AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2017 - 28

AOPA ACTION

ATC privatization would
come at a steep price
Fight back with emergency checklist
LEGISLATION TO REMOVE air traffic control
from the FAA would increase the deficit by
almost $100 billion, according to an analysis
from the Congressional Budget Office. The
revised analysis of the 21st Century Aviation
Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization
(AIRR) Act (H.R. 2997) is an increase of nearly
$80 billion from the previous evaluation.
"$100 billion. Really?" said AOPA President
Mark Baker. "So here's how it shapes up: The legislation would hand over the air traffic control
system to the airlines, who are behind in equipping with the latest technology and responsible
for 50 percent of delays; it would create a too-bigto-fail monopoly; and now it will cost taxpayers
almost $100 billion to create a new system when
the one we have is the envy of the world."
AOPA and 130 other GA groups have
spoken out against privatization, including

notable industry leaders such as retired
U.S. Airways Capt. "Sully" Sullenberger.
Several economists also have recently voiced
their opposition to the legislation, calling it
"cronyism" and saying it is not truly privatization. Max Sawicky, an economist with the
Economic Policy Institute, said the proposal
was "bad business."
AOPA outlines the reasons for its opposition to the proposal in an "emergency
checklist" available for download online. The
checklist is a handy reference addressing both
criticisms of the proposal and recommended
policies to improve ATC. The association is
asking members, pilots, and supporters to
continue to contact their representatives in
the House by calling 855-383-7330 or visiting
AOPA's ATC Privatization page.
www.aopa.org/stopprivatization

BAKER ON
THE NEWS
"We appreciate that this proposal does not include user
fees on GA, right now, but
this proposal won't decrease
delays or airfares. In fact, this
is like giving the interstate
highway system to six trucking companies and assuming
they will look out for the interests of automobile drivers."
-AOPA President Mark Baker

ASI, NTSB meet to improve aviation safety
Groups come together to collaborate on numerous issues
THE AOPA AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE and the National Transportation
Safety Board are the two powerhouses in general aviation safety,
working to reduce the accident rate and make GA flying as safe as
possible. The two groups came together this summer in the first
of a series of quarterly meetings aimed at collaborating on data
collection and analysis, accident insight, and figuring out how to
reach more of the pilot community with safety information.
The meeting stemmed from an AOPA objection to the NTSB's
classification of certain accidents earlier this year. In response to
AOPA's concerns, the NTSB met with AOPA and agreed to conduct
regular meetings to strengthen their working relationship.
"I have great respect for the people of the NTSB and their mission," said AOPA Air Safety Institute Executive Director Richard
McSpadden. "Theirs is a difficult task, the complexities of which are
not understood by many. They must have the confidence to go where
the facts lead, and the discipline to go no further. Coming together to
discuss issues where we can better understand each of our perspectives and collaborate on solutions is a win for the pilot community."

28 | AOPA PILOT October 2017

Numerous issues were discussed in the first meeting, including the NTSB's goal of faster completions of fatal accident
investigations, something ASI mentioned would have a positive impact on the data in the Joseph T. Nall Report. ASI also
agreed to support two future NTSB summits on the topic of
loss of control.
"The two organizations have the same shared goal of reducing GA accidents, so it makes sense that we work closely and
continue candid, productive dialogue," McSpadden said.
Some NTSB members are pilots, as are many of the professional leadership staff. The NTSB's deputy director for regional
operations in the office of aviation safety, Timothy LeBaron, cochaired the meeting, and is an active GA pilot. NTSB Chairman
and pilot Robert Sumwalt recently became a member of ASI's
Hat in the Ring Society, a giving level that makes clear his personal commitment to GA safety. McSpadden said he appreciates
Sumwalt's leadership and commitment to GA safety and looks
forward to more collaboration.

http://www.aopa.org/stopprivatization

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2017