Over
the years, the airspace above has been getting more sophisticated, yet safer.
Currently, our system is divided into 21 sections covering 5,282,000 square
miles of Domestic U.S. Airspace and 24,101,568 square miles of U.S. Oceanic
Airspace. Major components of this include the traffic flow management system;
Time based flow management, and en route automation modernization (FAA, 2018).
The system implemented now is radar based and uses a transponder between ATC
and other aircrafts to display location and altitude with a short delay in the relay.
NextGen is a FAA led modernization of our air transportation system to increase
the safety, efficiency, capacity, and resiliency (FAA, 2018). NextGen is
satellite based and will allow pilots, controllers, and operators to gain
better information that help the aircraft get from point A to B faster, while
consuming less fuel, and will be more efficient. NextGen is on target to have
all components in place by 2025.
The
biggest reason why traditional GA has spoken against the privatization of ATC
is due to the cost that it will intel. These GA aircraft will have to be
installed with the ADS-B equipment that will cost additional thousands of
dollars per aircraft. Sarasota Avionics sells ADS-B packages ranging from
$2,000 to $2,500. On the other hands, US carriers are all for implementing
ADS-B. It would still be costly to install it on existing aircraft along with
future aircraft, but it will provide more efficient and increasing capacity and
safety among the airlines. Overall, it will result in more revenue in the
industry. Aviation Organization AOPA posted a link calling for members to ask
congress to oppose privatization (AOPA.org, 2017). Also, my other favorite organization
that I belong to, EAA, also opposes the privatization of ATC (EAA.org, 2016).
According
to Aero Space America, Canada uses Nav Canada, a nonprofit company that owns
and runs Canada’s civil air navigation system. The U.S. airline industry and
congress use Nav Canadas structure as a model so responsibility and control can
be shifted away from the FAA. Ever since 1987, New Zealand, Germany, Australia,
Canada and the United Kingdom have switched from government owned, government
models to public private partnerships using user fees to cover cost. France has
kept its air navigation agency in the government (Aerospace America, 2017).
Currently, privatized ATC has been proved to be slightly more efficient
compared to the United States, but at the same time those that are privatized
overseas are much smaller and less busy than Americas.
For
NextGen to be integrated into the system, it must go through a series of amends
and revises through congress. According to Congress, the bill amends the
version of aviation reauthorization act to revise contents of annual DOT report
to congress regarding an integrated work plan for NextGen. The bill is then
revised multiple times and stages. It has to be an act of Congress that can
make this decision on its own. Trumps current administration was to push
NextGen into place, privatization ATC.
Personally,
I am for it if it can boost safety and efficiency in the overall industry. The
only thing I am worried about is the cost. I really haven’t been able to wrap
my head around the whole process to see the big picture. Its understood the
main changes that will happen, but what else could be beneficial. So if it will
improve our safety significantly and not put a hole in my wallet, I am for it.
Citation:
Privatizing air
traffic control. (2017, May 31). Retrieved April 07, 2018, from https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/features/privatizing-air-traffic-control/
DeFazio, P.,
& Larsen, R. (2017, May 10). The case against privatizing the nation's air
traffic control system. Retrieved April 07, 2018, from http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/transportation/332684-the-case-against-privatizing-the-nations-air-traffic
D., & S.
(2017, February 06). S.320 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): NextGen Accountability
Act. Retrieved April 07, 2018, from https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/320
Where We Are
Now. (2018, February 25). Retrieved April 07, 2018, from
https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/where_we_are_now/
Great job including those details about the U.S. airspace specifications. In my research, I found that our airspace system has three times the traffic of the next sized airspace, China, so it's apples to oranges in any comparison. You cited ADS-B as the biggest reason that GA opposed privatization, but ADS-B is already an FAA mandate. It is going to be required by January 1, 2020 under the current mandate, and has nothing to do with privatization. You were right in mentioning cost. The cost that GA is worried about is primarily user fees. The old NAS system of ground-based navigation aids are on their way out, ADS-B and GPS are the way of the future.
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