Rep. Bill Shuster finally might have a receptive ear in the White House for his plan to privatize air traffic control systems at U.S. airports, a plan long opposed by Democrats.

After a Federal Aviation Authority reauthorization plan failed to include a private, independent air traffic control authority during the summer, Shuster is planning to make the FAA one of the top priorities for his committee in the new Congress. Authorization for the FAA expires at the end of the fiscal year Sept. 30.