Sat, May 20, 2017
DOD Has Formed An 'Ad Hoc' Committee To Assess Relationship Between Department And ATC
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has weighed in on privatizing ATC ... on the side of spinning off the function from the FAA.
The Hill reports that Mattis (pictured) recently sent a letter to U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) saying that the Department of Defence is "supportive of a possible privatization of ATC services and recognizes the potential risks."
Mattis said in the letter that the DOD has established an ad hoc committee charged with assessing the relationship between the agency and air traffic control as well as any linkages that might be necessary with a goal of ensuring ongoing privatization efforts as well as national security interests.
House Transportation Committee chair Bill Shuster (R-PA) called Mattis' support a 'huge deal'. "You have senators running around saying that’s one of the reasons not to do it. And Secretary Mattis is saying we support it,” Shuster said. Support from the DOD clears a major hurdle for those who support the plan to privatize ATC.
In a hearing full committee hearing on the topic Wednesday, Shuster said that "the FAA’s infrastructure is increasingly obsolete, and its technology is still cemented in the last century. As a result, shocking amounts of tax dollars and time have been wasted over the last 35 years."
But opponents, including many in the GA industry, feel that the spinoff would give airlines far too much power over the nation's ATC system. The ranking Democrat on the panel, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), noted during the hearing that airline CEOs were not testifying before the committee. "Perhaps they recognize that the American people are not interested in giving more control to the airlines when, between dragging a passenger off a plane and massive computer failures, they can't even get their own houses in order," DeFazio said.
(Image from file)
More News
Light Gun A handheld directional light signaling device which emits a brilliant narrow beam of white, green, or red light as selected by the tower controller. The color and type of>[...]
"The journey to this achievement started nearly a decade ago when a freshly commissioned Gentry, driven by a fascination with new technologies and a desire to contribute significan>[...]
Aero Linx: JAARS, Inc. For decades now, we’ve landed planes on narrow rivers and towering mountains. We’ve outfitted boats and vehicles to reach villages that rarely se>[...]
"Our driven and innovative team of military and civilian Airmen delivers combat power daily, ensuring our nation is ready today and tomorrow." Source: General Duke Richardson, AFMC>[...]
Aircraft Conflict Predicted conflict, within EDST of two aircraft, or between aircraft and airspace. A Red alert is used for conflicts when the predicted minimum separation is 5 na>[...]