ATC
Battle lines drawn in ATC privatization fight
Although Congress is on its annual summer vacation, the battle over privatization of ATC continued at press time.

Although Congress is on its annual summer vacation, the battle over privatization of ATC continued at press time. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) said in a telephone press conference on August 13 that they will fight a proposal in the pending FAA reauthorization bill that would allow privatization of 69 general aviation control towers now staffed by FAA controllers.

According to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), 11 of the towers are listed by the FAA as among the 50 busiest, and they include such business aviation hotbeds as Van Nuys (VNY) and Long Beach (LGB), both in California; Denver Centennial (APA); Chicago Palwaukee (PWK); and Morristown Municipal (MMU) in New Jersey.

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