Mon, Jul 21, 2003
Continues Fight Against Privatization And User Fees
AOPA is once again asking
Congress to knock down the possibility of privatizing the air
traffic control system. AOPA President Phil Boyer yesterday sent a
letter to members of a congressional conference committee, urging
them to return air traffic control (ATC) to an "inherently
governmental" function. The committee convenes soon to reconcile
the House and Senate versions of the FAA reauthorization bill.
Both versions have language that would reverse a decision by the
White House Office of Management and Budget to classify ATC as a
"commercial" function, although they differ in scope.
The letter is a follow-up to the virtually daily contact AOPA's
Legislative Affairs staff has maintained with congressional offices
over the ATC issue.
What's In A Name? In This Case, A Lot
"AOPA is extremely
concerned about the Administration's recent categorization of air
traffic services as 'commercial' rather than 'inherently
governmental,'" wrote Boyer. "This change makes air traffic control
services susceptible to wholesale outsourcing or privatization
— something AOPA is adamantly against."
"Our members have a longstanding concern that general
aviation will suffer under the weight of costly fees and that
services will be governed by and designed solely to meet the needs
of the airlines," Boyer continued. "You only need look at the
expense of flying in Europe under Eurocontrol and its impact on
general aviation to see the future if ATC is not kept as an
inherently governmental function."
Boyer told the conferees that privatization and user fees are of
paramount concern to AOPA members, and that they have told the
association time and again, ATC must remain a function of the
FAA.
He concluded, "As the House and Senate come to agreement on the
FAA Reauthorization, we ask you to ensure that language is included
that keeps ATC separation and control functions with the FAA. It is
essential that any final language not touch the 'core' air traffic
control functions."
The conferees hope to complete their work before the annual
August recess, which begins on August 4, 2003.
More News
Airbus Racer Demonstrator Makes Inaugural Flight Airbus Helicopters' ambitious Racer demonstrator has achieved its inaugural flight as part of the Clean Sky 2 initiative, a corners>[...]
A little Bit Quieter, Said Testers, But in the End it's Still a DA40 Diamond Aircraft recently completed a little pilot project with Lufthansa Aviation Training, putting a pair of >[...]
Line Up And Wait (LUAW) Used by ATC to inform a pilot to taxi onto the departure runway to line up and wait. It is not authorization for takeoff. It is used when takeoff clearance >[...]
Contributing To The Accident Was The Pilot’s Use Of Methamphetamine... Analysis: The pilot departed on a local flight to perform low-altitude maneuvers in a nearby desert val>[...]
From 2015 (YouTube Version): Overcoming Obstacles To Achieve Their Dreams… At EAA AirVenture 2015, FedEx arrived with one of their Airbus freight-hauling aircraft and placed>[...]
Airbus Racer Helicopter Demonstrator First Flight Part of Clean Sky 2 Initiative
See All