THE CLINTON Administration has received a cool reception from US lawmakers over renewed efforts to create a quasi-Governmental corporation responsible for the nation's air traffic control (ATC).
In 1994, the White House failed to win support on Capitol Hill for the so-called United States Air Traffic Services (USATS) corporation and US lawmakers continue to be sceptical of the concept. They suggest that problems with the ATC system should be handled with- in the US Federal Aviation Administration.
US Transportation Secretary Federico Pena says that the corporation would do a better job in planning, procuring and operating ATC enhancements. Oversight would rest with an 11-member board of directors, including the secretaries of transportation and defence, the USATS chief executive and representatives of airlines and aviation-related organisations.
The FAA would maintain control of aviation safety and the US National Transportation Safety Board would retain its present independent oversight of airline safety.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) says that the move is "extremely risky". AOPA chief Phil Boyer says: "Let's fix what's wrong with Government, not pass its rightful duties to a new, parallel bureaucracy."
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association has rejected calls for a fully privatised ATC system, but supports the Clinton proposal.
Source: Flight International
