Trumps privatisering av et "horrible ATC system" møter motstand - AVweb

Text size:   A   A   A Trump Proposes To Privatize ‘Horrible’ ATC System By Mary Grady As expected, President Donald Trump announced on Monday that air traffic control will no longer be a government function but instead will become a “self-financing nonprofit.” Calling the change “a great new era in American aviation,” he said it will replace “an antiquated horrible system that doesn’t work.” Trump also called the current system "ancient” and “broken.” In regard to efforts to modernize that have so far been undertaken by the FAA, he said, “Honestly, they didn't know what the hell they were doing. A total waste of money." President Trump said his team studied the air traffic control systems in other countries and used one of them as a template, but he wouldn’t say which countries had been studied. The proposal would create a board made up of airline, union and airport officials, who would oversee the nonprofit entity that would assume oversight of FAA functions after a three-year transition. Most airlines support the change. Delta opposes it, according to Reuters, saying the U.S. system is so large that privatization would not save money, would drive up ticket costs and could create a national security risk. Opponents also say technology upgrades would be sidetracked while the new system is put in place, potentially adding years before new technology can be operational. NATCA was quick to respond to the Trump proposal, with a statement from their president, Paul Rinaldi. NATCA said it will study the legislation in detail before commenting. The union has long been supportive of a not-for-profit model for ATC that would provide a stable, predictable funding stream that adequately supports air traffic control services, and that would maintain service to all segments of aviation. AOPA President Mark Baker said his group “will not support policies that impose user fees on general aviation. ” He added that “the U.S. has a very safe air traffic system today and we don’t hear complaints from our nearly 350,000 members about it.” You can watch the president's full announcement in this video, starting at about 60  minutes in. The adminstration's "principles for reforming" air traffic control are posted on the White House website. view on YouTube   GA Advocates Oppose Trump Privatization Plan By Mary Grady Sixteen general aviation advocacy groups signed on to a letter on Monday (PDF) opposing President Trump’s plan to turn the FAA into a private nonprofit corporation. “Dismantling the current system will devastate GA, while not accomplishing the desired goals of efficiency and technological improvements,” the letter says. “Today, the U.S. air traffic control system is the best in the world, moving more aircraft, more safely and efficiently, than  any other country. Working with Congress and the FAA, aviation stakeholders have been able to ensure that our system operates for the  public benefit, providing access for all stakeholders to airports, heliports and airspace, and encouraging competition and innovation.” The letter says “big airlines” are pushing for the new funding model, but the GA groups say they have seen similar systems in other countries and they are not good for GA. The letter concludes: “We respectfully request that you provide ample opportunity for all stakeholders and citizens to carefully review, analyze and debate any proposed legislation changing the governance and funding for air traffic control.” The groups signing the letter are: Air Care Alliance, Aircraft Electronics Association, AOPA, Citation Jet Pilots, Commemorative Air Force, EAA, GAMA, Helicopter Association International, International Council of Air Shows, National Agricultural Aviation Association, National Association of State Aviation Officials, National Air Transportation Association, NBAA, Recreational Aviation Foundation, U.S. Parachute Association, and Veterans Airlift Command. FAA, Unions React To ATC Plan By Mary Grady The aviation community is continuing to respond to the Trump administration’s proposal on Monday to privatize the air traffic control system. FAA Administrator Michael P. Huerta released a brief statement, saying he supports “looking at new ways to help us provide stable and sufficient funding to more rapidly modernize our system, while maintaining the highest level of safety.” He concludes: “The proposal  to create a separate, non-government air traffic control service provider is a step in a process that needs to involve all users of the airspace system and deliver benefits to the system as a whole.” The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, the union representing FAA employees who install, maintain, support and certify computers and other equipment, also issued a statement, strongly opposing the president’s plan. "Privatizing the largest and most complex aviation system in the world is a risky and unnecessary step at this pivotal point in its modernization, ” PASS said. “True progress is being made through Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) programs. Breaking apart the system to establish a monopoly will take the focus off the substantial progress already being made. This would slow down enhancements and possibly compromise safety to fix a system that's not broken. … It is unfathomable to consider gambling with the future and safety of our air traffic control system by putting it into the hands of an organization that diminishes the voice of the American citizens who will be most affected by it. PASS will continue to work tirelessly with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to keep this misguided  proposal from coming to fruition." NATCA, the union representing air traffic controllers, said on Monday they  would review the specifics of the ATC reform legislation to “evaluate whether it satisfies our Union’s principles, including protecting the rights and benefits of the ATC workforce.” On Tuesday, NATCA spokesman Doug Church reiterated that position to AVweb: “It is too early to support or oppose. We need to see the legislation first. We look forward to reviewing the specifics of legislation.”