One local airport official is not happy with a call by President Trump to privatize the nation’s air traffic controllers.
On Monday, President Trump called for removing air traffic controllers from the purview of the Federal Aviation Administration. While some airline officials joined the president and supported his announcement, the proposal is not finding favor with the CEO of Spokane Airports, which includes Spokane International and Felts Field.
Trump’s proposal calls for a private, nonprofit corporation to operate, manage and control air traffic control nationwide, with airline officials at the helm.
CEO Larry Krauter feels the idea would mean a private entity, seeking to get a return on investment, and would result in specific reductions of services in our local area. Krauter says, “We believe that could result in things like the closure of our contract tower at Felts Field, elimination of weather watchers at Spokane Airport, and elimination of the third shift at Spokane International Airport, among others.”
Krauter also faults the proposal for an “appalling lack of detail”. He says, “Looking at potentially the most significant change to aviation policy at the national level in our lifetimes, this has been devoid of true process. We have called for blue-ribbon panels of experts to be empaneled by the President, or congress to properly process this type of a change, and set up how it works in order to avoid what we call ‘throw the switch moments’, because throw the switch moments in aviation are not for anybody.”
Trump's plan to privatize air traffic control operations will likely be included in legislation reauthorizing the FAA. It is part of his plans to upgrade the nation’s infrastructure.
