Air traffic controllers ready to break away from FAA
The National Air Traffic Controller’s Association appeared to signal its approval of a House bill that would create a federally chartered, private, non-profit corporation in charge of 38,000 federal employees, 14,000 of whom are air traffic controllers. Union president Paul Rinaldi testified on Wednesday that the modernization of the industry would not occur expeditiously if left under FAA control, due to instability with federal funding. The proposed corporation would draw revenue from user fees, manage 80% of the current FAA workforce, and oversee the $40 billion NextGen project that would implement a new national airspace system based on satellite communications.
If the bill is approved, the union will be held to binding arbitration in contract negotiations with the new corporation.
See "Air traffic controllers ready to break away from FAA", Ashley Halsey III, The Washington Post, February 10, 2016