SHUSTER ANNOUNCES END TO EFFORT TO PRIVATIZE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL | February 28th, 2018 |
 Bill Shuster, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, announced today that he will no longer pursue his effort to privatize U.S. air traffic control services. “Although our air traffic control reform provisions did not reach the obvious level of support needed to pass Congress, I intend to work with Senator [John] Thune [Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee] and move forward with a reauthorization bill to provide long-term stability for the FAA,” said Chairman Shuster in a written statement. For most of 2017, Shuster led an effort to outsource America's air traffic control services to a non-profit organization that would have been disproportionately comprised of airline representatives and organizations allied with the airlines. The U.S. general aviation community was unanimously opposed to the legislation and demonstrated uncommon teamwork and cooperation to rally opposition to the proposal. ICAS took a forceful, immediate and public position against the legislation and rallied its members and air show fans to express their opposition to elected officials. "The proposed privatization of ATC services was a bad idea that would have been particularly harmful to air shows and the air show community," said ICAS President John Cudahy. "Working closely with the entire GA community, ICAS and its members helped defeat this ill-considered government giveaway to the airlines. We made a difference and the entire air show business should feel very proud." | |