Sat, Jan 30, 2016
Senators Cochran, Mikulski, Others Send Letter To House Transportation Committee
Four U.S. Senators on the Senate Appropriations Committee have written a letter to the House Transportation Committee that is set to begin consideration of an FAA reauthorization bill, which many think will include a plan to strip Air Traffic Control from the FAA.
The Senators, Commerce Committee Chair Thad Cochran (R-MS) (pictured), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), the ranking democrat on the committee, and Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jack Reed (D-RI), say in the letter that they strongly disagree with the suggestion that ATC should be stripped from the FAA and put in the hands of a private entity, according to a report from Politico.
“These proposals have two fundamental problems: they break apart the FAA, and they diminish the ability of Congress to oversee the aviation system,” the letter states. “The annual appropriations process provides the oversight of agency resources that is necessary to ensure accountability for program performance and a sustained focus on aviation safety.”
Meanwhile, the co-founder and CEO of Hopscotch Air writes in the Huffington Post that imposition of a user fee to fund a private Air Traffic Control system would have a chilling effect on General Aviation, particularly flight schools which make multiple flights per day.
Andrew Schmertz writes that the proposal would cost jobs and put a dent in the $200 billion in economic impact that GA generates annually.
But he also says that Air Traffic Control is one of those functions that the federal government is uniquely qualified to perform.
In the article, Schmertz also calls on Congress the President to demand that the FAA address regulations regarding the manufacture and certification of new aircraft.
More News
Chaff Thin, narrow metallic reflectors of various lengths and frequency responses, used to reflect radar energy. These reflectors, when dropped from aircraft and allowed to drift d>[...]
“Today, XB-1 took flight in the same hallowed airspace where the Bell X-1 first broke the sound barrier in 1947. I’ve been looking forward to this flight since founding>[...]
“Teaming up with the EAA and Berlin Express for this event in Cincinnati will give warbird fans a unique opportunity to see the aircraft that helped defend freedom and gave t>[...]
Hazardous Weather Information Summary of significant meteorological information (SIGMET/WS), convective significant meteorological information (convective SIGMET/WST), urgent pilot>[...]
Aero Linx: The Nebraska Aeronautics Commission The Nebraska Aeronautics Commission was created by the 1935 Legislature to oversee the development of aviation in the state. The Comm>[...]