More than 115 mayors in all 50 states recently wrote a letter to Congress expressing concern about the impact of air traffic control privatization on communities across the country, especially those in rural regions of the country.
For these communities, local airports and general aviation represent a vital connection for small businesses, farms, emergency responders and other critical services, according to officials with the Alliance for Aviation Across America.
This proposal to privatize the air traffic control system, which is being pushed by the airlines, would put this system under the purview of a private board of mostly commercial interests that would direct everything from taxes and fees, to airport investments and access, alliance officials said.
The letter from the mayors is the latest in a growing number of voices raising concerns about the proposal to privatize the air traffic control system.
Consumer advocates, free market groups, major committees in Congress, chambers of commerce, and businesses have all voiced concerns about this proposal, alliance officials noted.
In addition, the American people disapprove of this idea by an overwhelming 62%, according to a recent survey .
The full text of the letter is below.
Dear Member of Congress:
As you debate reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), I write to ask you to reject any risky plans to privatize our air traffic control system and take away Congressional oversight of this important public system.
Over the last year, proposals have recently been forwarded to put this vital infrastructure under the control of a private entity dominated by the commercial airlines. On behalf of the tens of thousands of communities around the country, we are concerned about the very real and dire ramifications of eliminating Congressional oversight of this public air transportation infrastructure.
For tens of thousands of communities such as ours around the country, we depend on our local airport and all sectors of transportation to reach far-off markets and access critical services such as law enforcement, disaster relief, and medical care. Small aircraft and airports are utilized on a daily basis to help transport blood and organs to residents in rural communities, reunite veterans back from overseas with their families, maintain power lines, and help our companies reach customers in far-off markets, among many other priorities.
Privatization would hand over decisions about infrastructure funding, taxes and fees, consumer complaints, noise, and many other priorities, to a board of private interests dominated by the commercial airlines. These are the same airlines that have cut back flights to smaller communities by more than 20 percent in recent years, and have stated their intent to divert investment from small and mid-sized communities to large ones where the airlines are most profitable.
We are also concerned about costs and access. For example, the Canadian, privatized system, which is often held up as the system the U.S. should emulate, is more expensive than the system we have in the US by miles flown. In the U.K., that system has seen “more delays, higher fares and reduced connectivity” at London’s airports since privatization. So while we all agree that modernizing our air traffic control system and investing in American infrastructure should be among our highest priorities, privatization is not the answer.
We look forward to working with you throughout this process to ensure that our air transportation system protects communities of all sizes and keeps passengers flying safely and efficiently.
Sincerely,
Elmira, NY – Mayor Daniel J. Mandell
Clarksburg, WV – Mayor Catherine A. Goings
Ocala, FL – Mayor Kent Guinn
Corning, NY – Mayor Richard P. Negri
Mitchell, SD – Mayor Jerry Toomey
Fairmont, WV – Mayor Ronald J. Straight Sr.
Edgemont, SD – Mayor Carl A. Shaw
Warwick, NY – Michael J. Newhard
Texarkana, AR – Mayor Ruth Penney Bell
Easton, MD – Mayor Robert C. Willey
Watertown, SD – Mayor Steve Thorson
Fayetteville, AR – Mayor Lioneld Jordan
Huron, SD – Mayor Paul Aylward
Texarkana, TX – Mayor Bob Bruggeman
Bloomington, IL – Mayor Tari Renner
Chillicothe, MO – Mayor Charles E. Haney
Lewisburg, WV – Mayor John Manchester
Worcester, MA – Mayor Joseph M. Petty
Elkins, WV Mayor Van T. Broughton
Wall, SD – Mayor Marty Huether
Sturgis, SD – Mayor Mark C. Carstensen
Longmont, CO – Mayor Dennis Coombs
Albert Lea, MN – Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr.
Lake Wales, FL – Mayor Eugene Fultz
Santa Barbara, CA – Mayor Helene Schneider
Riverside, CA – Mayor William Bailey
McCall, ID – Mayor Jackie J. Aymon
Sioux Falls, SD – Mayor Mike Huether
Concord, NC – Mayor Scott Padgett
Prospect Heights, IL – Mayor Nicholas Helmer
Mountain Home, ID – Mayor Rich Sykes
Lewiston, ID – Mayor Jim Kleeburg
Florence, SC – Mayor Stephen J. Wukela
Fernley, NV – Mayor Roy G. Edgington Jr.
Huntington, WV – Mayor Steve Williams
Morristown, NJ – Mayor Timothy Dougherty
Macomb, IL – Mayor Michael J. Inman
Kamiah, ID – Mayor Dale Schneider
Mesquite, NV – Mayor Allan Litman
Mount Pleasant, SC – Mayor Linda Page
Newport, OR – Mayor Sandy Roumagoux
Jacksonville, IL – Mayor Andy Ezard
Broomfield, CO – Mayor Randy Ahrens
Petaluma, CA – Mayor David Glass
DeLand, FL – Mayor Robert F. Apgar
Jackson, TN – Mayor Jerry Gist
Gainesville, FL – Mayor Lauren Poe
Annapolis, MD – Mayor Mike Pantelides
Fernandina Beach, FL – Mayor John A. Miller
Naples, FL – Mayor Bill Barnett
Fargo, ND – Mayor Tim Mahoney
Sedalia, MO – Mayor Stephen Galliher
Wenatchee, WA – Mayor Frank Kuntz
Coeur d’Alene, ID – Mayor Steve Widmyer
Cumberland, MD – Mayor Brian Grim
Keene, NH – Mayor Kendall Lane
Zanesville, OH – Mayor Jeff Tilton
Youngstown, OH – Mayor John McNally IV
Henderson, NV – Mayor Andy Hafen
Big Rapids, MI – Mayor Mark Warba
Pinedale, WY – Mayor Bob Jones
Pekin, IL – Mayor John McCabe
Hermiston, OR – Dr. Dave Drotzmann, Mayor
Wausau, WI – Mayor Robert Mielke
Danbury, CT – Mayor Mark D. Boughton
New London, CT – Mayor Michael Passero
Idaho Falls, ID – Mayor Rebecca L. Noah Casper
Valdez, AK- Mayor Ruth E. Knight
Brigham City, UT – Mayor Tyler Vincent
Salisbury, MD – Mayor Jacob R. Day
Ely, MN – Mayor Chuck Novak
Winona, MN – Mayor Mark Peterson
New Ulm, MN – Mayor Robert J. Beussman
Wasilla, AK – Mayor Bert Cottle
Barre, VT – Mayor Thom Lauzon
Yerington, NV – Mayor George Dini
Taos, NM – Mayor Daniel Barrone
Arlington, WA – Mayor Barbara Tolbert
Boulder, CO – Mayor Suzanne Jones
Pullman, WA – Mayor Glenn A. Johnson, Ph.D.
Abilene, TX – Mayor Norm Archibald
Monroe, NC – Mayor Bobby Kilgore
Moscow, ID – Mayor Bill Lambert
Georgetown, DE – Mayor William E. West
Kenai, AK – Mayor Brian G. Gabriel, Sr.
Riverton, WY – Mayor John ‘Lars’ Baker
Grant, NE – Mayor Michael Wyatt
Findlay, OH – Mayor Lydia Mihalik
Martinsburg, WV – Mayor George Karos
Bingen, WA – Mayor Betty J. Barnes
Zephyrhills, FL Mayor Gene Whitfield
Terre Haute, IN – Mayor Duke Bennett
Carrollton, GA – Mayor Walt Hollingsworth
Altus, OK – Mayor Jack Smiley
Wheeling, WV – Mayor Glenn F. Elliott, Jr.
Salinas, CA – Mayor Joe Gunter
Hays, KS – Mayor Shaun Musil
Augusta, ME – Mayor David Rollins
Pendleton, OR – Mayor Phillip W. Houk
Hot Springs, AR – Mayor Ruth Carney
Fallon, NV – Mayor Ken Tedford Jr.
Latrobe, PA – Mayor Rosie Wolford
Le Mars, IA – Mayor Dick Kirchoff
Hutchinson, KS – Mayor Jon Daveline
Council Bluffs, IA – Mayor Matt Walsh
Salina, KS – Mayor Kaye J. Crawford
Henderson, KY – Mayor Steve Austin
Kaua’i County, HI – Mayor Bernard Carvalho
Natchitoches, LA – Mayor Lee Posey
Jonesville, VA – Mayor Jim Ewing
Cottonwood, AZ – Mayor Tim Elinski
Tuscaloosa, AL – Mayor Walt Maddox
Tucson, AZ – Mayor Jonathan Rothschild
Clarksdale, MS – Mayor Bill Luckett
Baker, MT – Mayor JoDee Pratt
Great Falls, MT – Mayor Bob Kelly
Middletown, RI – Town Council President Robert Sylvia
Wichita, KS – Mayor Jeff Longwell
Let me dissent from most of the commenters. Privatizing ATC is a terrible idea.
Why does creating yet another bureaucracy underneath the FAA make you think things will be better? And yes, make no mistake about it, the “privatized” ATC would be yet another bureaucracy. But the FAA will continue to preside over aviation rules and regulations, including ATC. Even if privatized, ATC would still be subordinate to the rules and regulations of the FAA. Some regulatory agency must exist that is far more comprehensive than just ATC alone. Hence the FAA must still exist, and have regulatory authority over ATC. So, now you have 2 bureaucracies instead of one. That will be great for de-localizing accountability and creating more conflict and dispute. It’s the same mistake made in 1965 when DOT was created, adding an unnecessary layer above the FAA. And also since it would be for profit, that opens the door for conflicts, where the public interest takes backseat to profits for ATC executives. It would be far better to fix the FAA than introduce yet another organization, which would confuse things even more. If you say you cannot reform the FAA, what makes you think you can create yet another organization, and have it be me smooth running? BTW, It should be noted this privatization is promoted by the major airlines, not GA.
Example of the “efficiency” of a Government Corporation (US Post Office).
I mailed a letter from Silvana, WA to Chilliwack, B.C. – a total distance of 65 miles. Eight days later it is still not there, but boy has it had an adventure!
It went from Silvana, WA to Everett, WA, to Seattle, WA, to New York, NY, to Phoenix, AZ, to Vancouver B.C. One supposes that it should be close, but I’m not counting on it.
Is that the kind of organization we want running ATC? Not me.
I certainly concur with the larger point Steve was making… Thank God we don’t have the FAA, FCC, or the US government routing our cellphone calls!!!
Besides,.. that minuscule list of mayors, out of over 20,000 US cities or incorporated areas, reads like a list of Mayors who are might be mis-guided AOPA members, NBAA corporate airport tenant operator captive, or otherwise hard core Hillary voters, against anything the new administration might propose.
Further the “62% support”survey figure cited was totally bogus. It was apparently sponsored by opponents of splitting out a separate ANSP, with the questions essentially engineered to yield that severely flawed result. It surveying people who had no idea what they were actually responding to, or the consequence. It was about the equivalent of asking each person already sitting on an airliner on a trip in mid-flight, if flying on the airlines is worth it, and is safe.
It’s long past time to re-baseline FAA, and break it up to better reformulate it, while splitting out a separate ATS ANSP, … to be supervised and directed by aviation airspace users, and not by the present FAA bureaucrats who have little aviation experience, or aeronautical wisdom.
This is a very sad and badly mis-informed position for these mayors to be taking. Their assertion to not massively reform ATS and NextGen, which will only likely happen if FAA is disassembled and completely rebuilt, with a separate AIRSPACE USER managed ANSP, will do nothing but further aid in killing GA, NOT saving it.
Airspace users from GA, to drones, to the airlines, and DoD alike, need to use and share airspace effectively, economically, and not now all be facing crushing, obsolete, and inappropriate regulatory burdens, delays, and excessive costs driven by FAA, with a seriously failing over-expensive NextGen, and virtually nil useful Congressional oversight for 30+ years. Breaking up FAA now is NOT going to do any such thing as lead to an “Airline” driven ANSP. And the fact that airports all over the US are now dying, has nothing to do with this pending ANSP splitout, and may actually help that situation abate, rather than make it worse, for many reasons.
Aviation is suffering from a massively over-expensive, and failing NextGen plan BECAUSE of ineffective FAA actions and lack of real Congressional oversight. FAA has done virtually NOTHING to prevent us now having an entirely obsolete air-vehicle separation process, that costs likely an order of magnitude or more than what it could or should be costing airspace users and taxpayers.GA is dying because of very bad FAA policies, rising costs due to bad rules, pressure on local airports, rising hangar rents, higher insurance costs, airspace access constraints, and other factors. Just look at the example of the absurd 2020 ADS-B deadline, with FAA’s seriously over-specified, horrendously unnecessarily expensive, and still ineffective 91.227 based ADS-B equipment. Airlines are NOT going to meet that deadline. DoD is NOT going to meet that deadline. GA has no chance whatsoever to meet that deadline at the present equipage rate, and still excessive cost. Whereas if instead, NextGen were properly designed and administered from the outset by a user driven process and oversight, we wouldn’t be in nearly as bad shape. As designed, NextGen will NEVER work as advertised, for any users. NextGen is headed squarely for a $40B failure. Congressional oversight has not helped one iota.
Even in other areas, such as FAA’s touted and long delayed “Faux” 3rd Class medical reform (with critical compliance details STILL NOT RELEASED), FAA’s actions aren’t really going to provide substantive airmen medical reform at all. These kinds of examples are killing GA, NOT the action of fixing ATS with a separate ANSP.
In essence, FAA has escaped any useful political Congressional helpful intervention or helpful FAA oversight for over 50 years now. Where were the mayors when thousands of local airports nationally were being closed to build shopping centers and housing developments (including even Latrobe PA on that list, now closing an important GA runway at an historic airport, just to provide more parking for Spirit Airlines customers – what hypocrisy). So no thank you mayors. Instead it is now time to cut the strings from a massively political FAA and Congressional driven budget and process, and split out ATS as a separate ANSP, and then completely start over with reorganizing FAA, filling it with people who actually understand aviation, just as once was done in back in both 1926 and 1938. But now with direct oversight from the airspace user community, who will be more directly recognized as paying the bills.
In 1999 I flew my 170b across Canada from south to north. Except for the major and regional airports, the smaller fields were dead. NavCanada controls, and charges aircraft for flights in and out of airfields where the only other activity is bird traffic. I filed flight plans, had to call on a remote radio link before taxiing, had to call again when five miles out. And for this I got a bill at the end of the trip. General aviation is about dead in Canada and recteatilnal aviation is on life support
HI Mike; I like your style; bold and honest – something the consumers of GA here in the US don’t seem (or want to) get!
Perhaps those so “passionate” over airplanes and the like should ASK themselves one basic question: WHERE is the “future” (20+ years from now) buyer of GA (light aircraft products/services) coming from – considering a declining GA economy?