Page 68 - EAA78.Newsletter.Archives.(February.2017-July.2021)
P. 68
CHAPTER CHATTER, EAA Chapter 78 3
Democrats Counter ATC Privatization “If we truly want to fix the real problems facing the
Plan with a Bill of their Own FAA today, the solution is simple: Congress can
and should pass targeted reforms,” DeFazio said in
The House measure would seek to stabilize FAA funding a statement. “Reforms can achieve our common
for ATC modernization projects while overhauling the objectives without jeopardizing our nation’s
agency’s personnel and procurement policies. outstanding aviation safety record. I urge my
Republican colleagues to reject ATC privatization,
and support our proposal for real, achievable
modernization and reform.”
If the Democratic proposal sounds familiar, it’s
precisely what Flying magazine called on Congress
to do in an editorial that first appeared in the May
Issue.
President Trump's push for ATC privatization now has a rival bill from
democrats that want to keep the FAA in charge.
While the White House and Republicans in Congress
continue to push for the handover of air traffic control to
a private nonprofit entity, Democrats on the House
Transportation Committee have introduced their own
measure to reform the agency that would focus on
stabilizing FAA funding for ATC modernization projects
without resorting to “corporatization.”
The Aviation Funding Stability Act (H.R.2800) seeks to Accident Case Study: Time Lapse – misunderstanding in-cockpit
weather displays can lead to tragedy
upgrade air traffic control technology faster while
ensuring the FAA’s continued funding, all while keeping Description: One of the great advances in general
ATC under the purview of the federal agency that has aviation in recent years has been the widespread
run it for the past 80 years. availability of datalink weather. Like any technology,
though, it can be used improperly. Come along as we
The Democratic bill would remove the Airport and examine a tragic accident that highlights an important
Airway Trust Fund from the annual federal budget and often-overlooked limitation of datalink radar.
process so that ATC would no longer be subject to
budget gridlock emanating from Washington. It would Excerpt from Video Transcript: It’s just before ten
require revenues from ticket taxes to be spent on the o’clock on the night of December 19, 2011. In a house
aviation system. near Bryan, Texas, the gentle patter of light rain is
suddenly interrupted by a sound like an explosion—
The proposal also would order “top-to-bottom” reform loud and violent—but not like thunder. Outside, in what
of the agency’s personnel and procurement processes. has now become a deluge, the source of the noise
Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., the ranking member of soon becomes apparent. A short distance away—
the House Transportation Committee and lead sponsor strung out and shattered into a dozen pieces, lie the
of the legislation, said reasoned measures are needed barely recognizable remains of a light aircraft—it’s five
to improve the FAA’s ability to implement NextGen occupants beyond help. Soon, emergency responders
modernization programs. are on site documenting the scene, doing what has to
be done. There’s one simple question on
everyone’s mind: What went wrong? Watch the
video to learn more!
