February 24, 2017 

This week, the Eno Center for Transportation released Time for Reform: Delivering Modern Air Traffic Control. The report calls for taking air traffic control out of the Federal Aviation Administration in favor of either a government corporation or an independent, non-profit organization. It also proposes a new funding structure that relies on user fees, rather than the current mix of taxes and general funds.

Major changes are needed because the federal government has proved unable to expediently modernize ATC. Unlike much of the developed world, the U.S. still relies on World War II-era radar to guide aircraft. Robert Puentes, President and CEO of the Eno Center for Transportation said, “Without significant changes, the American air traffic control system will not be able to cope with expected traffic growth, new complexities in the global airspace, or critical upgrades.”

The report finds that spinning-off air traffic control would create a more stable system that the current one, which is subject to political uncertainty. A separate system would not depend on annual budget appropriations, nor subject to budget sequesters and government shutdowns. In the long run this will make running ATC cheaper, providing benefits for the economy and the travelling public.

“Only an entity outside the direct control of government will have the necessary independence to implement modern technologies at the pace needed to meet demand,” said Rui Neiva, the report’s co-author.

In addition, the report recommends that the funding for the system should be replaced with user fees, as opposed to the current mix of taxes and general revenues.

The report was produced in consultation with Eno’s Aviation Working Group, an advisory group on all matters related to aviation policy and practice. It provides Eno with insights, knowledge, feedback, and guidance on how to continue to lead the world in aviation safety, modernization, and innovation.

To learn more and download the full report, click here.

Interested parties should also bookmark Eno’s FAA Reform Reference Page, which has links to every study we can find on the subject and also complete legislative histories of prior attempts at reform.