ATC Privatization Update

Last week saw the United States Congress pass a crucial short-term extension on funding for the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA). The previous arrangements had been due to expire on September 30, but have been extended by an additional six months due to a lack of consensus over the proposed 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act (HR2997). The controversial bill now looks set to be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives next week. Read on to learn more.

The Story So Far

The passing of the funding extension by congress means the FAA will continue operating in its current form until at least the end of March 2018. This reprieve allows further time for both the House of Representatives and Congress to debate the future role of the FAA, and how the US Air Traffic Control (ATC) system will be operated.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Senator Bill Shuster will once again try to rally support for the HR2997 act, which is now scheduled to come before the house on week commencing October 9. One of the key proposals in the legislation seeks to hand over control of US ATC to a private, nonprofit entity. This new organization would have its own board, comprising representatives from airlines, unions, airports and federal officials.

Proponents of the bill insist changes to the American ATC infrastructure are long overdue, and that the current set-up has failed to deliver. However, many in the General Aviation (GA) community feel the proposals could place too much influence in the hands of airline companies, leading to limited airport access and increased costs for GA operators.

The Debate Continues

National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen, one of the fiercest critics of the legislation, released a statement saying “While NBAA has always supported passage of a long-term FAA reauthorization bill, we appreciate that congressional leaders have taken this important step to provide an extension of FAA funding and operating authority, so that the agency can continue to have the resources needed for its critical safety, infrastructure and other programs.” Bolen continued “We will work with leaders from both chambers to ensure a full FAA reauthorization bill that enjoys support from both parties and maintains our nation’s leadership in aviation, not just in the short term, but five, 10 and 25 years from now.” Read the NBAA statement in full.

Mark Baker, President and CEO of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), also praised the extension. “We applaud the House and Senate for passing this needed legislation,” said Baker. “AOPA will continue mobilizing pilots and working with elected officials to ensure we don’t give away our skies to the airlines, and instead focus on the continuing efforts to modernize air traffic control.”

The View From Capitol Hill

Senator Bill Shuster took to the House floor on Tuesday to express his frustration with opposition to the legislation from the GA community, who he accused of spreading “false claims”. Stressing that most of their concerns about the proposals have already been addressed, he said “My colleagues and I worked with the General Aviation community to include everything they asked for in this bill. Not one of their legislative requests was excluded.”

Not everyone is convinced by these reassurances. Speaking with reporters shortly afterwards, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee ranking member Peter DeFazio insisted “I will continue to follow Shuster around and talk people off the ledge who get bad information and think that privatization is a good idea.”

What Next for HR2997?

The FAA funding extension provides breathing space for both parties to rally support for their causes. It is now looking highly likely that the bill will be brought to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives for a vote next week. With Senators from both sides of the political divide coming out against the proposals, it may be that significant amendments will be required in order for the bill to secure passage through the house. What form the legislation will take, and how this will affect the current FAA and US ATC structure and funding, remains to be seen.

Stay tuned to our blog for the latest updates on this important issue.


Further Reading

For more information on the background to the 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act (HR2997), please refer to our previous articles on the topic:

US Air Traffic Control Privatization Plans – Cause For Concern?
NBAA Opposes Call For ATC Privatization In House FAA Bill

US Air Traffic Control (ATC) Privatization Bill Update