Reason Foundation

Recent Research and Commentary

Air Traffic Control Reform Newsletter #89

Data Comm moving forward, user fee proposal still with us, new ATC concept from Germany, Spain's ATC reform outsources control towers

January 23, 2012

Robert Poole

In this issue:

• Data Comm finally moving forward
• $100 user fee proposal still with us
• New ATC concept from Germany
• Spain’s ATC reform outsources control towers
• Out-of-date separation standards
• News Notes
• Quotable Quotes

Air Traffic Control Reform Newsletter #88

Space-based ADS-B, ATC not improving in Europe, Russia agrees to end flyover tax

December 16, 2011

Robert Poole

In this issue:

• Space-based ADS-B on the way
• ATC not improving in Europe
• User group opposes deadline for ADS-B/In
• Russia agrees to end flyover tax
• LightSquared tests confirm GPS interference
• News Notes
• Quotable Quotes

 

Air Traffic Control Reform Newsletter #87

Airline ticket tax broken, increased controller errors, little progress on RNP, fully integrated aviation weather

October 28, 2011

Robert Poole

In this issue:

• Airline ticket tax is broken
• Increased controller errors
• Why so little progress on RNP?
• Fully integrated aviation weather
• News Notes
• Quotable Quotes

Air Traffic Control Reform Newsletter #86

NextGen modernization held hostage to politics, slow progress for ADS-B, LightSquared even worse than you thought

August 30, 2011

Robert Poole

In this issue:

• NextGen modernization held hostage to politics
• Slow progress for ADS-B
• How many commercialized ANSPs?
• A subtle approach for computer-assisted controllers
• LightSquared—even worse than you thought
• News Notes
• Quotable Quotes

FAA Shutdown And Our Air Traffic Control Funding System Are Absurd

July 28, 2011, 6:15pm

Robert Poole

The situation is absurd.

Not a single one of the numerous issues holding up the FAA bill concerns air traffic control. The latest stumbling block was over how small the cutback would be in the subsidy program for airline service to small towns. Another major sticking point is the House’s effort to overturn a recent change in policy on airline unionization by the National Mediation Board. There have been battles over foreign aircraft repair stations, FedEx workers, slots at Reagan National Airport, and many other issues. Yet not one of those contentious issues has anything to do with air traffic control, which is about 80 percent of FAA’s budget.

Isn’t there a better way to fund air traffic control modernization? Any business faced with a $20 billion modernization agenda would finance the investment, probably issuing long-term bonds to be paid off from future sales revenue. But as a government agency, the FAA is stuck with annual appropriations, of uncertain timing—and now, a hiatus in the whole program.

Among all serious developed countries, the United States is the only one left that funds air traffic control this way. Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, the U.K., Switzerland, and dozens of other countries have all de-politicized their air traffic control systems, by “commercializing” their air traffic control providers—turning them into separate corporate entities that are self-funding, getting paid by their aviation customers. That revenue stream is predictable enough that the company can issue revenue bonds to fund capital investments in facilities and equipment.

Air Traffic Control Reform Newsletter #85

FAA controller workforce problems, LightSquared GPS fiasco, Datalink for oceanic airspace, Scapegoating business jets (again)

July 26, 2011

Robert Poole

In this issue:

• FAA controller workforce problems
• The LightSquared GPS fiasco
• Datalink communications for oceanic airspace
• Scapegoating business jets, again
• An ATC history lesson
• News Notes
• Quotable Quotes

 

More »