There should be a “national consensus” to creating a new entity to manage the nation’s ATC system separately of the Federal Aviation Administration, said President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the FAA’s parent organization. Elaine Chao said she’s aware of the arguments for and against the so-called ATC reform initiative, but she remained noncommittal on her position.
“I’d like to get confirmed first,” Chao said jokingly when asked about ATC reform on January 11, during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. “Obviously this is an issue of great importance,” she added. “This is a huge issue that needs to have national consensus, and for that national consensus to occur, there needs to be a dialogue—a national discussion.”
Chao served as deputy secretary of Transportation during the administration of President George H.W. Bush, and as secretary of Labor from 2001 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. She is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who introduced her at the hearing along with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (R.). Trump announced Chao as his nominee for secretary of Transportation in late November.
The Trump administration, which takes office on January 20, has not made a decision on ATC reform, she told the committee. “I am open to all ideas,” she said. “I’m very cognizant of those who are in favor of it; I’m also very cognizant of those who are concerned about the safety aspects of it.”
Led by its chairman, Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), the House Transportation Committee has proposed establishing a federally chartered not-for-profit corporation to manage the ATC system, a model similar to that of Nav Canada or European air navigation service providers. But the committee has thus far failed to implement ATC reform through legislation, and faces opposition from both Democrats and Republicans.
The Senate promises to be a hard sell on ATC restructuring when the next FAA reauthorization legislation is agreed; the current legislation expires on September 30. “Besides being costly and disruptive in implementation, such a privatization scheme would upset the partnership between the FAA and the Department of Defense, which provides 15 to 20 percent of ATC services in this country,” Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) stated in written opening remarks. The DOD opposes restructuring the ATC system, as does the Aerospace Industries Association, Nelson said. While the influential Business Roundtable of chief executives is supportive, there is “dissension” within that association, he said.
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), said he concurs with Nelson. Both senators used the word “privatization” to describe ATC restructuring, though proponents argue that the new entity will not be private and will remain accountable to the government. Another argument proponents make, Moran said, is that the FAA has failed to implement its multi-billion-dollar NextGen ATC modernization effort in a timely manner.
“The knock is that by the time the Department of Transportation completes its work on NextGen, its technologies will already be outdated,” Moran told Chao. “Maybe you can help us eliminate one of the reasons that people advocate for privatization by telling us how we could have faster, quicker, more efficient implementation of technologies designed to improve our air traffic control system and the safety it provides.”
Chao said ATC modernization was a big issue when she served as deputy secretary of Transportation under the elder President Bush. “A lot has changed, a lot had been done, but more needs to be done,” she asserted. “The lag in the ability of the organization to keep up with the modernization that is required; this is a huge issue. We need to have a national discussion about this.”
There should be a “national consensus” behind creating a new entity to manage the nation’s ATC system separate from the Federal Aviation Administration, said the nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the FAA’s parent organization, at the hearing last month. Elaine Chao acknowledged she is aware of the arguments for and against the so-called ATC reform initiative, but said she remains noncommittal on her position.
“I’d like to get confirmed first,” Chao said jokingly when asked about ATC reform on January 11, during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. “Obviously this is an issue of great importance,” she added. “It is a huge issue that needs to have national consensus, and for that national consensus to occur, there needs to be a dialogue—a national discussion.”
Chao served as deputy secretary of Transportation during the administration of President George H.W. Bush, and as secretary of Labor from 2001 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. She is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who introduced her at the hearing along with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (R). Trump announced Chao as his nominee for Secretary of Transportation in late November.
The Trump administration has not made a decision on ATC reform, she told the committee. “I am open to all ideas,” she said. “I’m cognizant of those who are in favor of it; I’m also cognizant of those who are concerned about the safety aspects of it.”
Led by its chairman, Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), the House Transportation Committee has proposed establishing a federally chartered not-for-profit corporation to manage the ATC system, a model similar to that of Nav Canada or European air navigation service providers. But the committee has thus far failed to implement ATC reform through legislation, and faces opposition from both Democrats and Republicans.
The Senate promises to be a hard sell on ATC restructuring when the next FAA reauthorization legislation is agreed; the current legislation expires on September 30. “Besides being costly and disruptive in implementation, such a privatization scheme would upset the partnership between the FAA and the Department of Defense, which provides 15 to 20 percent of ATC services in this country,” Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) stated in written opening remarks. The DOD opposes restructuring the ATC system, as does the Aerospace Industries Association, Nelson said. While the influential Business Roundtable of chief executives is supportive, there is “dissension” within that association, he said.
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) said he concurs with Nelson. Both senators used the word “privatization” to describe ATC restructuring, though proponents argue that the new entity will not be private and will remain accountable to the government. Another argument proponents make, Moran said, is that the FAA has failed to implement its multibillion-dollar NextGen ATC modernization effort in a timely manner.
“The knock is that by the time the Department of Transportation completes its work on NextGen, its technologies will already be outdated,” Moran told Chao. “Maybe you can help us eliminate one of the reasons that people advocate for privatization by telling us how we could have faster, quicker, more efficient implementation of technologies designed to improve our air traffic control system and the safety it provides.”
Chao said ATC modernization was a big issue when she served as deputy secretary of Transportation under the elder President Bush. “A lot has changed, a lot had been done, but more needs to be done,” she asserted. “The lag in the ability of the organization to keep up with the modernization that is required is a huge issue. We need to have a national discussion about this.”