May 4, 2017 – Thirty years ago this week, the long-running, off-and-on debate about whether or not to separate air traffic control from the rest of the modern Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began. Senators Daniel Inouye (D-HI) and Ted Stevens (R-AK) introduced a bill on May 6, 1987 which would have created “an independent, user-fee supported Government corporation established for the purpose of operating, maintaining, supplying, and enhancing an efficient and responsive national system for air traffic control.”