Therein lies the problem. If the government (FAA is this case) had to pay for the fuel, missed connections, diverts, etc., things would change in a real hurry. As it is now, the airlines are being blamed for all the delays and receive all the penalties and bad press associated with them. It's sad that in this day and time of computers, high tech gadgets, and "green" worries, that we're still working with such an outdated and overly expensive system (for aircraft in terms of delays, fuel waste, etc.), with our "modern" (yeah, right) air traffic control system. I do know that the airlines can't continue to operate with such high ATC delays. The people who are going to get hurt the most are the consumers when we either price ourselves out of the market or cut capacity to the point that you'll have to have a ticket a year in advance to get on a flight. Either way, the outcome is not a good one. I hope someone in high places is paying attention, but that doesn't seem to be the case. :(

HM79 -

Great points - and just very different from dealing with traffic at my base. Outboound traffic little fuel to burn on ground waiting for taxiing traffic and range times to be concerned with and such. Once you are back from your flight - you have all day to get back to your line (within reason of course);) Thanks for the info though. Man - what an adjustment this is going to be!:eek:

USMCFLYR

In other words, if it were a private entity instead of a government entity, things would be more efficient, streamlined, and cost-effective. Are you saying that the forces of a free market, capitalist environment would be better than government involvement? :D

Speaking of paying for things, why doesn't the Gov't tap into that $20 Billion+ "Aviation Trust Fund" which is funded by taxes paid by the airlines, and invest it into the antiquated ATC system and our inadequate airport capacity which is what the Trust Fund is supposedly for!

Exactly............:p Getting something done by our government happens at the speed of molasses............ At any rate, I guess they can keep badmouthing our ontime arrival rates after THEY cause them. Go figure. :o

ewr,

Mark this day on your calendar. You and I have finally managed to agree on something!

Because just like those multi billion dollar tobacco lawsuits which are being used to build schools and roads and NOT towards stopping tobacco use or educational programs on how bad smoking is for you, it isn't supposed to be used for anything airline related..........only for helping illegal immigrants get grants and interest free loans..........(yes, I'm being sarcastic here):rolleyes:

You should have waited till tomorrow and told me that..........April 1st!!:D

This should start as a new thread, as I would like to hear more debate on the pros and cons of a private entity.

I'd take the counter-point on this idea.

Are the business models of airlines really more efficient, streamlined, and cost-effective, than what we have today? I look at the airline industry over the last several decades, and see time after time, short term decisions made to pad the coiffers of the people running it, all the while, screwing the people that actually do the work. A group of companies that constantly under-cut each other (and their own workers) in order to put bodies in the seats. Why would being in charge of ATC be any different? Do you want these ideas made into safety-related jobs like air traffic controlling, navigation and communication upkeep, etc. What happens during a soft economy? Do you reduce your workforce? While a pilot can hopefully find employment flying (something!)for another company if laid-off, a controller only has one game and one employer. If he/she is laid-off, how are they expected to retain their job skills if they can't practice them? If they return to work, months or years later, how good would they be? Like flying, controlling is not learned overnight, and entails long and expensive training (3-5 years) to master.

I'd entertain going the other way, and re-regulating airlines. Aside from SWA, and maybe a few others, when's the last time airlines were financially healthy for more than a few quarters? Why is airline stock always so cheap?

I feel that the country has gone too business-oriented. The "free" market is letting China kick our financial butt, as well as letting them dump container ship after container ship of cheap, lead-laden crap on our shores. Been to Home Depot lately? Find any item there, save for wood, that isn't Chinese made. Good luck. This is good for the American way, how?

I'm also not saying that our Government can't be heavily improved. It can. There is WAY too much management in places like where I work, for example.

As an aside, as a citizen, I don't want the movements and operations of our military being completely controlled by a private company. I don't feel that's in the best interest of the country.

Okay, fire away.

Seeburg,

I tried to pm you but, for some reason it said you couldn't accept pm's, check your settings and pm me.