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In order to get there, Shuster believes “it’s essential to separate the air traffic control from the FAA by establishing a federally chartered, fully independent, not- for-profit corporation to operate and modernize the ATC services.” He also suggests that this cor- poration should be financed by “a stable, self-sustaining, and fair user fee funding structure.”
NBAA President and CEO, Ed Bolen, shared his concerns about Shuster’s latest comments at the 2015 Aviation Business Conference, hosted by the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) as well as to several news sources. He stated that the general aviation community has long agreed that “the nation’s system of airports and airspace belongs to the public,” and must be run for the benefit of the public. “Congressional oversight of the nation’s aviation system ensures that funding and governance decisions are made with the public interest – including the citizens and companies that rely on aviation service in small towns and communities – as the primary focus.”
By stripping Congress of its oversight role, Bolen said, Shuster’s proposal will shift aviation governance to a group of self- interested parties, which would be more focused on aviation service in large, metropolitan areas – ultimately “destroying general aviation,” he added. “Historically, there has been agreement that taxing authority needs to be with Congress, access to airspace needs to be fair, and the fuel tax is the best way for general aviation to pay for its use of the system,” he added.
The House Transportation & In- frastructure Committee has juris- diction over FAA reauthorization, which sets funding and governance priorities for the agency. The cur- rent reauthorization bill expires September 30. KA
JULY 2015
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