Upping the ante in its bid to see privatization of U.S. air-traffic control, airlines have slammed the Federal Aviation Administration as ‘hopelessly dysfunctional.’
In a letter to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, trade group Airlines for America accused the agency of botching technology upgrade programs, adding that the system ‘is broken beyond repair within the constraints of government.’
This is a view also held by Rep. Bill Shuster, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, who said: "Previous efforts to reform the FAA and modernize the system teach us that the only way to realize these benefits is to get the government out of the way."
"No other single infrastructure reform has as much potential to improve travel for the average American flier,"
Shuster’s proposal would take air traffic control operations out of FAA oversight and into a nonprofit corporation which would be funded through air traffic service fees.
President Trump has endorsed a move to privatize the service as part of a $1 trillion national infrastructure revitalization plan.
If it does happen, the FAA would still oversee all safety and aviation regulations.
