Sign the petition and share it with
your network. FAA needs stable, long-term funding to keep our country's skies
safe, not more outsourcing.

To Chairman Shuster, Ranking Member DeFazio, and the members of the House
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee:

The United States has one of the safest air traffic control systems in the
world. The FAA is currently working to implement new technologies that will
make air travel even safer and more efficient. While all programs can be
improved, we urge you not to dismantle and privatize an air traffic control
system that is not broken.

Our nation can’t afford to privatize our air traffic control system. Were we to
do so, the result could be more consolidation and power for airlines, less
choice and more expensive travel for consumers, loss of good jobs among air
traffic controllers and other aviation workers, and more cuts at rural
airports. Privatizing air traffic control and turning control over to an
unelected board of airline interests, would further consolidate airline power
and be harmful to consumers and small towns.

Advocates for privatization claim to be following the examples of the UK and
Canada - - but since the UK privatized its air traffic system, 12 percent of
jobs were cut AND the new fees and existing taxes on every ticket increased by
140%. In Canada, 14 percent of jobs were cut and the total new fees and taxes
increased by 53%. In fact, many privatization initiatives increase costs to
consumers, while simultaneously laying off workers without cause. This is not a
way to grow our economy or generate broadly shared prosperity.

Losing democratic oversight over this part of our national transportation
system means that a new monopoly corporation outside of the Federal government
will decide how much to charge for air traffic control services and how to
allocate resources. This could seriously disadvantage rural communities and
small towns by increasing costs and limiting access.

Instead of privatizing air traffic control, we believe that Congress should
create a pathway to allow the FAA to move forward with long-term capital
planning without relinquishing Congressional oversight or allowing a new
corporate monopoly run by the airlines to slash air traffic control jobs.

The cost of privatization is simply too high. It is bad for workers, bad for
passengers, and harmful to smaller and rural communities.

Sincerely,

American Family Voices
Courage Campaign
Crooks and Liars
Daily Kos
Deluge
People Demanding Action
Progressive Congress
Progressive Democrats of America
RootsAction.org
Watchdog.net
© 2016 | Paid for by Daily Kos. Organized by American Family Voices, Courage
Campaign, Crooks and Liars, Daily Kos, Deluge, People Demanding Action,
Progressive Congress, Progressive Democrats of America, RootsAction.org,
Watchdog.net.

Note: By signing this petition, you’ll get updates and be able to take similar
actions from one or more of these participating organizations. You can of
course opt out any time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/267035-dems-look-to-ground-private-air-traffic-control-plan

Dems look to ground private air traffic control plan

By Keith Laing - 01/26/16 12:20 PM EST

Two House Democrats are mobilizing liberal groups against a Republican proposal
to privatize large portions of the nation's air traffic control system in a
funding measure for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) are
joining a group of liberal organizations that have collected 115,000 signatures
for a petition against a proposal from House Republicans to create a new
nongovernmental agency that would take over air traffic control from the FAA
http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/245005-gop-chairman-wants-to-separate-air-traffic-control-from-the-faa.

Lawmakers are debating the air traffic control privatization proposal as
Congress tries to beat a March 31 deadline
http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/250267-aviation-funding-bill-up-in-the-air
for renewing the agency's funding.

Cummings and Norton said Tuesday that GOP leaders should back off of their air
traffic control privatization plan and focus on passing a new round of funding
for the FAA.

“An FAA reauthorization bill that includes severing and privatizing Air Traffic
Control has not emerged, but, as petitions submitted today from the public
demonstrate, the long suspense has understandably fed fears for public safety,
loss and downgrading of middle class jobs, and increased costs passed on to
passengers — unacceptable tradeoffs,” Norton said in a statement.

“As a member who once practiced constitutional law, I seriously question
whether Congress can constitutionally delegate air traffic control to a
private, even non-profit, entity," she continued. "Yet, there is considerable
frustration about the dysfunction of the current FAA, which has been repeatedly
victimized by the chronic delays and cuts in the appropriations process even
before the dangerous sequester cuts.

"We are long past due for serious discussions between Democrats and Republicans
that could produce a bill that would pass both the House and Senate.”

GOP leaders in the House have said the proposed nongovernmental entity could
better manage the commercial and private jet flights in the nation's airspace.

"After examining various models, I believe we need to establish a federally
chartered, fully independent not-for-profit corporation to operate and
modernize our [air traffic control] services," House Transportation Committee
Chairman Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) said during a speech last June at the Aero
Club of Washington.

The push to privatize most facets of air traffic control comes as the FAA is in
the midst of a years-long effort to discard the World War II-era radar
technology currently used to manage airplane traffic in favor of a new
satellite-based system, known as NextGen.

The conversion has hit turbulence amid missed deadlines and rampant budget
cutting in Washington, and supporters of the privatization proposal have said
the FAA is ill-equipped to complete the project.

Cummings and Norton are scheduled to appear on a conference call about the
opposition to the air traffic control privatization plan with officials from
Daily Kos, People Demanding Action, Public Citizen’s Congress Watch division
and Progressive Congress.

The groups said they will "discuss plans to travel to Capitol Hill to deliver a
petition to Congress from 115,000 Americans who oppose the privatization of the
ATC."

Most major airlines support the air traffic control privatization plan. The
group that lobbies for them in Washington said Tuesday that opponents are
mischaracterizing the proposal to alter the nation's flight navigation system.

"Today’s announced coalition believes the status quo is just fine and it is
arguing against positions NO ONE is taking," Airlines for America said in a
statement.

"Proponents of reform advocate for a not-for-profit organization that will be
overseen by the FAA and governed by a board inclusive of all stakeholders,
including employee unions, general aviation and private fliers, and
passengers," the group continued.

"That’s the way air traffic services are run in most of the rest of the world,"
the group added. "We want to see more air traffic controllers hired. We want to
make the system even more safe. And most importantly, we want to make flying
better for the traveling public. Members of Congress should want the same
thing.”

The airline group added that "modernizing Air Traffic Control is a critical
step toward enhancing safety and making flying more dependable and efficient
for consumers."

"Any one of the two million people who fly every day can tell you: Air Traffic
Control is not as efficient as it could be," the group said.

This story was updated at 2:52 p.m.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-budget/266093-no-reason-to-stall

January 18, 2016, 11:00 am
No reason to stall

By Reps. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Todd Rokita (R-Ind.)

A foundation of conservatism is our belief that the federal government is
incapable of doing just about anything more efficiently or innovatively than
the private sector. A perfect example is the Federal Aviation Administration’s
(FAA) stalled effort to bring our nation’s aviation system into the modern era.

As commercially licensed, general aviation pilots with thousands of flight
hours, we are uniquely positioned to understand the priorities and concerns of
the general aviation community, and how FAA reform can improve our aviation
system.

The Department of Transportation’s Inspector General has detailed to Congress
the FAA’s failure to deliver on the promised benefits of NextGen; a GPS-based
air traffic control system. The FAA has missed deadlines, exceeded budgets, and
has almost entirely neglected industry stakeholders who will be using this new
technology on a daily basis.

The status quo is not working, and with each blunder by the FAA it becomes more
apparent that the agency is simply not capable of implementing NextGen on its
own. It’s time for a better approach.

After working extensively over the last 2 years and talking to each stakeholder
group, we have learned what best practices to replicate and which to leave
behind in regards to air traffic control reform. We continue to be intimately
involved in discussions on transitioning air traffic control responsibilities
from an ineffective federal bureaucracy to a user-funded, user-governed,
not-for-profit organization, all in a manner that protects the small aircraft
operators and private pilots who use the system.

We have stood front and center in the fight against per-flight user fees on
general aviation. That position remains unchanged, and we would not even
entertain this transition discussion if we found out it would harm the general
aviation community. Ultimately, we want to ensure that these aviators reap the
benefits of a modern, efficient air traffic control system.

It is true that our nation’s airspace is complex, and also that our general
aviation presence is the largest in the world. But that does not preclude us
from designing an Air Traffic Control Organization that is superior to any
system in existence today. To say it cannot be done is to challenge the very
fiber of American ingenuity. We must adopt our own way that meets the unique
needs of our system and its users while continuing to operate the safest air
traffic control system in the world.

Last year, we helped lead a group of 50 planes over the U.S. Capitol in honor
of the 70th Anniversary of our Victory in Europe. Those planes symbolized more
than America’s victory over fascism and imperialism in World War II. They
celebrated a generation that knew it had to lead the world in ingenuity and
innovation, because the freedom of tens of millions of people across the globe
depended on it. Nowhere was that American exceptionalism and determination more
evident than in the skies above oceans and battlefields.

The United States led the world in aviation in the 20th century, forever
changing the course of human history. Remembering that proud tradition gives us
the confidence and resolve to overcome the challenges ahead. To pursue these
aggressive reforms would set America on a path to continuing its global
leadership in aviation for the next century. To fail would be to fall behind
and allow other nations to lead. The bottom line is this: the status quo is not
working, and the opportunity to reform it is one we simply cannot lose.

Graves has represented Missouri’s 9th Congressional District since 2001. He
sits on the Armed Services and the Transportation committees. Rokita has
represented Indiana’s 4th Congressional District since 2011. He sits on the
Budget, the Education and the Workforce and the Transportation committees.

================================================== ==========================


On Wed, 20 Jan 2016 09:14:30 -0800, Larry Dighera wrote:

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/GA-Groups-Protest-ATC-Changes-225545-1.html

GA Groups Protest ATC Changes
By Mary Grady

Anticipating that Congress will consider changes to how the FAA functions and
gets its funding in the upcoming session, 15 general-aviation advocacy groups
signed on to a letter today asking the leaders of transportation policy in the
U.S. House to hear their “real and long-standing concerns” about the expected
proposals. “Some big airlines have pushed for a new governance and funding
model for our nation’s aviation system, based on systems in other parts of the
world,” the letter (PDF
http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/20160119-Association-Letter-ATC-Reform-More-Than-Just-User-Fees.php)
states. The GA concerns “go well beyond the user-fee issue,” according to the
letter. “These concerns are based on our operating experiences in foreign
systems, as well as thoughtful analysis about what those systems might look
like in the United States.”

Mark Baker, president of AOPA, told AVweb today his organization wants to be
sure that “the needs of our community” are considered in any potential changes
to how ATC is financed and structured. “That’s why it’s so important that we
have ample time to review the actual text of any legislation, so we can make
informed decisions to address our concerns with the present system and any
proposed changes,” he wrote in an email. “Ultimately, we will protect the
interests of general aviation, ensure user fees are not included in any final
bill, and that whatever structure is in place will support the entire aviation
community, including GA, for the long term.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------

  #3  
Old February 5th 16, 10:49 PM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
Larry Dighera
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 3,953
Default Airlines Push To Kill General Aviation



http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/FAA-Funding-Bill-With-Privatized-ATC-Introduced-In-House-225638-1.html

FAA Funding Bill With Privatized ATC Introduced In House

By Elaine Kauh

Two congressmen in favor of privatizing the FAA's Air Traffic Organization
introduced their proposal Wednesday, just after receiving written opposition
from others in the House and Senate. House Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee Chairman Bill Shuster, R-Pa., and Aviation Subcommittee Chairman
Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J., introduced the Aviation Innovation, Reform, and
Reauthorization (AIRR) Act, H.R. 4441 (PDF), which would fund a six-year
reauthorization for the FAA -- resetting a longer funding clock as the current
extension is set to end March 31. Shuster said in his announcement that
privatization of the U.S. system would build on successful models in other
countries. "Our system is incredibly inefficient, and it will only get worse as
passenger levels grow and as the FAA falls further behind in modernizing the
system," he said. The bill will undergo discussion at a committee hearing next
week.

H.R. 4441 drew a mixed bag of reactions. Lawmakers from the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees have already opposed the plan to move ATC services
from the FAA to a corporation overseen by a board. The National Air Traffic
Controllers Association stated it supports the bill, saying it wouldn't
compromise safety, establishes a non-profit entity for ATC services, and
maintains controllers' jobs and employee benefits. "Many voices in the public
discussion of this issue, including the news media, will continue to use the
word privatization to describe this bill. But to us, privatization has always
meant a profit motive where safety is not the top priority. That definition
does NOT fit this bill today," NATCA stated. AOPA said it will review the
proposal in detail.

"There are some very good things for general aviation in this bilI. I think
everyone can agree that the FAA can be more efficient and effective, and this
legislation creates opportunities for both third class medical reform and
certification reform that have the potential to make flying safer and more
affordable," said AOPA President Mark Baker. "But there are other provisions we
will firmly oppose such as user fees for any segment of GA, including business
aviation. And still other elements, like the plan to separate air traffic
control from the FAA, raise important questions that demand meaningful answers.
Ultimately, we need to know that any FAA reauthorization legislation will
protect the interests of general aviation now and into the future."

The bill outlines general criteria for "charges and fees" and states that they
won't apply to ATC services to piston aircraft or "noncommercial" operations
for turbine aircraft. EAA opposes the bill on a number of fronts, saying that
while it includes third-class medical reform as previously proposed for
personal light aircraft, privatization would remove congressional oversight of
the system and leave GA without much representation.

And while a number of air carriers said last year they support privatization to
speed up modernization of the National Airspace System, Delta Air Lines does
not. The airline came out on Monday with its own study
http://news.delta.com/delta-study-privatizing-air-traffic-control-will-increase-costs-travelers
of other nations' systems this week, saying a private ATO would mean a 20 to 29
percent rise in air travel costs, a burden that would be borne by passengers.
"Proponents have claimed that privatization would lead to cost savings for
consumers," the study says. "But no evidence has yet been produced to show that
privatization would reduce costs. In fact, nations that have privatized ATC
have seen operational costs increase at a much higher rate than has been seen
in the U.S. under the FAA."

================================================== ===========================

http://news.delta.com/delta-study-privatizing-air-traffic-control-will-increase-costs-travelers

Policy
Delta study: Privatizing air traffic control will increase costs to travelers
By Kate Modolo • posted Feb. 1, 2016
Travelers could have to cover 20-29 percent higher costs if the U.S. moves to a
private ATC organization.

Air travelers could be on the hook to cover 20 to 29 percent higher costs if
the U.S. moves to a private air traffic control (ATC) organization funded
through “user fees,” according to a new study released today by Delta Air
Lines.

“Proponents have claimed that privatization would lead to cost savings for
consumers,” the study stated. “But no evidence has yet been produced to show
that privatization would reduce costs. In fact, nations that have privatized
ATC have seen operational costs increase at a much higher rate than has been
seen in the US under the FAA.”

See USA Today Op-Ed by Delta Capt. Steve Dickson, Senior Vice President –
Flight Operations.

Delta ATC study cover page
The study, which is a compilation of data from various independent reports,
reviewed the ATC fees associated with a privatized model in Canada and the
United Kingdom and found that after the first six years of privatization,
Canada saw an additional 59 percent increase on ATC-related fees. In the United
Kingdom, ATC fees rose 30 percent. The study also included examples of extreme
tax increases, and outlined how a privatized, revenue-based system could result
in ATC resources being prioritized at larger airports to raise greater revenue,
to the detriment of smaller regional airports across the country.

Canada and the U.K. have faced similar challenges in ATC privatization – one
cited is that ATC costs are growing at larger rates in both countries compared
to the United States that uses a public system.

Delta has long held that removing the Air Traffic Organization, which provides
air navigation services across the U.S., out from under FAA’s safety oversight
is a bad idea for several reasons. Capt. Steve Dickson, Senior Vice President –
Flight Operations, has outlined how moving to a privatized model would threaten
customer service while not addressing structural issues that will always exist
and affect the U.S. airspace, such as the proximity of high-volume airports in
the Northeast.

“Delta agrees that improvements to our current air-traffic control system are
needed.” Dickson said. “Great progress has already been made on this front
through years of research and implementation of NextGen technologies and
operational capabilities, and we need to focus on continuing this momentum. Any
effort to separate the ATO from the FAA will create a distraction that will set
back these efforts for years.”

http://news.delta.com/sites/default/files/The%20Costs%20of%20Privatizing%20Air%20Traffic%20C ontrol_0.pdf
PDF icon The Costs of Privatizing Air Traffic Control.pdf


THE COSTS OF PRIVATIZING
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
AND HOW IT WILL IMPACT
AIRLINE TRAVELERS
FEBRUARY 1, 2016
DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
THE COSTS OF PRIVATIZING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
For decades, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has
operated the nation’s air traffic control (ATC) and remained an international
leader in safety and cost-effectiveness. Even as the US maintains far more
airports than any other country, flying here remains second to none in safety
and American consumers overwhelmingly believe the FAA is succeeding in its
mission to provide the safest and most efficient airspace in the world.
1
The FAA’s strong track record has led some of the largest airlines to praise
the agency as the “safest ATC system in the world.”
2
At the same time, however, those airlines argue that the ATC system should no
longer be operated by the FAA, but rather be removed from the FAA and placed
under the control of a corporate entity outside the Federal government. These
critics of the current system cite the Canadian model, a non-profit
entity run by a board of directors, as the structure they seek to replicate.
However, in Canada airline stakeholders appoint one-third of board members,
while the government only appoints three of the fifteen seats. Simply put, Air
Traffic Control under this model is ceded to airlines and corporate entities
that would then have a larger say in priorities.

Lawmakers and consumers should understand that a move to privatize ATC would
likely formalize silos between divisions within the FAA, add unforeseen
transition costs and increase operational costs within the industry. It could
also result in additional taxes on airline fuel and other air travel
necessities, as has been seen in some other countries.

Privatizing ATC would also likely lead to a rise in the cost of airline tickets
in the US.

Consumers in Canada faced a 59 percent increase in ATC fees on airline tickets.
In the United Kingdom air traffic control fees rose 30 percent,
3
while fees remained relatively constant in the United States with six percent
growth. These increases prompted Canadians to cross the border in search of
cheaper airline tickets.
4
Effects of privatizing ATC could also place a greater financial strain on
smaller airports that serve rural communities and other populations located
outside major urban centers.

If those smaller airports were forced to limit flights or close due to high
costs, many would be forced to drive much further to large urban airports in
order to access the same service they are currently accustomed to receiving
around their communities.
1
https://www.faa.gov/about/mission/
2
http://airlines.org/news/faa-reauthorization-hearing/
3
CANSO, Country Aviation and Airport Authorities Canada: Nav Canada Financials
1996 and 2012 revenue per flight, UK NATS Financials 2004 and 2012
revenue per flight
4
http://www.pri.org/stories/2012-06-1...ting-canadians
From 1996 to 2012, Canada saw an additional 59 percent increase in ATC fees. In
the United Kingdom, ATC fees rose 30 percent. Applying those rates of growth to
US costs, operational costs for ATC in the United States could increase
by 20 to 29 percent after ten years.

The current FAA system helps support equal service at both large
urban airports and smaller rural ones, but privatization could cause
smaller airports to limit service or shut down. As a result, rural residents
could be forced to drive to urban areas to access the same airline service they
currently enjoy close to home.

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
THE COSTS OF PRIVATIZING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
3
THE FAA’S STRONG TRACK RECORD
The FAA’s ATC oversight includes approximately 30 million square miles of
airspace
5
—a total of 17 percent of the Earth’s airspace and more than any other agency
in the world.

That airspace includes all of the US, large portions of the Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans and the Gulf of Mexico. In comparison, equivalent agencies in
Canada and the United Kingdom oversee approximately seven million square miles
6 and 200,000 square miles,7 respectively.

Additionally, the FAA’s jurisdiction in the US contains more airports and
serves more passengers than any other nation in the world. There are over
13,000 airports in the US, or more than four times as many as are located
throughout the entire European Union.
5
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/...rs_offices/ato
6
http://www.navcanada.ca/en/about-us/...ho-we-are.aspx
7
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-21195765
8
http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/...DPRT/countries
0
3500
7000
10500
14000
United States
European Union
Mexico
Canada
Russia
China
United Kingdom*
460
507
1,218
1,467
1,714
3,102
13,513
Number of Airports

For Select Countries
Out of more than 36 million total worldwide flights in 2014, more than 9.5
million — over 25 percent of all flights — took off in the US, which far
outpaced any other nation.

Takeoffs in the US nearly tripled the total in China, which ranked second
worldwide, and were nearly eight times higher than the total in Canada, which
ranked third.
8
Further, New York City Metro Area passengers equate to nearly 90 percent of
all passengers transported by the entire country of Canada’s air transportation
system.
*EU member
Source: CIA –
https://www.cia.gov/library/publicat...elds/2053.html
DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
THE COSTS OF PRIVATIZING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
4
9
http://airlines.org/news/faa-reauthorization-hearing/
10
http://www.indivisible.us/i-love-my-...affic-control/
11
http://www.pri.org/stories/2012-06-1...ting-canadians
12
http://www.engadget.com/2015/05/02/e...stem-in-place/
13
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2...trol/76604766/
14
http://psflight.org/352/speech-rtca-...sable-partner/
All other countries (60.6)
China (9)
Canada (3.6)
United States (26.5)
Percentage of Global Takeoffs, 2014
Even as it covers more airspace and handles more volume than any other
equivalent agency, the FAA and its ATC operations have continually been
referred to as the safest in the world by both sides of the privatization
debate.
9,10
Americans have recognized the effectiveness of the FAA and its success in
overseeing ATC throughout its airspace. A nationwide poll of American consumers
conducted in August 2015 showed that 80 percent of respondents believe the FAA
does an excellent or good job operating the nation’s ATC system.
11
That level of success has not stopped the FAA from continuing to improve its
ATC service by adopting NextGen technologies. In March 2015, the FAA introduced
the En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) system, referred to as the
backbone of NextGen technology. This new system nearly doubles the amount of
flights a controller can track and has various other upgrades that modernize
the way the United States manages its skies.

12
These upgrades include the streamlined DataComm system, which replaces radio
communication with a system akin to text messaging and is scheduled for
implementation at more than 50 ATC towers in 2016.

New pilot programs throughout the nation have already been implemented to test
further additions to the ERAM system. In Seattle, the Greener Skies initiative
has demonstrated the benefit of performance-based navigation, which so far
allows 73 flights per day to use a more efficient, steady descent, instead of
the current stair-step model. This allows planes to begin idling about 100
miles from an airport, saving 1,900 pounds of carbon emissions and nine minutes
of flight time.

13
Overall, NextGen improvements have already yielded $1.6 billion in benefits to
system users, with another $11.4 billion expected over the next 15 years.

14
Source: The World Bank –
http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/...PRT/countries?
order=wbapi_data_value_2014+wbapi_data_value+wbapi _data_value-last&sort=desc
DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
THE COSTS OF PRIVATIZING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
5
15
http://www.navcanada.ca/en/about-us/...ho-we-are.aspx
16
http://www.nats.aero/about-us/our-history/
17
NavCanada paid the Canadian government $1.5B CAD in 1996; NATS paid £758
million to the British government.
https://www.enotrans.org/wp-content/...ort.FINAL_.pdf

18
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...affic-control-

19
http://www.navcanada.ca/EN/about-us/...overnance.aspx

20
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-30454240

WHAT COULD PRIVATIZATION LOOK LIKE?
The FAA currently operates all aspects of ATC and oversees all air safety
regulations.

That would change if the US were to privatize ATC. Canada and the United
Kingdom are two of the largest nations that have already chosen to privatize
ATC, and are models supporters of privatization hold up as examples of what it
could look like in the US.

Canada began its privatized ATC system in 1996 with the creation of the fully
private non-profit entity Nav Canada.

15
In that case, Nav Canada operates ATC while the Canadian government (Transport
Canada) retains oversight of air safety regulations. The UK took its own route
to privatization in 2001, when it established a public-private partnership now
known as the National Air Traffic Services (NATS).

16
In both examples, the new entity paid the national government to acquire the
existing air traffic control assets.

17
Some proponents of ATC privatization in the US have argued for a scheme most
similar to the one chosen by Canada.

18
This would establish a private, non-profit entity — similar to Nav Canada —
that would operate ATC in the US, while the FAA would retain oversight of
air safety. Upon taking a closer look, corporate interests in Canada outweigh
the government’s interest in maintaining the public good. Of the fifteen
members of the NavCanada board, airline stakeholders appoint five – one third
of all seats – while the Canadian government appoints only three.

19
The UK model has also been discussed in the context of ATC privatization
efforts in the US, and it is worth noting the complications that have been
reported regarding the implementation of the UK’s public-private system. In
particular, senior NATS air traffic controllers raised concerns several years
ago regarding health and safety standards and faulty radio communications.

20
While their paths have been different, both Canada and the UK have faced
similar challenges in ATC privatization.

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
THE COSTS OF PRIVATIZING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
6
21
Used a 9% ticket tax plus $1 segment fee in 1996 changing to 7.5% ticket tax
plus $3.80 segment fee in 2014; fuel tax in both years of $0.043 per gallon and
cargo tax assumed to total $75 in both years with both components included in
AATF; total AATF revenue is apportioned to ATO based on percent of AATF
expenditures going to ATO

22
CANSO, Country Aviation and Airport Authorities Canada: Nav Canada Financials
1996 and 2012 revenue per flight, UK NATS Financials 2004 and 2012 revenue per
flight

23
Revenues from Nav Canada Financials 1998 and 2013
http://www.sedar.com/search/search_form_pc_en.htm

24
Cansim Aircraft movements, by civil and military movements, airports with NAV
CANADA flight service stations 1998 and 2013

25
http://www.pri.org/stories/2012-06-1...ting-canadians
PRIVATIZATION COULD INCREASE COSTS
Proponents have claimed that privatization would lead to cost savings for
consumers.But no evidence has yet been produced to show that privatization
would reduce costs.

In fact, nations that have privatized ATC have seen operational costs increase
at a much higher rate than has been seen in the US under the FAA.
According to historical data, ATC costs in Canada and the United Kingdom have
grown at larger rates under a private system than in the United States under a
public system.

From 1996 to 2012, Canada saw ATC operation fees increase by 59 percent. In the
United Kingdom, ATC operational costs increased 30 percent while the United
States remained relatively constant with only a six percent increase in costs.
Compounded annually, the US has grown .4 percent annually

21
while the UK and Canada have approximately grown by 2.2 percent and 2.9
percent respectively.

22
Due to the much larger overall volume of American airspace, airports and
aircraft, the Canadian and UK growth rates lead to much higher cost projections
when applied to ATC operations in the US, and show that if the US were to
privatize ATC, operational costs could increase by 20 to 29 percent after ten
years.

It is possible that an ATC privatization scheme in the US could lead to higher
fee increases for American consumers.

Notably, revenue for NavCanada has increased by approximately 21 percent since
1998,23 even while its annual flight volume has decreased by 16 percent during
that time.
24
That growing revenue and shrinking revenue base could be a result of increased
traveling costs for consumers. Media reports have already highlighted a
phenomenon known as “passenger leakage,” in which some Canadians chose to drive
across the border to American airports in search of cheaper airline tickets.
25
DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
THE COSTS OF PRIVATIZING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
7
26
https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42781.pdf
27
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article...raffic-control
28
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/tax/gt/
TAXES WILL INCREASE UNDER PRIVATIZATION
The FAA is currently funded through a combination of taxes and appropriations
as determined by the US Congress.
26
Under the privatized systems in Canada and the UK, ATC operations are
primarily funded through “user fees,” which are paid by aircraft owners
or operators based on the weight of the aircraft and the distance traveled.
US supporters of privatization have argued for a shift to user fees as the
primary source of revenue for ATC, claiming it will eliminate federal fuel and
ticket taxes.27
However, industry developments in Canada have shown that ATC privatization
does not prevent airline tax increases at both a federal and local level.
An example is the aviation fuel tax in Ontario, Canada. In 2014, the Ontario
government approved a plan to increase the tax from its previous rate of 2.7
cents per liter to a new rate of 6.7 cents by 2017 — a total increase of
approximately 148 percent.
28

The private ATC funding source of user fees apparently did not dissuade the
Ontario government from hiking a tax that would have supported ATC under a
publicly funded system.A user fee system would operate similarly to a flat tax
on airplane seats. Rather than taxes appropriate to the price of the ticket
purchased, the user fee would be a standard figure for all seats on a plane.
This regressive model would put a heavier burden on working and middle class
passengers by charging the same user fee to all, regardless of the cost of the
ticket.
DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
THE COSTS OF PRIVATIZING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
8
29
General Aviation Airports: A National Asset, FAA 2012
30
REINVENTING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL, A New Blueprint for a Better System, May 1996
Robert W. Poole, Jr. and Viggo Butler
31
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2...rtin/26636141/
PRIVATIZATION COULD CREATE
FINANCIAL BURDENS FOR
SMALLER AIRPORTS
While commercial flights may be more noticeable to consumers, many small
airports located outside urban areas in the US primarily serve business and
general aviation (private flights or any other flights besides commercial
aircrafts). As of 2012, general aviation makes up approximately three out of
four takeoffs and landings at US airports.
29

However, general aviation flights typically use more monetary resources than
they give back. While these flights use approximately 20 percent of en route
ATC services, they only pay approximately three percent of the taxes that are
used to support ATC through the current taxes on airplane fuel.
30
This imbalance means that the current FAA system effectively supports many
small, rural airports that rely on general aviation but also provide commercial
airline services to local residents who need them. The current government-run
system ensures equal access to ATC services for all, regardless of the amount
of overall revenue generated by each airport.

Additionally, recent NextGen modernization efforts have amplified the amount of
flights controllers can manage and increased the effectiveness of smaller and
rural control towers. Because of the implementation of ERAM in 2015,
controllers can view 1,900 flights simultaneously, up from 1,100 flights prior
to ERAM.
31

By allowing controllers to view more flights, ERAM increased productivity per
controller while keeping costs constant.

These increases have increased the effectiveness of smaller control towers and
will allow for increased efficiency in flight management.

A privatized revenue-based system could result in ATC resources being
prioritized at larger airports that raise greater revenue, rather than being
spread equally across the country.

Additionally, a reliance on user fees could cause general aviation costs to
increase.

These increased costs could lead general aviation operators to make fewer
overall landings and takeoffs, which could in turn cause a decrease in activity
for the small airports that rely on their business.
DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
THE COSTS OF PRIVATIZING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
9
Such a decrease in overall business could result in additional financial
strains for small airports, and could also require those airports to limit
overall service for both general aviation and commercial flights. These effects
have already been reported in the UK under its privatization scheme. A 2015
report by the UK’s Airports Commission found there has been a decline in
services from airports outside London, particularly in the more rural
areas in the North of England and Scotland.

32
Diminished service at small airports in rural and suburban areas could have
negative impacts on residents traveling on commercial flights out of those
areas. Residents could be forced to drive to larger airports in urban areas —
potentially hundreds of miles away — in order to access the same airline
service that they currently enjoy close to home.

The UK Airports Commission report also noted that the decline in service at
smaller airports has begun to impact local economies outside urban centers.
With less traffic at small and rural airports, grants supporting improvement
projects stand to shrink. Currently, the FAA operates the Airport Improvement
Program, a grant program for airports to update infrastructure based on volume
of passengers and total air traffic.

If service levels decrease at small and rural airports, the FAA would decrease
funding to these airports, resulting in less funding for crucial infrastructure
projects. As small and rural airports fall into disrepair, passengers will have
an even greater incentive to use larger urban-based hubs.
32
https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...nal-report.pdf
WEIGHING THE COSTS OF PRIVATIZATION
As discussions continue regarding the possibility of ATC privatization in the
US, consumers should consider the potential costs.

As noted above, ATC privatization in other large countries like Canada and the
UK have led to an increase in operational costs, and studies show that those
costs are typically passed down to the consumer.

Additionally, ATC privatization has not necessarily led to a reduction in
taxes, and in fact, areas such as Ontario, Canada have seen a quite significant
increase in airline fuel taxes.






On Wed, 27 Jan 2016 13:59:03 -0800, Larry Dighera wrote:


http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Politicians-Weigh-In-On-ATC-Privatization-225591-1.html

Politicians Weigh In On ATC Privatization

By Russ Niles

Political momentum is gathering against the proposal to fundamentally change
the way the federal government funds and administers the National Airspace
System. A week after two influential Republican congressmen categorically
stated that no new user fees would be accepted to fund a privatized system, two
Democratic members are joining a grassroots liberal movement to end the whole
privatization debate. In a statement released Tuesday, Rep. Elijah Cummings
(D-MD) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) said they were joining an online
petition http://signforgood.com/airtrafficcontrol/ that has gathered 130,000
names to stop the privatization bid. "An FAA reauthorization bill that includes
severing and privatizing Air Traffic Control has not emerged, but, as petitions
submitted today from the public demonstrate, the long suspense has
understandably fed fears for public safety, loss and downgrading of middle
class jobs, and increased costs passed on to passengers — unacceptable
tradeoffs," Norton said in a statement quoted by The Hill
http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/267035-dems-look-to-ground-private-air-traffic-control-plan.
A week before, Republican GA advocates Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) and Rep. Todd
Rokita (R-IN) wrote an opinion piece
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-budget/266093-no-reason-to-stall
in the The Hill that suggests they've heard the aviation industry's concerns
about "per-flight" user fees clearly.

In the article, the congressmen say they're in favor of kicking the table over
on the current system but not if it hurts GA. "We have stood front and center
in the fight against per-flight user fees on general aviation," they wrote.
"That position remains unchanged, and we would not even entertain this
transition discussion if we found out it would harm the general aviation
community. Ultimately, we want to ensure that these aviators reap the benefits
of a modern, efficient air traffic control system." The system they envision is
a "user-funded, user-governed, not-for-profit organization, all in a manner
that protects the small aircraft operators and private pilots who use the
system." The debate is ramping up as the deadline to pass a reauthorization
bill for the FAA looms on March 31.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://signforgood.com/airtrafficcontrol/

Signature needed: Tell Congress not to privatize our air traffic control system

Every day, the men and women working for FAA's Air Traffic Control (ATC) keep
our nation's skies safe for air passengers. The busy holiday travel season is
no different as they work to ensure we make it home to spend quality time with
our loved ones. We can and should expect our air traffic control system to keep
working far into the future.

But Republicans in Congress and lobbyists for some of the biggest airlines are
rushing to privatize ATC operations and jeopardize a system that is second to
none where safety is concerned. A few countries have privatized their ATC
systems and the results have been what you probably expect: higher costs for
passengers, less democratic oversight, and job losses. Privatizing ATC
operations here would also hurt rural communities who depend on smaller
airports to thrive. In just a few weeks, the Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee will be taking up the issue and they need to hear from you!

Please help stop this disastrous proposal. Republicans on the relevant
committees are making this their first priority when they return to Washington
in January, so we have to speak up now. Sign the petition and share it with
your network. FAA needs stable, long-term funding to keep our country's skies
safe, not more outsourcing.

To Chairman Shuster, Ranking Member DeFazio, and the members of the House
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee:

The United States has one of the safest air traffic control systems in the
world. The FAA is currently working to implement new technologies that will
make air travel even safer and more efficient. While all programs can be
improved, we urge you not to dismantle and privatize an air traffic control
system that is not broken.

Our nation can’t afford to privatize our air traffic control system. Were we to
do so, the result could be more consolidation and power for airlines, less
choice and more expensive travel for consumers, loss of good jobs among air
traffic controllers and other aviation workers, and more cuts at rural
airports. Privatizing air traffic control and turning control over to an
unelected board of airline interests, would further consolidate airline power
and be harmful to consumers and small towns.

Advocates for privatization claim to be following the examples of the UK and
Canada - - but since the UK privatized its air traffic system, 12 percent of
jobs were cut AND the new fees and existing taxes on every ticket increased by
140%. In Canada, 14 percent of jobs were cut and the total new fees and taxes
increased by 53%. In fact, many privatization initiatives increase costs to
consumers, while simultaneously laying off workers without cause. This is not a
way to grow our economy or generate broadly shared prosperity.

Losing democratic oversight over this part of our national transportation
system means that a new monopoly corporation outside of the Federal government
will decide how much to charge for air traffic control services and how to
allocate resources. This could seriously disadvantage rural communities and
small towns by increasing costs and limiting access.

Instead of privatizing air traffic control, we believe that Congress should
create a pathway to allow the FAA to move forward with long-term capital
planning without relinquishing Congressional oversight or allowing a new
corporate monopoly run by the airlines to slash air traffic control jobs.

The cost of privatization is simply too high. It is bad for workers, bad for
passengers, and harmful to smaller and rural communities.

Sincerely,

American Family Voices
Courage Campaign
Crooks and Liars
Daily Kos
Deluge
People Demanding Action
Progressive Congress
Progressive Democrats of America
RootsAction.org
Watchdog.net
© 2016 | Paid for by Daily Kos. Organized by American Family Voices, Courage
Campaign, Crooks and Liars, Daily Kos, Deluge, People Demanding Action,
Progressive Congress, Progressive Democrats of America, RootsAction.org,
Watchdog.net.

Note: By signing this petition, you’ll get updates and be able to take similar
actions from one or more of these participating organizations. You can of
course opt out any time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/267035-dems-look-to-ground-private-air-traffic-control-plan

Dems look to ground private air traffic control plan

By Keith Laing - 01/26/16 12:20 PM EST

Two House Democrats are mobilizing liberal groups against a Republican proposal
to privatize large portions of the nation's air traffic control system in a
funding measure for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) are
joining a group of liberal organizations that have collected 115,000 signatures
for a petition against a proposal from House Republicans to create a new
nongovernmental agency that would take over air traffic control from the FAA
http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/245005-gop-chairman-wants-to-separate-air-traffic-control-from-the-faa.

Lawmakers are debating the air traffic control privatization proposal as
Congress tries to beat a March 31 deadline
http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/250267-aviation-funding-bill-up-in-the-air
for renewing the agency's funding.

Cummings and Norton said Tuesday that GOP leaders should back off of their air
traffic control privatization plan and focus on passing a new round of funding
for the FAA.

“An FAA reauthorization bill that includes severing and privatizing Air Traffic
Control has not emerged, but, as petitions submitted today from the public
demonstrate, the long suspense has understandably fed fears for public safety,
loss and downgrading of middle class jobs, and increased costs passed on to
passengers — unacceptable tradeoffs,” Norton said in a statement.

“As a member who once practiced constitutional law, I seriously question
whether Congress can constitutionally delegate air traffic control to a
private, even non-profit, entity," she continued. "Yet, there is considerable
frustration about the dysfunction of the current FAA, which has been repeatedly
victimized by the chronic delays and cuts in the appropriations process even
before the dangerous sequester cuts.

"We are long past due for serious discussions between Democrats and Republicans
that could produce a bill that would pass both the House and Senate.”

GOP leaders in the House have said the proposed nongovernmental entity could
better manage the commercial and private jet flights in the nation's airspace.

"After examining various models, I believe we need to establish a federally
chartered, fully independent not-for-profit corporation to operate and
modernize our [air traffic control] services," House Transportation Committee
Chairman Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) said during a speech last June at the Aero
Club of Washington.

The push to privatize most facets of air traffic control comes as the FAA is in
the midst of a years-long effort to discard the World War II-era radar
technology currently used to manage airplane traffic in favor of a new
satellite-based system, known as NextGen.

The conversion has hit turbulence amid missed deadlines and rampant budget
cutting in Washington, and supporters of the privatization proposal have said
the FAA is ill-equipped to complete the project.

Cummings and Norton are scheduled to appear on a conference call about the
opposition to the air traffic control privatization plan with officials from
Daily Kos, People Demanding Action, Public Citizen’s Congress Watch division
and Progressive Congress.

The groups said they will "discuss plans to travel to Capitol Hill to deliver a
petition to Congress from 115,000 Americans who oppose the privatization of the
ATC."

Most major airlines support the air traffic control privatization plan. The
group that lobbies for them in Washington said Tuesday that opponents are
mischaracterizing the proposal to alter the nation's flight navigation system.

"Today’s announced coalition believes the status quo is just fine and it is
arguing against positions NO ONE is taking," Airlines for America said in a
statement.

"Proponents of reform advocate for a not-for-profit organization that will be
overseen by the FAA and governed by a board inclusive of all stakeholders,
including employee unions, general aviation and private fliers, and
passengers," the group continued.

"That’s the way air traffic services are run in most of the rest of the world,"
the group added. "We want to see more air traffic controllers hired. We want to
make the system even more safe. And most importantly, we want to make flying
better for the traveling public. Members of Congress should want the same
thing.”

The airline group added that "modernizing Air Traffic Control is a critical
step toward enhancing safety and making flying more dependable and efficient
for consumers."

"Any one of the two million people who fly every day can tell you: Air Traffic
Control is not as efficient as it could be," the group said.

This story was updated at 2:52 p.m.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-budget/266093-no-reason-to-stall

January 18, 2016, 11:00 am
No reason to stall

By Reps. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Todd Rokita (R-Ind.)

A foundation of conservatism is our belief that the federal government is
incapable of doing just about anything more efficiently or innovatively than
the private sector. A perfect example is the Federal Aviation Administration’s
(FAA) stalled effort to bring our nation’s aviation system into the modern era.

As commercially licensed, general aviation pilots with thousands of flight
hours, we are uniquely positioned to understand the priorities and concerns of
the general aviation community, and how FAA reform can improve our aviation
system.

The Department of Transportation’s Inspector General has detailed to Congress
the FAA’s failure to deliver on the promised benefits of NextGen; a GPS-based
air traffic control system. The FAA has missed deadlines, exceeded budgets, and
has almost entirely neglected industry stakeholders who will be using this new
technology on a daily basis.

The status quo is not working, and with each blunder by the FAA it becomes more
apparent that the agency is simply not capable of implementing NextGen on its
own. It’s time for a better approach.

After working extensively over the last 2 years and talking to each stakeholder
group, we have learned what best practices to replicate and which to leave
behind in regards to air traffic control reform. We continue to be intimately
involved in discussions on transitioning air traffic control responsibilities
from an ineffective federal bureaucracy to a user-funded, user-governed,
not-for-profit organization, all in a manner that protects the small aircraft
operators and private pilots who use the system.

We have stood front and center in the fight against per-flight user fees on
general aviation. That position remains unchanged, and we would not even
entertain this transition discussion if we found out it would harm the general
aviation community. Ultimately, we want to ensure that these aviators reap the
benefits of a modern, efficient air traffic control system.

It is true that our nation’s airspace is complex, and also that our general
aviation presence is the largest in the world. But that does not preclude us
from designing an Air Traffic Control Organization that is superior to any
system in existence today. To say it cannot be done is to challenge the very
fiber of American ingenuity. We must adopt our own way that meets the unique
needs of our system and its users while continuing to operate the safest air
traffic control system in the world.

Last year, we helped lead a group of 50 planes over the U.S. Capitol in honor
of the 70th Anniversary of our Victory in Europe. Those planes symbolized more
than America’s victory over fascism and imperialism in World War II. They
celebrated a generation that knew it had to lead the world in ingenuity and
innovation, because the freedom of tens of millions of people across the globe
depended on it. Nowhere was that American exceptionalism and determination more
evident than in the skies above oceans and battlefields.

The United States led the world in aviation in the 20th century, forever
changing the course of human history. Remembering that proud tradition gives us
the confidence and resolve to overcome the challenges ahead. To pursue these
aggressive reforms would set America on a path to continuing its global
leadership in aviation for the next century. To fail would be to fall behind
and allow other nations to lead. The bottom line is this: the status quo is not
working, and the opportunity to reform it is one we simply cannot lose.

Graves has represented Missouri’s 9th Congressional District since 2001. He
sits on the Armed Services and the Transportation committees. Rokita has
represented Indiana’s 4th Congressional District since 2011. He sits on the
Budget, the Education and the Workforce and the Transportation committees.

================================================= ===========================


On Wed, 20 Jan 2016 09:14:30 -0800, Larry Dighera wrote:

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/GA-Groups-Protest-ATC-Changes-225545-1.html

GA Groups Protest ATC Changes
By Mary Grady

Anticipating that Congress will consider changes to how the FAA functions and
gets its funding in the upcoming session, 15 general-aviation advocacy groups
signed on to a letter today asking the leaders of transportation policy in the
U.S. House to hear their “real and long-standing concerns” about the expected
proposals. “Some big airlines have pushed for a new governance and funding
model for our nation’s aviation system, based on systems in other parts of the
world,” the letter (PDF
http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/20160119-Association-Letter-ATC-Reform-More-Than-Just-User-Fees.php)
states. The GA concerns “go well beyond the user-fee issue,” according to the
letter. “These concerns are based on our operating experiences in foreign
systems, as well as thoughtful analysis about what those systems might look
like in the United States.”

Mark Baker, president of AOPA, told AVweb today his organization wants to be
sure that “the needs of our community” are considered in any potential changes
to how ATC is financed and structured. “That’s why it’s so important that we
have ample time to review the actual text of any legislation, so we can make
informed decisions to address our concerns with the present system and any
proposed changes,” he wrote in an email. “Ultimately, we will protect the
interests of general aviation, ensure user fees are not included in any final
bill, and that whatever structure is in place will support the entire aviation
community, including GA, for the long term.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------

 




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