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AOPA and ATC Privatization
My AOPA membership comes up for yearly renewal at the end of September.
Today, I got a membership renewal request via email from the organization. Here is my response: Dear AOPA, The question arises. Why should an FAA enroute air traffic controller who is neither a pilot nor an aircraft owner continue to financially support AOPA? AOPA has publicly accused my labor organization (NATCA) of misleading other AOPA members concerning the looming Congressional action on ATC privatization. AOPA has been running the following quotes on the AOPA website: "AOPA members are asking about TV ads claiming that Congress is about to privatize air traffic control. Others have been asked to sign post cards misrepresenting both AOPA's position and what Congress has done. Both the ads and the cards are the efforts of labor unions. And both are bending the truth." NATCA is not misleading the flying public on this issue. NATCA factually reports that the Congress is about to authorize ATC privatization by allowing the FAA to offer 69 FAA air traffic control towers to the lowest private sector bidder. Some of these towers are among the busiest towers in the nation. The pending FAA reauthorization bill's language is clear and not subject to misinterpretation or wishful thinking. It will authorize the FAA to contract out ATC services to the lowest bidder. Further, after the year 2007, all FAA air traffic services will be on the table for possible out sourcing. Privatization is privatization. There is no bending of the truth involved. "Make no mistake. AOPA is adamantly opposed to any effort to privatize air traffic control or charge user fees for safety services," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "We have fought, and will continue to fight, attempts to take the responsibility for aircraft separation and control away from the federal government " and "If anybody tries to tell you that AOPA supports privatizing ATC, you tell them that's a damned lie," Boyer said. "AOPA is dedicated to the benefit of all general aviation, particularly GA pilots. It's a much broader vision than that of a union leader." What a bunch of hot air! That AOPA can swallow the rest of the current FAA reauthorization bill before the Congress in spite of the clear language authorizing ATC privatization seems to point to one of two things. Either AOPA is extremely short sighted or else AOPA is bending the truth herself on this issue. National ATC privatization is a clear threat to general aviation interests, yet AOPA seems willing to allow such privatization to begin, piece by piece, tower by tower, because the "rest of the bill" is beneficial to GA. Not with my money... I will gladly renew my AOPA dues if you can convince me that AOPA is on the right side of the current ATC privatization issue. Chip Jones AOPA 04557674 Atlanta ARTCC For even money, I'll betcha they don't even answer me... |
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"Chip Jones" wrote in message news:__45b.16414 The question arises. Why should an FAA enroute air traffic controller who is neither a pilot nor an aircraft owner continue to financially support AOPA? I'm asking myself the same question. |
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"Chip Jones" wrote in message thlink.net...
My AOPA membership comes up for yearly renewal at the end of September. Today, I got a membership renewal request via email from the organization. Here is my response: ... For even money, I'll betcha they don't even answer me... Well, let us know. Cheers, Sydney |
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In article , Stan Gosnell
writes: My AOPA membership comes up for yearly renewal at the end of September. Today, I got a membership renewal request via email from the organization. Chip, I long ago gave up on AOPA, and dropped my membership years ago. The organization takes some positions I just don't understand and can't support, and seems very short-sighted. I don't belong to the NRA, either, so maybe I'm in the minority on all this. Stan, You shouldn't expect an organization that has such a mix of members to always take a position that you support. I feel the AOPA lobbies for our GA interests most of the time, and heaven knows, there are powers that are not on our side. Closing airports, TFRs, you name it. Washington is run by lobbies and money interests and I want to be represented - even if not perfectly. Chip, on the other hand, may have a point it that the AOPA may not represent him. Chuck |
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"Chip Jones" said
"Peter Duniho" wrote in message ... I'm with Ron. Given the name of the organization, why SHOULD you support them? LOL, I suppose I was naive enough to assume that AOPA's interests in protecting GA's public access to the NAS went hand in hand with my public service as a NAS ATC operator. Alas, I fear I was mistaken. Hang in there, Chip. Is there a controller's association I can join? : ) -Scott |
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Ron Natalie wrote in message I'm asking myself the same question.
Upon first glance, it may seem that a controller's interest in this matter would be self-preservation. However, Mr. Jones may well be one of us in the future. So... Let's look at the bigger picture. If 69 towers go private, safety may or may not be compromised. However, what will be compromised is the ability of AOPA members to fend off USER FEES in the future. The federal budget is in bad shape. It's worse than the published figures. The Whitehouse administration is working extremely hard for the economy to stay contained until the next election is secure. After the election, the economy will break. The administration will be more than happy to foist the cost of ATC services onto all of us. D. |
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"Scott Lowrey" wrote in message news:sYb5b.257396$Oz4.67873@rwcrnsc54... Hang in there, Chip. Is there a controller's association I can join? : ) ATCA, the Air Traffic Control Association. |
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"Chip Jones" wrote in message
link.net... You are inclined to be wrong in that case. In fact, the entire Democratic apparatus in the Congress seems to disagree with AOPA's position concerning whether or not the reconciled "Vision 100- Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act" does or does not privatize ATC. Not a single Democrat on the reconciliation committee signed the bill because ATC privatization was strong-armed into the law by the Administration even though both Houses of the Republican-controlled Congress expressly voted against ATC privatization earlier this summer. See the above links. I asked for quotes. I know how to get the bill. But you're the one who's saying it privitizes ATC. Show me where it says that. I looked at the quotes Mark provided. All I see is language that *prohibits* the privitization of ATC, but which makes clear that the *existing* contract tower program is still legal. Since you are so sure of yourself, perhaps you could explain what language is found elsewhere in the bill that overrides the language presented so far. Thanks, Pete |
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Snowbird wrote:
Stan, I guess I feel having a significant interest group lobbying for us is important enough, that it's worth overlooking some positions with which I disagree, or rather, making my disagreement clear. Do you know any two people who agree on all significant positions all of the time? Some disagreement just seems inevitable to me, especially in a large organization. I have to second that. With out AOPA where would we be? Just because they aren't in my opinion perfect, doesn't mean they don't deserve my support. They do a lot of good. -- Chris Woodhouse Oklahoma City "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin, 1759 Historical Review of Pennsylvania |
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Darn it, missed my cue!....
"Chip Jones" wrote in message thlink.net... The question arises. Why should an FAA enroute air traffic controller who is neither a pilot You can fix that any day, Chip Sydney |
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