NextGen & Air Traffic Control Privitization

There has been multiple attempts in the recent years to change, or upgrade, our Air Traffic Control system and the way it works. Many would agree that while the traffic system used now is doing the job safely, it is somewhat outdated. Our current system is divided into 21 areas, which further divided into smaller sections (all governed by the FAA). To monitor those sectors, the ATC system does much of its operation from five different divisions that are designated for the multiple phases of flight, named the Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC), Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), Air Traffic Control Tower, and Flight Service Station (FSS) (Freudenrich, 2018). The system currently used in our nation's airspace is radar based. Aircrafts are equipped with transponders that are activated by the pilot at the departure point and modified during flight by the request of the ATC. The purpose of the transponder is to detect incoming radar signals from one of the five previously mentioned centers and broadcast an amplified signal/response to the ground stations. This amplified response signal is then received by a controller working in one of the five centers (depending on the phase of flight the aircraft is in), appearing as blip on their radar detection screens (Freudenrich, 2018). The signal emitted help provide information in regards to the aircraft and flight to the controller, and that's pretty much how our current ATC system operates. While these centers are located on the ground, the signal emitted from the aircraft's transponder must travel long distances to reach the stations and convey traffic information needed. The time delay is indeed a weakness of our current system since sometimes and in case of heavy traffic, there isn't much time to play with. The Next Gen system is aiming to make things more efficient.

Instead of relying on the above technology, that we have been using since the early 60's, the FAA has spent billions of dollars trying to come up with a new system we now call "NextGen". With the NextGen, the goal is to make the National Airspace System more efficient through safety and accommodation to the increasing number of aircrafts. This goal is based on the replacing a radar-based system to a satellite-based system called Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-). The ADS-B technology will be coupled with a new Performance Based Navigation (PBN) procedural system that will also utilize the satellite-based (GPS) technology to create a more precise route for aircraft to fly, which in turn saves money, time, fuel, and the environment because of decreased fuel consumption while increasing the volume of air traffic (FAA, 2017). The components of the NextGen, with the advanced GPS technology, will allow ATC and aircrafts to transmit real time flight and traffic information to each other in a matter of seconds. Aircrafts flying will also have real time traffic displayed in their cockpit, therefore reducing the work load of controllers and increasing situational awareness for pilots. So in a nutshell, NextGen will make operations much faster, cheaper, and more efficient. Since GPS is used, there will be more direct flights than ever before.

The privatization of Air Traffic Control is a very debated subject among the industry. People who are involved in general aviation activities are speaking against it for one main reason; money. If ATC was to be privatized, it would require the general aviation to somewhat pay up (in access fees). Part of the privatization has to do with the movement towards the NextGen technology, which would required updated avionics and so forth. The general aviation aircraft that are flying around, some worth as low as $16,000 would have to comply with the required installment of an ADS-B out, for the least. The ADS-B out installment alone is costly, ranging from $4,000 to $6,000, based on my educational knowledge. On the flip side, the airliner companies matters are completely the opposite. The primary reason as to why airlines such as, Southwest Airlines and American Airlines, are pro privatization is because they believe the FAA’s structure and funding are not capable of completing the new satellite-based project or even any modernization project. Therefore, airlines feel as if the privatization option would provide a much more efficient and financially stable operating system that will work in their favor (Bachman & Sasso, 2016). The airline's stand on privatization originates from the fact that it will potentially allow them to increase their profit by increase air traffic volume, provide them with more airspace for operations, and save money on unnecessary costs wasted on things like fuel and longer routes. I think the pro and cons differ between the GA and airline operations and that is to why we forever will witness an on-going debate about the topic. Many aviation organizations have taken their own stand on this matter. The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is one association that opposes ATC privatization and it believes that this will create a government-approved monopoly. Where the National Air Traffic Controllers Association is supporting the ATC privatization. NATCA strongly agrees that the FAA will not be successful is allocating the right resources to move towards the NextGen system (Wood, 2016). Therefore, allowing an outside company to take over can led to successful endeavor in this period of transition.

Throughout my research, it was very interesting to try to discover information about how the system is privatized in other countries and what the pros and cons are. In an article posted by NewYork Times, it is stated that only Canada and Britain have their system privatized, but it is a much smaller system then the one we have in the United States (NewYork Times, 2016). While this assignments asks to get into detail about the operations and funding of the ATC system of out neighboring companies, I feel as if such information is irrelevant. As stated above, the United State has a much larger and busier system. One that can not be compared to any other, as it significantly differs. Although I will state the following, before such change is made there is a need for a heavy analysis of both the positives and negatives on all sectors of the aviation industry. We must take an approach that will benefit everyone. I think the privatization of ATC has more to do with how it will effect the industry and in what way rather than whether it can or can not be done.

According to NewYork Times, the process of privatizing ATC is very bureaucratic. A bill must be introduced and approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate (as will as the approval of our president of course), before it is official (New York Times, 2016). The process is not as easy as many would think it is, the FAA does not have the ultimate decision in privatizing ATC. Recently, a bill was introduced by two reps. (Bill Shuster and Frank Lobiondo). My limited research indicated that the bill was vetoed out. Overall, the process seems to be lengthy and must take all the legal constitutional process.

I personally do not know where I stand on the ATC privatization issue. I feel like each side has its benefits and harms. While it would somehow be a detriment to general aviation, the system would benefit the US carriers in the longer run. Both are important sectors of the industry and therefore a middle ground should be reached before making any changes. I refuse to look at the issue from a point of view as to how much it will benefit the passengers, because it is invalid. Research indicates that there even if the system reduce costs to airlines, there is no guarantee that those savings would be passed to passengers. I feel like it a very tricky and confusing topic. Maybe the FAA needs to allocate some of its assets to outside companies to help them carry out the process rather than just privatizing it? I personally would not know. As of right now and while being a student pilot, I would hate to see the system place restrictions on where I can and can not fly. Also, I would to have to pay more then I already have to.

References

Freudenrich, P. C. (2018, March 08). How Air Traffic Control Works. Retrieved April 06, 2018, from https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/air-traffic-control.htm

FAA. (2017, December 04). How NextGen Works. Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/how_nextgen_works/

Bachman, J., & Sasso, M. (2016, November 09). Airlines to trump: block rivals and privatize air traffic control. Bloomberg. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-09/airlines-to-trump-block-rivals-and-privatize-air-traffic-control

Wood, J. (2016). GA raises concerns over proposal to privatize atc. General Aviation News. Retrieved from http://generalaviationnews.com/2016/02/17/ga-raises-concerns-over-proposal-to-privatize-atc/

New York Times. (2016, February 15). Don't Privatize Air Traffic Control. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/15/opinion/dont-privatize-air-traffic-control.html