Except that they're doing everything they can to do exactly that. And anyone who thinks this will be a benevolent system like Canada's that is "fair" to GA is a complete fool. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to do this. Our system is egalitarian and efficient. The only problem is congress, and now they're going to solve that by kicking the ball to big corporations. This is not going to work out well for GA.
In Colorado, Dept of Transportation, Div of Aeronautics is funded 100% by avgas fuel tax. It receives 0 funds from the state. So only those who use airports and buy gas pay the bill. These funds are used for maintenance and improvements to the physical plant and infrastructure of 72 of 73 airports in Colorado. Items as trivial as runway lights in the boonies to the major resurfacing of a 10k runway at KAPA. Not sure how DIA funds because I never see $ requests from it on the grant reports.
And this is probably the 2nd argument to use on your congresscritters. The one after the economic benefit.
Reminds me of a line from a Beatles song: "If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet."
I generally agree with this. However in my opinion, it's not applicable with everything. See my bullet 1) on post #22.
What things do you think could be better? Specifically. Get clearances faster? Get "direct" more often? Get additional services like Flight Following more often? Just what would be better if Air Traffic Controllers were employees of Acme Inc. instead of the FAA?
Sounds like your making some big assumptions. I don't buy anything the media sells, whether the vendor is CNN, NYT, Breitbart or Fox News.
Here's another reminder not to make this thread about Trump or it will be closed and warnings given.
The word "Trump" in the title is only a statement of who is having a meeting. The post I quoted goes into his tweeting habits, his credibility, and immigration. Sorry you can't tell the difference.Who was is about when the OP wrote the thread title?
You might as well lock it now then. The thread itself is about Trump proposing privatized ATC. They are kind of inseparable.
No. If you are military or the airlines, you are not GA.
Flight department, paid pilots, and a jet, ie corporate aviation, is absolutely GA.
I hope they protect rural airports better than pre-existing conditions.
The ATC union supports the idea??? Doubt it. Got a reference?
The fuel taxes do much more than support ATC. They also pay for things like new runways at all those uncontrolled airports, in addition to the $150,000 per year that each small airport can get to cover operating expenses.
With your plane, you don't burn much fuel and you don't use many services... So you are getting what you pay for. Upgrade to something bigger where you'd use more services, and you'll be burning more fuel and paying more for those additional services. Works well and is very efficient.
Clearly you weren't around for the Flight Service debacle.
Nice attempt at equating government ATC to communism... But let me address the rest of your assertion.
Often, it is said that private industry is more efficient, more agile, more (insert good words here) than government. However, that's not always true. Large corporations tend to get less and less efficient, and they become just as bad as government, if not worse.
So, let's not simply assume that privatization = good. Explain how it will work - Will there be user fees, how will they be collected, what sorts of things would private enterprise do that the FAA can't/won't, and what are the safety implications? Will it really be better?
Frankly, I think the non-profit aspect of this automatically renders the privatization = better thing moot. It's just a matter of who's getting the money. I'd rather WE (the citizens) be in charge. This whole "board of directors" nonsense is simply a way to eliminate accountability.
I think he said the *proposal* has no chance of success. Not sure I agree... unfortunately.
How is a federal judge's decision "illegal"?
