Aviation Advocates Press Case Against Privatizing ATC

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Sixteen general aviation advocacy groups joined forces on Tuesday to express their concerns to leaders in the House and Senate about efforts to privatize air traffic control. The organizations cited a proposal promoted by some big airlines for the creation of a new governance and funding model for our nation’s aviation system. “The general aviation community has very real and long-standing concerns, which include but are not limited to user fees,” the letter states. These concerns, the letter said, are based on experiences the advocates have had operating in privatized systems in other countries, where they’ve had a negative impact on general aviation.

“Under such a system, ATC would be overseen and managed by a board made up of commercial interests, with the nation’s airlines having the most powerful and numerous voices,” EAA President Jack Pelton said. “These interests would inevitably drown out whatever token representation and economic impact GA would have on such a board, creating an ATC system that would serve commercial interests with the greatest financial resources.”

Along with EAA, the letters to congressional leaders were signed by the Air Care Alliance, Aircraft Electronics Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Citation Jet Pilots, Commemorative Air Force, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Helicopter Association International, International Council of Air Shows, National Agricultural Aviation Association, National Association of State Aviation Officials, National Air Transportation Association, National Business Aviation Association, Recreational Aviation Foundation, U.S. Parachute Association, and Veterans Airlift.

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