Our ATC system as it has traditionally operated has been with ground based stations such as radar to monitor and control traffic flow. Note that radar is a technology that has been around since before the second world war. Next Gen is the opposite in that it's a new and improved system that uses satellite air based GPS systems to monitor and control traffic. The overall main advantage of the Next Gen ATC system is accuracy and efficiency. It's more efficient because the satellite based GPS navigation is more accurate then traditional radar coverage methods of monitoring aircraft and traffic flow. For this reason separation between traffic can be safely decreased which in turn increases traffic flow and density and increases effeciency. This decreases the amount of fuel needed to complete flights because aircraft can fly more direct routes. Decreasing fuel usage is obviously a huge advantage for everyone in that is saves money and decreases carbon emissions.(https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/)
GA has spoken out against the privatization of ATC for one reason and that reason is simply money. The typical GA pilot doesn't want to have to pay out of pocket for when they use ATC services. Imagine getting a bill in the mail from an ATC agency for the times you used their services last month. This is exactly what GA groups such as the AOPA and EAA are trying to avoid. The stance of U.S. airlines is usually that they are against ATC privatization as well for similar reasons. Airlines use the ATC system more then anyone else therefore they would have the biggest bill to foot if ATC was ever privatized. For this reason they would rather not have ATC privatized. However some airlines would prefer it be privatized so that new technology could be input and upgraded more quickly to increase effeciency thereby saving airlines fuel costs, The AOPA and EAA have both publicly stated their opposition to ATC provatization.
ATC is privatized in some other countries. ATC is currently privatized in countries such as France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Canada. (http://dailycaller.com/2015/09/10/transportation-watchdog-lauds-privatized-air-traffic-control/) In these countries ATC is basically run like a normal business would in that they are responsible for making there own money. The big advantage to this is that that are also responsible for choosing operating procedures and can decide when to modernize equipment which is what is traditionally very slow and delayed in the United States and has been an area of complaint by the airlines. In countries like these the ATC facilities are privately funded by the entities that use the services such as the individual airlines. For example Nav Canada is one of these private operators. Most people agree that ATC in these countries runs somewhat more efficiently then ours because technology can be modernized and replaced quicker because the individual ATC facilities themselves have the power to decide. As opposed to a goverment agency having deciding control such as in the United States.
In order for the privatization of the Unites States ATC system to happen it would have to go through congress. The FAA cannot make this decision on its own because it needs to be approved through congress with a bill. ATC privatization was addressed in the latest FAA re-authorization of 2016 by a provision specifically for ATC privatization.
I personally feel that ATC in the United States would run more efficiently if it were privatized, That's not to say that I'm one hundred percent for it. But I do believe it would be more efficient just as I believe taking government out of anything makes it simpler and more efficient. However I really don't want to have one more monthly bill to come in the mail for me to pay either. The main reason it would be more efficient is because removing government control would speed up processes of change such as upgrading to more efficient technology which is a necessity in our ever changing technologically advanced world.
References
https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/
http://dailycaller.com/2015/09/10/transportation-watchdog-lauds-privatized-air-traffic-control/
While Congress is the only entity that can transfer ATC responsibility from the FAA to a private organization, some may see privatization as unconstitutional. A report from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Democrats, it states that "delegating a regulatory function to a private entity may be unlawful." If the courts see it this way, then the attempt for privatization may die forever.
ReplyDeleteGood read Jason. I especially like your perspective on the privatized ATC systems in other countries. The only concern I would raise about that is how are we sure that the new services that would be offered by a privatized organization would work in the our airspace? There are some in the industry that believe the US airspace system is too complex, or even congested, to handle a privatized ATC system that is modeled after, let's say for example, Nav Canada' s ATC system. I would be curious to hear if others think an overhauled ATC System would be practical in US airspace.
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