Mastio: Privatize air traffic control, escape political drama
As the recent government shutdown winds down, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned that it will take weeks for airline traffic to return to normal, compounding the disruptions already faced by millions of travelers. This situation highlights the vulnerabilities of relying on a government-run air traffic control system, particularly when funding has been jeopardized multiple times since 1980. Advocates for privatization argue that transitioning to a non-profit air traffic control model, similar to Canada’s successful Nav Canada, could alleviate these issues and enhance the efficiency of air traffic management in the U.S.
Privatizing air traffic control could streamline funding by collecting fees directly from airlines and private aircraft, rather than depending on fluctuating government appropriations. This shift would not only eliminate the chaos associated with government shutdowns but also allow for better training and recruitment of air traffic controllers, addressing the current shortages exacerbated by bureaucratic hurdles. Critics of privatization often express concerns about safety and corporate greed; however, proponents emphasize that a non-profit model, governed by a diverse board that includes representatives from airlines, unions, and the government, would ensure safety standards are maintained. Transport Canada’s oversight of Nav Canada has resulted in accident rates comparable to those of the FAA, demonstrating that privatization does not compromise safety.
The FAA’s ongoing struggles with technological upgrades further underscore the need for reform. With a $25 billion annual budget, much of which is allocated to outdated systems, the FAA has faced significant delays in implementing its NextGen modernization program, originally slated for completion this year but now projected to extend into the 2030s. In contrast, Nav Canada has successfully modernized its technology on schedule. The call for a non-profit air traffic control system resonates across the political spectrum, offering Democrats the promise of stringent safety regulations and union protections, while Republicans can advocate for fiscal responsibility and reduced government intervention. As public frustration with the shutdown grows, the momentum for reform could finally lead to a legislative breakthrough, freeing air traffic control from the political turbulence that has long plagued it.
As the government shutdown sputters to a close, the Federal Aviation Administration says that airline traffic will take weeks to get back to normal. That will add to the millions of travelers who have already had their flights delayed, disrupted and even derailed altogether. It doesn’t have to be this way.
Even the socialists in Canada have figured out that a private non-profit can reliably control air traffic better than a government bureaucracy. And with the prospect of another government shutdown just months away, our current system is a glaring vulnerability – a tether to the whims of Washington when the private sector could do it better without all the drama.
Privatizing air traffic control, as Canada and dozens of other nations have successfully done, offers a reasonable path forward. It’s time to remove this essential function from the political crossfire – which has allowed funding to lapse 14 times since 1980 – and entrust it to a non-profit, user-funded corporation.
Privatization would fund air traffic control through fees on airlines and private aircraft — fees already collected but currently funneled through volatile appropriations. No more shutdowns. No more chaos. Moreover, a non-profit corporation would have the freedom to expand training of the air traffic controllers in short supply under a government system that has restricted access to education in parochial political battles in Congress.
Critics on the left fear privatization means corporate greed will compromise safety. They point to for-profit models and conjure images of cost-cutting at the expense of lives. But the proposal isn’t a Wall Street takeover; it’s a non-profit corporation, modeled after Canada’s Nav Canada. Established in 1996, Nav Canada is governed by a board representing airlines, general aviation, unions, and the government. It’s self-funded via service charges, not taxpayer dollars, and has invested billions in modern technology.
Safety? Transport Canada’s oversight ensures standards are similar to FAA benchmarks, with accident rates on par with the US since privatization. The FAA would retain ultimate safety certification and oversight, much as it does with aircraft manufacturers like Boeing. And unions are banned from striking.
Non-profit air traffic control could eliminate the troubling technological incompetence that plagues the FAA’s $25 billion annual budget, much of which funds legacy systems from the 1970s. The NextGen modernization program, planned since 2003, remains mired in delays and cost overruns. It was originally set to be implemented this year, but internal FAA reports show much of it won’t be in place til the 2030s – if then. The FAA’s excuses for this delay are comical. Nav Canada, by contrast, upgraded its radar and satellite systems on time. Some argue we should just take their technology and move it here.
There’s something in this idea for everybody. Democrats secure ironclad safety regulations and union protections that are already working globally. Republicans gain fiscal discipline and a smaller government.
Before the shutdown, Trump’s transportation secretary said this was a no-go for them. “To have a fight about privatization is just going to divide people,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at a press conference earlier this year. “And what that’ll actually do is make sure that we don’t actually build a brand new air traffic control system.”
Nothing could be more popular than getting Donald Trump and Chuck Schumer out of the cockpit. Germany, the United Kingdom and Australia have all already kicked their prime ministers to the curb; we should do the same with our politicians. There’s already several pieces of legislation in Congress to get this done, and public outrage at the shutdown could be just the catalyst we need.
David Mastio is a national columnist for The Kansas City Star and McClatchy/Tribune News Service
Travelers line up for to check their tickets at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago last week. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
