ATC privatization and NextGen

1.) Our current ATC system is based off of older technologies, which is a main cause to the complaints of our current system being as slow as it is. With a predicted increase in the amount of passengers flying with the airlines throughout the next few years, ATC must find a more efficient and quicker way to advance more flights. With the integration of the NextGen Air Traffic Control Modernization, more sophisticated flight procedures and newer technology will reduce the amount of flight delays by nearly 35 percent as well as decrease flight times and fuel/emissions.  According to GBTA, they are estimating that nearly $23 billion could be saved from delay reduction benefits alone.  The use of GPS and computer generated flights paths will allow the aircraft's to fly a straighter, more direct route top their destination. This alone will help reduce the emissions as well as total flight time.

2.) As a General Aviation pilot, it is easy to see why other GA pilots may be against the privatization of ATC. Most feel as if ATC will put GA flights on the side burner because all of the airline flights will have priority. Another issue that has been brought up is the fact that GA pilots must pay to use the privatized ATC.  It was even stated by Sean Elliot in the General Aviation news that “Any privatization effort must not result in a pay-to-play scheme for general aviation”.  Sean Elliot was also clear to mention that “Though we certainly understand the desire to find ways to make the air traffic system more efficient and cost-effective, the current fuel tax system of revenue generation works and is efficiently and fairly collected” our current fuel tax system still works, so why try and veer away from that. On the other side, the airlines are all for the privatization of ATC because it will help them save money on fuel and delayed flight expenditures, as well as help reduce emissions. Two main lobbyist groups are the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). Both of these lobby groups are pushing to prevent the privatization of ATC because it will drastically change general aviation. They don’t want to see private pilots having to pay to use ATC, and they don’t want to see GA pilots loss access to airspace because of airline priority.

 3.) Canada has its own privatized ATC system that started in 1996, called Nav Canada. It is a non-profit organization that is governed by a group of board members and it is completely separate from the Canadian government. Nav Canada was originally funded by ticket tax money provided by the Canadian Government (Mark,2012). After about three years, Sid Kozlow (Vice President of Nav Canada) states “Nav Canada was on its own trying to make the system work with fees based on aircraft type, weight and distance traveled” (Mark,2012). The reason why the privatized ATC runs more efficiently for the Canada is solely due to the difference in air traffic density. Compared to the United States, who average nearly 64 million flight operations per year, Canada has roughly 12 million take offs and landings per year.

4.) In order to convert our current system to a privatized ATC system, the congress would have to pass the bill allowing ATC privatization. This proposal would also have to be approved by an aviation committee. As of right now, the proposal is still up in the air to make ATC an independent corporation. In order for ATC to be privatized, users would have to pay out of pocket to use it and that is one of the main controversies for all of those opposed to privatized ATC.

5.) I think that if ATC was privatized, the airlines would definitely benefit from it. It would be more efficient for the airlines in the realm of decreasing flight times, reducing the amount of delayed flights, and help with cutting emissions down. The use of the NextGen technology would allow the airlines to fly direct routes to their destinations, but at the same time it would prioritize all of those flights over general aviation aircraft.  As far as safety concerns, I do believe that privatized ATC would be efficient in increasing safety among the airspace. There are still many issues regarding privatization that need to be worked out, especially the funding of it. In order for this proposal to pass, I think they need to dig deeper into how they will upgrade to NextGen without charging GA pilots to use it.

References

Green, P. S. (2015, September 28). America’s Air Traffic Control System is Finally Going Digital. Fox Business.

Mark, R. P. (2012, January 1). Canada’s Private ATC System Offers Alternative for Cost-cutting Nations. AIN Online.

NextGen – Air Traffic Control Modernization. (n.d.). Retrieved January 17, 2016, from https://www.gbta.org/usa/governmentrelations/Pages/NextGen–AirTrafficControlModernization.aspx

Wood, J. (2015, July 8). Call to action issued over ATC privatization. General Aviation News.