Ramped-Up Implementation Will Add Jobs... At First
ANN APRIL 1st "SPECIAL" EDITION: In a surprise
move, the Obama administration has put NextGen Air Traffic Control
on a fast track. Make that a really fast track.
Emerging from a hasty meeting with the US House Aviation
Subcommittee, Ray LaHood (above) addressed reporters yesterday to
discuss rumors of an imminent change in philosophy regarding the
nation's air traffic control system.
LaHood confirmed a Government Accountability Office study
predicts subsidies for purchases by aircraft owners of ADS-B, RNAV,
RVSM and other equipment required for rapid implementation of
NextGen in the US could get the new system up and running in just
18 months, and would pay for itself by reducing controller salary
expenses and freeing the agency once and for all from the high
costs of replacing vacuum tubes.
"At this critical time for our nation's economy, we have
determined that subsidizing these costs for both commercial and
general aviation will not only allow quick roll-out of NextGen, but
provide more than 7,000,000 high-paying jobs for avionics techs,"
LaHood said. "When we looked at the numbers, there was just no way
we could wait."
Acting FAA Administrator Lynne
Osmus, who appeared with LaHood, commented, "My immediate
predecessors danced around this issue, but let's face it. The FAA
has a terrible relationship with its unions right now, and we're
losing veteran air traffic controllers faster than we can find warm
bodies."
Osmus continued, "We've recruited using Craig's List, the sides
of buses, ads printed on lunch trays in high school cafeterias and
even e-mail spam. Nothing's worked. If we can expedite this shift
to new technology, controllers can essentially retire as fast as
they can fill out the paperwork, and we can replace them with
automation."
An official press release issued moments later revealed how the
program will be administered. Each household in the US which
includes a registered aircraft owner may request up to two "NextGen
Converter Box Coupons" valued at $400 each, which can be used as
credit against the purchase of ADS-B-ready Garmin GTX 330
transponders, and other equipment as it becomes available for
NextGen. All aircraft with FAA airworthiness certificates which are
currently equipped for IFR will be eligible, including some Light
Sport Aircraft.
In depth analysis by ANN has determined that for the average
owner of a Cessna 172, the coupons would bring the projected price
of equipping for NextGen down from $34,500 to just $34,100.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the union
representing FAA air traffic controllers, had no official comment,
but spokesman Doug Church said he expects the union to stage a
press conference later this week to declare a "Code Red Double
Secret Staffing Emergency."
LaHood adds that the program will begin its rollout on Monday,
April 13th, in time for many aircraft owners to augment the coupons
with tax refunds and 2009 federal stimulus checks which will
follow. He was asked how the government plans to start the
conversion program without a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, public
comments, or even a rough idea how NextGen will work, while facing
a shortage of qualified avionics techs.
He explained. "Just as we found the necessary expertise to
administer the coupons within the US Department of Commerce's
National Telecommunications and Information Administration, we will
leverage expertise developed within the Transportation Security
Administration to immediately impose undefined programs which look
unworkable. They do it all the time."