Trump Calls for Privatizing ATC Operations
 

Curious to know the thoughts of the industry folks on this.


by Joan Lowy, The Associated Press
Posted Mar 16, 2017 5:16 am ADT

Trump calls for privatizing air traffic control operations - NEWS 95.7

Economics lesson 1: Never privatize a monopoly.

Didn't Ronnie try it?

If so I don't remember it being a roaring success.

Why privatize? Where is the demonstrated need & benefit?

The Canadian system is a not-for-profit private system that by all visible measures appears to be working well, and may be worth examining as one example of a "privatized" system.

But I don't think this is what Mr Trump has in mind; I think the vision, such as it may be, is more like, for example, private, for-profit prisons and I don't think there is a working example of such and ATC system, at least of sufficient size, to show that for-profit ATC works the same and as safely as the generally-accepted way.

Profit-making and profit targets have a way of altering priorities and while SMS for example may now be reasonably cited as an example of successful, internal self-auditing that maintains safety, I dont' think the same outcomes could be ultimately expected in a private, for-profit ATC system.

It is my point of view that ATC is an inherently governmental functional, as the airways are in every way, shape and form a "public good."
@PJ2: the privatizing prison thing is IMO a horrible development, as that too is an inherently governmental function.


Can't say anything but "bad idea, Mr President, don't fix what isn't broken."

Not thrilled on this because when it goes wrong the company is merely dissolved and a new one takes over - not even mailing addresses have to be updated! Meanwhile, some poor guy name Bob is blamed for everything because he couldn't run all the centers in the area by himself while keeping the restrooms clean. Of course, all of Bob's shortcomings will be aired so everyone can stand around at the water-cooler shaking their head.

I just have to LOL.

How much public funding currently goes in.

This isn't Trumps idea. The airlines owned the U.S. ATC until World War II and they want to own it again. Obama would have done it, except for his overall flight with Congress.

Business and general aviation will get screwed.

Yes, what aterpster said.

In their view, its not American airspace, its American airlines' airspace.

Expect everybody to pay more, except airlines, and witness the decline of GA. It's only for the wealthy and the shareholders. Which is basically what Trump really means by "Make America Great Again"

NZ 'commercialised' their ATS in 1987 - forming a State Owned Enterprise with the government as the only shareholder. They pay a dividend each year to the government, and capital is raised on open markets. Run like a private company and seems to work well .

Fer chrissake don't tell SERCO.

UK ATC ( NATS) has been privately run for about 20 years. Is it successful?

I leave that open to the forum to debate.

USA is not NZ ;)
But honestly, i can't see problem with idea to be efficient, market oriented, profitable but at the same time be safe or even increase safety level.
It is not contradictory requests. I rather say there is no real profit without safety.
Example?
Ryanair,Norwegian...

No. Controllers belonging to PATCO staged a massive sick out so he sacked them, then re-hired a selected number.

Yeah after the incoming Labour government stated quite clearly in their manifesto 'our airspace is not for sale', they went ahead and privatised NATS as soon as they could.

There are many private ATC facilities currently in the US. The inherently government function is a NATCA mantra as well, meaning they are working towards job preservation and not what's best for the users.

Never in my life have I seen the BACKING of the employees for privatiasation as in case of NATCA. I wish they get all the "benefits" of privatised monoploy system.

The rank and file are not backing privatization. Only a few out of touch Union officials at the National level seem to be supporting it, but unfortunately they are who we elected to represent us in the last union elections,so...yeah!

In any case, knowing what I know about our airspace, I highly doubt anything actually happens anytime soon. There will be a lot of back and forth rhetoric and banter, but when it comes down to actually voting it to go private, the consequences that come with that will prevent it from passing both the House and Senate.

What is "best for the users" ... want to explain ?