Rep. Abraham opposes White House support of air traffic control privatization

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U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-LA) recently voiced concerns about the Trump Administration’s apparent decision to seek privatization of the air traffic control (ATC) system in the United States.

Abraham, a pilot of both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, sent a letter to President Donald Trump explaining the detrimental effect such a decision would have on the National Airspace System.

“Establishing a private ATC board authority outside the purview of Congress with the unilateral power to impose user fees and allocate resources could potentially raise costs, reduce general aviation, reduce revenues, and displace funding for small regional airports,” Abraham wrote.

The idea of creating a private board for ATC has been continually introduced as a response to the long-standing congressional debate concerning the reauthorization of funding and programs for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). That debate needs to be resolved with targeted reforms to funding and programming and not relinquishing control of the nation’s public airspace, Abraham wrote.

“Congressman Abraham, with his unique perspective as both a pilot and a public policymaker, understands this issue as well as anyone,” National Business Aviation Association President and CEO Ed Bolen said, noting the association’s continued opposition to ATC privatization proposals pushed by big airlines. “We thank him for raising concerns about this important issue.”