The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), along with five other leading general aviation associations, issued a statement this week opposing the 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform and Reauthorization (AIRR) Act’s air traffic control privatization.
The AIRR Act was recently reintroduced by U.S. Rep Bill Shuster (R-PA). GAMA and the partner associations said that while the efforts laid out in the legislation is well-intentioned, the reforms will create uncertainty and unintended consequences rather than desired outcomes of streamlined organization.
“We believe Chairman Shuster has raised the issue of reform in a meaningful and thoughtful manner and while we enjoy the safest most efficient air traffic control system in the world, we also believe that reforms, short of privatization, can better address the FAA’s need to improve its ability to modernize our system,” the statement said.
Noting the money and time that would be required to achieve complete transitioning of the nation’s air traffic control system to a not-for-profit entity, GAMA said that those resources would be better spent continuing the progression and modernization of the current air traffic control system.
“We are committed to addressing needed reforms that create predictable and stable funding for the [Federal Aviation Administration] including biennial budgeting, consolidating unneeded and outdated facilities, procurement, and certification reforms, and putting to use some of the balance from the Airways and Airport Trust Fund to expedite technology deployment,” the statement said.