Atc privatization

[N981MS]

Easy Peasy to write your representatives if you are against ATC privatization.

Just click the link below. It has a letter ready for you. Website will determine your representatives by your zip code and send letter on your behalf.

http://www.atcnotforsale.com/

Maxwell

[Esser]

I really don't know why everyone is up and arms about this. Privatization is the best thing to happen to ATC in Canada. We have way more advanced equipment and systems compared to our southern neighbours, higher pay, and benefits. Private airplane gets a $70 flat rate bill in the mail once a year. That pays for all your weather, ATC, flight planning, and anything else you can think of that you use.

Rates have consistently gone down for that last 10 years. Our last rate cut was 12 months ago at a whopping 8%. This summer we still made $65M too much and are giving additional rebates to airlines.

Being privatized allows us to be more flexible such as starting a partnership where we own 51% of a space based global ADS-B coverage company which will save airlines over $5B in fuel on more efficient oceanic routes. We couldn't have done that if it was still run by the government. Everyone north of the border is pretty much happy with private ATC. It's great if done properly.

[Av8r3400]

EAA and AOPA are huge opponents to it, and are burning the midnight oil to fight it.

I can't seem to find good information other than "CHANGE IS BAD!!" From either side of the fence.


I personally have never seen any operation that is run by the government working better than one run by private industry. But again, finding unbiased information is tough. I use almost zero ATC services, so I really don't have a dog in the hunt.

[jrevens]

The issue is pretty clear if you study the information available. I think that then you might have a better idea of why many are up in arms over this. The situation in Canada is really not that comparable to the U.S., in my opinion, Josh. The number of airports and the amount of air traffic far outnumbers what is in Canada. It is said by some that the Canadian system can be easily scaled to work the same here. Others are not so sure. A 2015 study also found that the Canadian system was costing about 8 cents more per air mile than in the U.S. I'm glad you only pay $70 per year. I pay nothing, other than taxes on fuel, which is enough, and believe me, will not go away after privatization. "If it is done right" is a big "if". The proposal here would basically have the show run by the airlines, and they have proven, time and time again, to not be the best friends of general aviation in this country. People who fly like most of us on this forum will be some of the big losers if this were to become a reality. The big airline companies would be ecstatic.

[DesertFox4]

This is a big issue and pretty much a takeover of our airspace by the airlines. I've written all my representatives and received really no response.

No one I've talked to that uses ATC on a regular basis thinks the system is broke. Usually I'm for privatization but not when it hands complete control of our system to an entity hostile to general aviation. This could kill thousands of general aviation jobs and impart user fees on top of our fuel taxes. The FAA has mandated most of us to pay for and install next gen. before Jan. 1, 2020. This is modernizing the fleet at our expense so let's see if it works before handing our entire airspace over to the airlines.
The unintended and intended consequences of this bill are a blow to general aviation and will not impact any of the problems being blamed on our current system by the airlines.

[Geowitz]

The way it seems to be coming across really isn't "privatization". Sounds more like corporatism. I'm for a real privatization, but in case you didn't know, congressmen don't write or read laws. Lobbyists do. Like everything else with our government these days...but I digress, this is getting political.

[Esser]

COPA had to write AOPA to correct them as they were telling everyone COPA was unhappy with the private model which was not true. General Aviation is one of the stake holders of NAVCANADA so they do have a say. Obviously, this has to be done the correct way etc. I just think it's not all doom and gloom.

As for the 2015 study, I'm not familiar with it, it may be true on the surface. We have huge remote parts of the country that need to be serviced and aren't as utilized so regardless of private or government, it would most likely be a higher cost because the density isn't there. However because it is a larger country with less traffic in a lot of places it's pretty amazing it's costs are that close.

A big thing is with technology and route optimization NAVCanada will have saved airlines 8.4 billion litres of fuel by 2020. So maybe slightly more a mile but efficiency saves money in other places.

In summary I'm just trying to say, if done properly, it could be a good thing, I'm happy with my one time fee(we dont have a tax on fuel that pays for that, we have much higher fuel prices for gas in general but that's a whole other story). I hope you guys have the outcome you want.

[jrevens]

... However because it is a larger country with less traffic in a lot of places it's pretty amazing it's costs are that close...


Just a little "nit-picking"... less traffic, yes, but the geographical area is only 4% greater. There's also the matter of the U.S. being spread out with Hawaii and Alaska. The fact is that the proposal here is for a system most definitely to be controlled, in effect, by the airline companies. It's fortunate for you that general aviation is a "stake holder", but the reality as proposed here would almost certainly be different and less desirable than what we have now.

[Dave S]

One overarching principle might be that Canada and the US are not comparable in how this would work and how it would scale. Comparing Canadian privatization and the US proposal might be like comparing apples to lutefisk...

First off, California alone (39.9 million) has more people than Canada (36.7 million) - I am not convinced that this is scalable.

Check the attached traffic map for today...most of the stuff piling in over eastern Canada is destined for the US east coast. Canada certainly has a smaller population to serve over approximately the same area - quite a different service need.

Our associations (AOPA & EAA) are pretty good at determining how a proposal will affect general aviation. Our conditions might be quite different in the US.

[Agfoxflyer]

I wrote my representative opposing privatization. Got a reply that was a full page but was typical political speak that said nothing.

[efwd]

California Reps Are apparently too busy to reply. They have so many socialist aggendas to tend too I guess

[Cherrybark]

Received that same type of "political speak" letter. Thank you for contacting my office, this is an important issue, after careful consideration,...

Masterful bit of writing by some staff member or consult. Even after multiple readings, it was impossible to decide just where the representative stood. Even better, the actual top of "ATC Privatization" was never mentioned so the letter can be used for a generic response.

[efwd]

You know, Your exactly right. I have got one of those letters when I wrote my Rep regarding my profession and the VA. I thought the same thing about how the letter was generic.
Eddie

[Dave S]

I would not be put off by the non-commital generic response letters we get back. That's how it is done in the political arena as a standard practice. That's a survival strategy in the political trades.

The real issue is 1) they responded and 2) they now know what your opinion is on the issue...that counts. And the opinions of others.....it adds up.

In the end, the congressional delegations are counting up the tic marks, but you won't see that.

Write - let your opinion be known; and, don't think your response is being being ignored just because of the feel-good letter - they are counting the input even if it is done in the background.

[efwd]

OK, I stand corrected now. My Rep did reply via email and it even stated the issue with details.
Eddie

[N981MS]

I got the politically noncommittal letter also but agree with Dave S. They cannot possibly personally respond to all of the letters they get but you can be sure they are keeping a tally of pro and con letters.

Make your opinion known.

Maxwell