National Business Aviation
Association President and CEO Ed Bolen expressed concern over
budget-planning details released last week by the White House, showing the
Trump administration’s apparent commitment to privatizing the nation’s air
traffic control (ATC) system.
“For several years, NBAA has
said the public airspace belongs to the American public and should serve all
Americans,” Bolen said. “The president’s budget takes the public’s elected
representatives out of the equation and leaves it to a private board to
ensure the public’s interest is being well served. We are troubled and
concerned by this proposal and will review it closely as the legislative
process moves forward.”
The documents released by the
president on the 23rd May, which provide greater detail to preliminary
budget plans the White House released on March 16, outline the
administration’s blueprint for federal spending in the coming fiscal year.
The White House, the big airlines and others have promoted the notion of
privatizing ATC as Congress debates the reauthorization of funding and
programs for the FAA.
“With this budget, the
president has made clear his administration’s plan to pursue a concept that
has raised a host of concerns, not just among aviation stakeholders, but
also among congressional lawmakers from both political parties, mayors from
across the country, organizations from the political left and right,
consumer groups and a majority of Americans,” Bolen said.
“As the debate continues in
Congress over FAA reauthorization and modernization of the nation’s aviation
system, we will work with Congress to promote forward-thinking initiatives
that preserve America’s aviation-leadership position and ensure the ATC
system continues to serve all Americans in the decades to come.”
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