The National Air Traffic Controllers Association indicated Monday it may back Trump’s call to privatize the Federal Aviation Administration’s air traffic control system, provided the new entity is a not-for-profit and the union’s management contract carries over to it.
NATCA President Paul Rinaldi said the union was waiting to see more details on Trump’s plan.
“NATCA shares the Administration’s commitments to infrastructure modernization and providing the National Airspace System (NAS) with a stable, predictable funding stream,” he said. “We look forward to reviewing the specifics of the air traffic control (ATC) reform legislation so we can evaluate whether it satisfies our Union’s principles, including protecting the rights and benefits of the ATC workforce.”
The union has officially backed previous legislation proposed by Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., chairman of the House Transportation Committee, to spin off air traffic control to a nonprofit. Rinaldi has previously indicated the union would do so again provided the new legislation was substantially same, a position the union reaffirmed to reporters Monday.
Shuster stood by Trump at his announcement Tuesday regarding privatization and the White House has previously stated that it is using the chairman’s prior bill as the model. That legislation would have carried over the union contract. Shuster has not yet introduced draft legislation in this Congress.
The Transportation Committee issued a statement Sunday that said, “Shuster’s committee continues to work on a comprehensive FAA authorization and reform bill this year that provides transformational reform of the Nation’s air traffic control service and moves America towards a 21st century aviation system that is without equal in the world.”
