The way this is transpiring is wrong. I am NOT saying that Secretary LaHood is wrong. I am sure these closings were difficult decisions. I am not saying the closings aren't going to happen, but, if the debt reduction over 10 years is to go forward it needs a different approach.
Air Traffic Control Facilities That Could be Closed (click here)
In all honesty, the President needs to move through the FAA over the next year to have public meetings to ask what the best alternatives are for these airports. The cuts should be delayed and accept public comment for the next six months. Solicit comment from these airports specifically, but, ask for public comment and ask these airports to request public comment to submit from their local media.
There is a chance there will be investors that would seek to add private monies to these airports to begin a private holding to pay the air traffic controllers. It would provide an opportunity for the local economy to own their own airport interests and hire the air traffic controllers currently working at these facilities.
If NASA can privatize space interests there has to be a way for these airports to maintain their operations IF they have private investment. Some won't. But, there is a chance some will.
The public comment will provide insight to the demands of these airports and the viability to maintain their current status with private interests. It is a way of moving these airports out of the federal budget and be self supporting.
It is my guess there will be a fair number of the airports that will have private interests to come forward. There doesn't have to be security consequences either. The privatized airports would have to abide by the laws of the USA. They cannot compromise the larger airports by having compromised security. But, it might work and at least the USA has the obligation to try.
Air Traffic Control Facilities That Could be Closed (click here)
In all honesty, the President needs to move through the FAA over the next year to have public meetings to ask what the best alternatives are for these airports. The cuts should be delayed and accept public comment for the next six months. Solicit comment from these airports specifically, but, ask for public comment and ask these airports to request public comment to submit from their local media.
There is a chance there will be investors that would seek to add private monies to these airports to begin a private holding to pay the air traffic controllers. It would provide an opportunity for the local economy to own their own airport interests and hire the air traffic controllers currently working at these facilities.
If NASA can privatize space interests there has to be a way for these airports to maintain their operations IF they have private investment. Some won't. But, there is a chance some will.
The public comment will provide insight to the demands of these airports and the viability to maintain their current status with private interests. It is a way of moving these airports out of the federal budget and be self supporting.
It is my guess there will be a fair number of the airports that will have private interests to come forward. There doesn't have to be security consequences either. The privatized airports would have to abide by the laws of the USA. They cannot compromise the larger airports by having compromised security. But, it might work and at least the USA has the obligation to try.
