WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House believes that air traffic control is not a necessary function of government, a conclusion that controllers fear could lead to a proposal to privatize some or all of their work.þþThe National Association of Air Traffic Controllers said late Thursday night it was surprised and troubled by an executive order signed by President George. W. Bush that reversed the Clinton administration position that had strongly affirmed the relationship of air traffic control to the government.þþ``This says something very clear to me that the president is saying that air traffic control is something that the government should not be doing,'' said Ruth Marlin, the union's executive vice president. ``That is very disconcerting.''þþMarlin said the executive order ``opens the door'' for the United States to consider some degree of air traffic privatization. The Bush administration has been open to exploring that option but so far has offered no proposals.þþAir traffic controllers fear that under privatization profit concerns would compromise air safety.þþThe action taken by Bush deleted language in an executive order signed by President Bill Clinton in December 2000 that affirmed the job performed by controllers was a necessary government function, not a commercial one.þþThis was a critical distinction as the Clinton administration signed off on a high-profile initiative to reform air traffic management practices at the Federal Aviation Administration to make those operations more efficient and more accountable.þþThe FAA, which is responsible for U.S. air traffic control and oversees more than 15,000 controllers, was under enormous congressional and public pressure that winter to reform operations after a horrendous summer of flight delays that industry blamed on air traffic management. The FAA blamed bad weather and overscheduling by airlines.þþThe overhaul effort has largely failed as the Transportation Department has yet to hire a chief executive to oversee it. Moreover, most see little prospects for progress this summer as FAA Administrator Jane Garvey's term expires in August.þþThe issue of flight delays has virtually disappeared because of the dramatic impact the Sept. 11 attacks and economic recession have had on reducing air travel demand.þþThe FAA referred comment on the air traffic order to the White House.þþIn the last two budget proposals, the Bush administration has signaled its interest in air traffic privatization, like steps taken by Canada.þþA White House official would not say if that was even under serious consideration. But spokeswoman Claire Buchan said the language in the Clinton order could have hindered additional efforts to contract out air traffic services in the future.þþThe government does hire private contractors to man control towers at roughly 200 small airports.þþThe national controllers union contract with the FAA expires in September 2003 but there have been talks between the labor group and the FAA to extend it.þ
Source: NY Times
