Fri, Aug 15, 2003
Been Talking One Way, Acting Another, on ATC Privatization
The following is a statement from National Air Traffic
Controllers Association President John Carr in response to comments
this week from Republican leadership on Capitol Hill
regarding privatization of air traffic control:
"For months the Administration and the Republican leadership
have insisted that they have no intention of privatizing America's
air traffic control system. They have dismissed criticism of
privatization as "making a mountain out of a molehill" and
belittled dedicated FAA employees concerns as air traffic
controllers being "greedy."
"But all rhetoric and talking points aside, the Administration is
moving aggressively to privatize the air traffic control system, a
move that will both jeopardize safety in our skies and stick the
taxpayer with a bigger bill.
"After months of denying their intentions to privatize the entire
air traffic system, now Republican leaders are openly saying they
may privatize the entire system. We welcome this refreshing candor
and look forward to a vigorous debate when Congress returns from
the Labor Day recess.
"This is a critical
issue to the millions of Americans who fly every day. To date, the
proponents of privatization have been unwilling to be candid about
how they want to change the system. That's why they have relied on
backroom political deals to fulfill their agenda, rather than
honest and open public debate.
"Our hope is that this debate can proceed now in an open and candid
way. We will continue to vigorously oppose contracting out air
traffic control to the lowest bidder and any attempt to jeopardize
the safest air traffic control system in the world. We assume
proponents of
privatization will also make their case just as vigorously. The
public deserves this debate."
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