ATC
U.S. Lawmakers Divided on Need For Sweeping ATC Reform
Republicans on the House Transportation Committee are pushing for 'transformational' reform, while Democrats are not sold on sweeping change.
Rep. Peter DeFazio, a Democrat, questioned if radio frequency spectrum would be undervalued by ATC reform. (Photo: Bill Carey)
Rep. Peter DeFazio, a Democrat, questioned if radio frequency spectrum would be undervalued by ATC reform. (Photo: Bill Carey)

U.S. lawmakers are considering various models to remake the ATC system the Federal Aviation Administration now oversees to include reorganizing it as a “federal corporation” or spinning off the FAA’s air traffic organization as a not-for-profit private entity. But a hearing the House aviation subcommittee held on March 24 revealed that leading Democrats don’t subscribe to Republican Transportation Committee chairman Bill Shuster’s call for “transformational” reform.