Obsolete ATS system/rules likely the prime factor if not cause
While it is true that conceptually there is no theoretical difference between the ability of a governmental run ATS system, a Quasi-Governmental run ATS system, or a privatized ATS system to provide safe efficient and economical separation service to all air vehicles, ...the fact of the matter is that the second order effects and biases of the present seriously deficient FAA led system have been disastrous, in both failing to accommodate user ATS needs at an affordable cost, discouraging safety improvements, while blocking capability increases and cost reductions in ATS service provision, that are all now possible with modern technology. We now have the means to reduce user and ANSP costs by likely an order of magnitude. But with ATS buried in FAA, with no substantial airspace user input and oversight, NextGen is spinning out of control (e.g., completely inappropriate criteria and a 2020 deadline, that will not work now, or ever) and hence is heading toward a $40B failure. Hopefully the recent F-16 vs. C150 event, as tragic as it was, will now at least serve as a catalyst, to spur the needed dialogue for ATS massive change in the US and globally, just as the Grand Canyon event did back in '56, or Allegheny 853 on Sept 9 1969. Long live the memory of AL853's Capt. Jim Elrod, who in his and his crew and passenger's death, essentially found himself in the exact same place as that F-16 pilot, but with no ejection seat. Let's learn from this recent F-16/C150 event, and have the courage to move forward with the massive re-design of a failing and poorly formulated Nextgen. We can do much better, at far lower cost, with much higher safety, for both our F-16s and our C150s, let alone our RJs, B777s and A350s.