American ATC privatisation

[Findo]

Looks like another reprieve for the Americans. I still think they are mostly talking about comercialisation rather than privatisation but at least it is not happening for the moment





NATCA statement (http://www.natca.org/mediacenter/pressreleasedetail.asp?id=277)

;)

[Scott Voigt]

Findo;

It isn't over yet... They are probably not going to get the actual FAA funding bill through due to filibuster. However, there is something that they quite often do at the end of the term to get all the unfunded bills through called an omnibus spending bill. It is everything thrown together. You aren't allowed to Filibuster these types of bills. It is still possible that Congress can put this sort of thing together and lump in the FAA bill. That would be BAD!

As to your comment about commercialization. What we are concerend about is that they contract out these further facilities (Busy ones) and then come back and say, "see all of these facilities are contracted out. Nothing bad is happening (they never tell you about the issues that happen due to the lack of staffing.. But if you don't run two together, everything is just fine.) so why don't we just bid out ATC to the highest bidder (that would probably be SERCO or a combination of folks.) Sorry, I don't want to be a part of that.

regards

Scott H. Voigt
NATCA Southwest Region
Safety and Technology Chairman

[WhatWasThat]

Whenever the topic of ATC privatisation is raised here, I think of the privately operated Approach facility I visited in England that was operating on very modern coloured displays, with primary radar information only. No SSR, No mode C, despite the fact that there was a secondary radar coverage from a radar head owned by another service provider. Apparently the facility management were not willing to pay the owners of the SSR for a feed.

This should say it all.

Keep up the good fight Scott!

[Scott Voigt]

What was that;

The fight goes on... It appears that the administration finally caved in at the last moment and agreed to not do any contracting out for the remainder of the fiscal year. It's not what we want, but it is none the less a small victory for us. It now takes it one more year where they can't privitize any of our functions out. It gives us some more time to work the issue ( and unfortunately spend a lot more money.) in getting the people to understand the issue. The other good part is that this is going to take place in an election year... This might bode better for our side, but we shall see...

regards

Scott

PS. Just shows what one small union with a LOT of passion can do.