Privatizing Air Traffic Control In The United States

ATC Privatization

      Abstract

      Within the contents of this paper, I will discuss privatization of the FAA ATC System. Is this a safe decision for the National Airspace System?   I will give a brief history of the FAA; then using facts from the Department of Transportation, The National Airspace and Information Monitoring System and information from other private Air Traffic organizations you will see how Privatization can work in the United States. Comparisons will be made between FAA Control Towers, Privatized Contract Towers and Privatized International Air Traffic Organizations.   I will also discuss partial privatization of the NAS in Flight Service Stations, which has proven to be a success.

      The history of air traffic control dates back to the early days of aviation.   Europe 1919, The International Commission for Air Navigation (ICAN) was created in order to develop some kind of standard for the increase in air traffic.   The rules created were adopted in most countries were air traffic was present.   The United States did not include it self in the ICAN, instead they established their own set of air traffic rules after the passage of the Air Commerce Act of 1926.
      The first air traffic rules were very basic and were strictly used at airfields for arriving and departing aircraft.   They included a flagman standing on the field waving signals. With advancements in radio communication airports and aircraft were equipped with radios.   By 1935 around 20 air traffic control towers were in operation in the United States.   The Federal Government took responsibility for enroute aircraft in 1936 while local government operated Air Traffic Control Towers.
      After the appropriation of funds from Congress, the Civil Aeronautics Administration began to construct and operate Air Traffic Control Towers. By 1944 ATC Towers at most airports became the sole responsibility of the Federal Government.
After WW II ATC was revolutionized. Radar was...