Page 12 - Volume 12, Number 7
P. 12

  ATC Privatization, Safety of Flight Concerns, Ops in Volcanic Ash and Runway Closure at DFW
by Kim Blonigen
ATC Privatization Still an Issue
On June 22, six associations representing the general aviation industry – General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), Helicopter Association International (HAI), National Air Transportation Association (NATA) and National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) – issued a statement strongly opposing the Trump Administration for including in its government reorganization proposal a failed idea to privatize the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) air traffic control (ATC) services.
Included in the statement was a listing of those that oppose privatizing the ATC system including, “congressional leaders from both political parties, more than 100 aviation organizations, over 100 business leaders, 100 U.S. mayors, consumer and agricultural groups, conservative think tanks and the majority of Americans.” Also included was the point that “this concept has been fully considered in the U.S. Congress and rejected despite years of repeated attempts.”
As well as strong contention that stated, “Instead of focusing precious time and resources on what amounts to nothing more than a distraction to the aviation community, the Administration needs to support a long-term FAA bill, like those passed by the House of Representatives and now pending in the Senate. These bills will take practical and significant steps to address many critical issues like aviation safety, modernization, which includes accelerated advancement of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) and needed aircraft certification and regulatory reform. Additionally, the Department of Transportation needs to continue with its commitment to the NextGen Advisory Committee, which fosters collaboration in an open and transparent manner and helps advance air traffic control modernization priorities and investments.
10 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
We are disappointed that the Administration continues to reintroduce a failed proposal. Instead, it should put its weight behind FAA legislation pending in Congress that will advance the aviation industry, including general aviation, which contributes $219 billion to the U.S. economy and creates over 1 million jobs in the U.S.”
Aviation Industry Expresses Safety of Flight Concerns to FAA
Several aviation groups also recently sent a letter to FAA Acting Administrator Daniel K. Elwell expressing their concern of GPS interference in reference to the Ligado Networks Proposal.
Ligado Networks (previously “LightSquared”) wishes to establish a terrestrial cellular network within what is a satellite frequency band. Their first proposal in 2011 caused grave concern from the aviation industry and in Ligado’s latest proposal, they believe the aviation industry concerns have been addressed due to the interference to GPS navigation and GPS-dependent systems being limited to a 500-foot diameter around their transmission towers. The letter to Elwell states, “The concerns and safety issues of the industry have NOT been addressed, particularly when considering the lack of testing in key areas,” and indicates it is highlighted in the “United States Department of Transportation Global Positioning (GPS) Adjacent Band Compatibility Assessment” published in April 2018.
In closing, the aviation groups “urge the FAA to support the testing and evaluation” of the Ligado network system by “an impartial third-party organization that we may fully understand the impacts to GPS-dependent systems and to ensure no degradation of safety within the NAS.”
As of press time, no response/updates had been provided.
    JULY 2018
AVIATION ISSUES
 



















































































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