Air traffic control being privatized is a controversial topic in today's aviation world. Some people are for it while others are not. GA flyers have traditionally spoken against the privatization of air traffic control. An online article said that, "In addition, a privatized air traffic control system would be funded by user fees, which would require the establishment of a whole new bureaucracy to administer these fees, and decimate small businesses that depend on these aircraft and airports for their livelihood." Air traffic controllers are not cheap, and knowing that these GA users would have to pay for it is a big factor in their decision.
Airlines have also spoken out against the privatization of air traffic control. One article spoke out against the privatization of air traffic for the airlines saying that, "Airlines need to pad extra minutes into published schedules to accommodate potential delays caused by the obsolete ATC system’s limitations." Having more direct routes provided by a better ATC system would account for that and make things better. There are some countries around the world that have privatized Air Traffic Control systems. Germany, Canada and United Kingdom are a few countries that have privatized air traffic systems that are doing well and prospering. An article said that, "About 50 countries have privatized air-traffic control during the last 20 years, and there has been no loss in safety." NextGen air traffic control would be a big part of this process of privatization. The FAA would have a big part of this privatization process as well as most of it would go through them. Personally, I believe that privatized air traffic control would be better and more efficient than what it is now. We have already seen other countries doing it and we see that it works. And as I stated earlier it would also involve the initiation of NextGen which is supposed to revolutionize Air Traffic as we know it. All in all, it would be interesting to see the changes that privatization brings if it were ever to happen.
References
1. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2015, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeboyd/2015/10/06/time-to-privatize-air-traffic-control-the-right-way/
2. Stop the movement to privatize Air Traffic Control. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2015, from http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/stop-the-movement-to-privatize-air-traffic-control/article_0e6c72ca-1c18-5826-902e-f9f06d46fb0a.html
3. Jansen, B. (2015, June 15). House transportation chairman: Privatize air-traffic control. Retrieved December 7, 2015, from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/06/15/faa-air-traffic-control-rep-shuster-privatization-aero-club/71244404/
I agree that there is evidence that the current system can be improved, and I agree, my only concern is the "growing" pains the new system may face because of the volume of traffic in the current system.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. There is a strong need to update the ATC system through implementing more advanced technology already available.
ReplyDeleteHaving more direct routes would make ATC better. Hopefully in the coming years ATC will change to be a little more efficient.
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