Telepocalypse

Come fly with me

While researching my previous article I came across this gem on the Air Traffic Control (ATC) industry. I thought I'd share it with you.

Stuck-in-the-muds argue that ATC is a natural monopoly, that there has to be just one provider. Nonsense. The phone companies interconnect invisibly, power companies share electricity as needed, credit bureaus and other services swap data constantly. Air Traffic Control isn't any different. Today we have a mix of civil ATC and military ATC and non-federal control towers. They work together seamlessly. There is no reason we cannot have much more.

Aviation is at a decision point. Do we go ahead into the next century with the advancements that modern technology offers? Or do we refuse to budge? AOPA, EAA, and the other alphabet organizations argue that we must not change. They want ATC to remain part of FAA. They believe we should continue to do things as they've always been done.

Sounds awfully familiar, doesn't it?