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Why Are Private Jets Being Subsidized By You And Me?
The National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA) vocal opposition to modernizing the air traffic control (ATC) system has more to do with preserving the status quo for private jet owners than protecting the interests of the flying public. Many of its corporate members have milked a set of tax loopholes that allow private jet owners to lower their tax burden and pass on the cost of their travel to consumers. (www.newsweek.com) Ещё...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Privatization is great if you don't mind paying a $10.00 "navigation" fee each time you fly on a commercial airliner. This is the real/hidden agenda driving the privatization as it is the excuse for the fee. If you don't believe this call me about buying a bridge.
Class warfare is such an old and transparent tactic. Unfortunately it still works on the weak minds.
Agenda or not, the main point is that corporate Jets probably underpay tax into the system. I think I can agree with that.
Now as far as all the claptrap about the ATC being the greatest in the world the FAA being a top-flight organization etc, that is a complete crock. The FAA has wasted billions of dollars, had every opportunity to upgrade our systems but botched each and every one; and is the primary source of almost every delay traveling in the air today. The FAA has proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they cannot execute this job appropriately, efficiently, or cost-effectively. They've had decades and failed miserably. I am firmly in the Mike Boyd camp on this.
I'm absolutely in favor of competition between private firms to bring the system out of the paper slip age - which should have been done at least 20 years ago by an even semi-competent FAA. The only thing I can say in their defense is it there been several idiot administrators and politicians from both parties directing the FAA's future who haven't helped much.
Now as far as all the claptrap about the ATC being the greatest in the world the FAA being a top-flight organization etc, that is a complete crock. The FAA has wasted billions of dollars, had every opportunity to upgrade our systems but botched each and every one; and is the primary source of almost every delay traveling in the air today. The FAA has proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they cannot execute this job appropriately, efficiently, or cost-effectively. They've had decades and failed miserably. I am firmly in the Mike Boyd camp on this.
I'm absolutely in favor of competition between private firms to bring the system out of the paper slip age - which should have been done at least 20 years ago by an even semi-competent FAA. The only thing I can say in their defense is it there been several idiot administrators and politicians from both parties directing the FAA's future who haven't helped much.
You haven't the slightest idea what you are talking about. The system is responsible for all flight delays? Horse manure. And competition keeps our drug prices low and we have the fastest and cheapest Internet service in the world, right? Super businessmen will solve it all. Baloney.
I have my problems with FAA management and their vision and planning but the system works, is reasonably efficient and is safe (strips and all). Like the TSA and other critical services, I will suffer some bureaucracy in exchange for direct public control. Government is not business and most attempts to make it so fail and sometimes spectacularly.
Mr. Carlson below makes some terrific points about FAA services and the marketplace (or lack thereof). If the FAA needs to be fixed, we can fix it. Hard to go back from handing it over to somebody else.
I have my problems with FAA management and their vision and planning but the system works, is reasonably efficient and is safe (strips and all). Like the TSA and other critical services, I will suffer some bureaucracy in exchange for direct public control. Government is not business and most attempts to make it so fail and sometimes spectacularly.
Mr. Carlson below makes some terrific points about FAA services and the marketplace (or lack thereof). If the FAA needs to be fixed, we can fix it. Hard to go back from handing it over to somebody else.
There's no true marketplace here; no plausible way that operators or pilots can select among ATC providers.
Instead, if it is privatized, we will get a single corporation that wins the contract to provide ATC services. That's a monopoly. Any suggestion that we're going to have "competition" magically provide better services for our extremely complicated system is just wishful thinking.
If, as you're charging, the farming out of contracts to external providers hasn't worked so well for NextGen or the other upgrade programs, what would make you think that farming out the contracting capabilities would make anything better?
What we'll actually get is a single corporation with direct financial ties to the airline industry, and little to no incentive to provide services or even listen to GA. We don't get a seat on the board. Is that what we want?
Instead, if it is privatized, we will get a single corporation that wins the contract to provide ATC services. That's a monopoly. Any suggestion that we're going to have "competition" magically provide better services for our extremely complicated system is just wishful thinking.
If, as you're charging, the farming out of contracts to external providers hasn't worked so well for NextGen or the other upgrade programs, what would make you think that farming out the contracting capabilities would make anything better?
What we'll actually get is a single corporation with direct financial ties to the airline industry, and little to no incentive to provide services or even listen to GA. We don't get a seat on the board. Is that what we want?
Funny that the guy who probably flys in one regularly, posts something like this. Must smell big money somewhere. Oh, could it be the privatization of the ATC system?
As a former FAA contractor, it is the safest system in the world, personed by the best ATCs anywhere and it is transitioning to all the technologies mentioned.
Trump that, fool.
As a former FAA contractor, it is the safest system in the world, personed by the best ATCs anywhere and it is transitioning to all the technologies mentioned.
Trump that, fool.