At
that time there were numerous promises made. For
example, better work conditions for air traffic
controllers, improved safety conditions, better
technology and newer ATC infrastructure. However, when
you talk with passengers and air traffic controllers in
private they will tell you conditions in many cases have
gotten worse and believe that government did a better
job.
Canada's
air traffic controllers work longer days and more
consecutive days in a week than U.S. air traffic controllers. Under
the NavCanada air traffic controllers went from working
5 days, with 4 days off and they only worked 8 hour
shifts. Today controllers work 6 days, with 3 days off
and 10-12 hour shifts with a minimum of 10 hours between
shifts. Air traffic controllers can work overtime on a
regular basis due to a shortage of air traffic
controllers. This does not sound like a system that
would serve this country well.
When the
UK
privatized its air traffic control system, at that time
lots of promises were made. Again when you talk with air
traffic controller and passengers they will all say the
system was much better when the government ran it. A
common theme among countries that have privatized their
ATC system is when something goes wrong they like to
blame it on the events of 9/11.
McArtor wants to see a corporate national ATC system
that would include a board of directors representing all
aspects of the industry, in other words airline
executives. McArtor said, “an all-new company with a
fresh start,” allowing the FAA, “to get out of the
business of controlling air traffic and to focus on what
it does best, safety and certification.”
Remember when Jeff Smisek was CEO of Continental
Airlines (now President and CEO of United Airlines)
said the tarmac rule was stupid, insane and warned
it would lead to a sharp increase in cancellations. Well
it turns out it was one of the best passenger safety
rules passed by congress and implemented by the FAA.
Today passengers no longer sit on the airport tarmacs
waiting to disembark or for takeoff in a hot aircraft.
See United
Flight 270 Passengers Stranded On Tarmac Nearly Nine
Hours and also Lowest Numbers Of Tarmac Delays On Record
In
2014. (see United Airlines' CEO,
Jeff Smisek Steps Down Over DOJ Investigation)
Do
you remember when Allegiant Air was fined for violating
DOT advertising rule
in which the company failed to show the true cost of a
ticket to its passengers. At the time Maurice J.
Gallagher was and continues to be the CEO of the
carrier.
Just recently the DOT fined Empire Airlines (Tim
Komberec, President and CEO) for operating an aircraft
after it was hit by lighting. As the maintenance manual
requires the propeller must be removed from service and
inspected for damage. Empire operated the aircraft on 35
revenue flights before removing its propeller from
service and sending it to an authorized repair station
for the required inspection. So who would McArtor like
to sit on this corporate board? Maybe Smisek, Gallagher,
and Komberec?
Allan McArtor professional career; From 1987 to 1989
McArtor served as Administrator of the FAA through an
appointment be President Ronald Reagan. Remember the
Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization or
PATCO strike. During McArtor's tenure he did absolutely
nothing to bring back those air traffic controllers.
McArtor and the administration were not concerned about
safety nor the concerns of air traffic controllers. It
was not until the next presidency that the focus of
safety and the air traffic controllers' concerns began
to be addressed. But now McArtor is concerned with
efficiency.
From 1989 to 1994 McArtor served in a number of senior
management positions at FedEx. In 2000, McArtor founded
Legend Airlines. The company was based out of
Dallas Love Field, Texas
as a regional airline and in 2005, the company filed for
bankruptcy.
At
the luncheon McArtor said under his plan he would like
to see congress fund this proposal for five to seven
years, giving this private company time enough to be
self-funding. He suggested carriers could pay US$50.00
per aircraft. “I don’t think there’s going to be any
resistance from the community. I think you will get
applause.”
Back in June Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., who is chairman
of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said
the ATC system should be removed from the FAA and allow
a not-for-profit corporation oversee those functions. He
said fees from the airlines would save billions of
dollars and provide more stable funding than
congressional appropriations. So he supports
privatization because "the do nothing congress" can't do
its job. This is not about saving taxpayer dollars or
safety. This is about airlines doing what they want to
do. Like fly unsafe planes, charging exorbitant amount
of money for passenger tickets and not having to worry
about fines for sitting on a tarmac with passengers for
9 hours.
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