ATC Privatization

1.     The current ATC system utilizes a system of radar and transponders for position reporting and other various parameters. The new Nextgen system will allow for exact position reporting via the ADS-B system and other components. ATC will have an exact GPS reported location of an aircraft, along with other information surrounding the aircraft, such as weather conditions and other aircraft. Because aircraft positions are no longer dependent upon radar, ATC will have a reduction in or removal of dead zones, particularly near mountains, Due to the nature of this new system being GPS based, the National Airspace System (NAS) can be improved with more optimal routes, resulting in a reduction of “flying time, fuel use, and aircraft exhaust emissions while getting passengers to their destinations at more predictable times. NextGen significantly improves overall capacity, performance, efficiency, and predictability throughout the NAS” (How NextGen Works, 2017).

2.     GA has traditionally spoken out against the privatization of ATC due to what the potentialities of this step may be. Privatization has the potential to decrease focus on the GA side of aviation and dedicate efforts to the air carrier industry because of the lobbyists for the air carriers and the fact that there may be a huge increase in bias with a private company handling ATC roles. US airlines are largely in favor of privatization of ATC because it will benefit them the most. Privatization will allow for the airlines to have a larger influence in the rules and regulations that govern their flight under the NAS. The first organization, AOPA, is outspoken against the privatization of ATC. They believe that a step like this would increase the cost of flying and not result in any sort of reduction in delays. They say “privatization is simply a move by the airlines to control the system—the very airlines that jam passengers into a seat and reap billions of dollars annually from travelers who simply want to bring along luggage” (Kildea, 2017). My second choice, the NBAA, has huge concerns regarding the privatization of ATC as well. They believe that it “would turn control of the system – a natural monopoly that currently serves the public's interest and is overseen by the public's elected representatives in Congress – over to a new entity governed by private interests unaccountable to congressional oversight” (Modernization, 2017).

3.     As a matter of fact, ATC is privatized in several countries, with mostly good results. ATC is privatized in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and others. I’ll speak regarding the Canadian private ATC system. Canada privatized its ATC in 1996 and this privatized agency has brought great advancement to the Canadian civil air navigation service (ANS), which “is light years ahead of the U.S. in terms of technology and efficiency…[and handled] by a nonprofit corporation called Nav Canada”, who purchased the ANS from Canada in 1996 for $1.5 billion (Trump Wants To, 2017). While Canada’s airspace system is much less complex than the U.S. system and handles substantially less traffic, it seems like a decent model to be used as a guide for the United States, should we dive into privatization.

4.     To turn our ATC system into a privatized system, it would definitely have to go through congress and have their approval, along with a bill for the process to follow. The FAA does not have the authority to hand itself over to a private company. They are only here to govern and regulate the aviation industry of the United States. The current administration in the white house is supportive of privatization because generally speaking, privatization has worked well many times in the past for various industries, and not only in the United States.

5.     I do feel the current system will be much more efficient should it be privatized. However, I am not for one side or the other. As I’ve stated above, I know that privatization is typically a good thing (there are always exceptions) so I am supportive of the broader idea of less government control (regarding almost everything) but have reasonable doubts as stated by many GA organizations, including the ones I have listed in question two. One thing I will say: Captain Chesley Sullenberger is against the privatization of the air traffic control system and he is someone I trust. If anything, as a former airline pilot, he should be more supportive of projects that would benefit the people he had been around for decades, but he is not. He’s been around the industry enough to know what would be best and has outstanding judgment. There’s no one in the industry I would trust more.

References

How NextGen Works. (2017, December 04). Retrieved April 09, 2018, from https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/how_nextgen_works/

Kildea, J. (2017, July 12). ATC privatization pitfalls: Point by point. Retrieved April 09, 2018, from https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2017/july/12/get-the-facts-about-atc-privatization

Modernization. (2017, July 21). Retrieved April 09, 2018, from https://www.nbaa.org/advocacy/issues/modernization/hero-pilot-sullenbergers-new-video-argues-against-atc-privatization.php

Trump Wants To Privatize Air Traffic Control; Canada And Europe Prove It Will Work. (2017, June 05). Retrieved April 09, 2018, from https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/trumps-plan-to-privatize-air-traffic-control-would-follow-canadas-and-europes-lead/