U.S. Airways/American suing FAA

This is good, glad the airlines are stepping in and realizing how badly they will be affected by all of this if it were to happen.
 
smack300 said:
This is good, glad the airlines are stepping in and realizing how badly they will be affected by all of this if it were to happen.
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It would be nice if they step in and also realize that their employees are their best assets and how badly they will be affected if it weren't for them.
 
The federal budget is about 3729 billion dollars. The government is cutting 85 billion. That's about 2.2%. The FAA's budget is about 15 billion. The FAA needs to cut spending by about 0.3 billion The FAA has about 47000 employees. Reduce their compensation an average of $6400. Problem solved.
 
rocketman5150 said:
The federal budget is about 3729 billion dollars. The government is cutting 85 billion. That's about 2.2%. The FAA's budget is about 15 billion. The FAA needs to cut spending by about 0.3 billion The FAA has about 47000 employees. Reduce their compensation an average of $6400. Problem solved.
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(1) It's going to be more than $300 million at the FAA.
(2) I'm pretty sure that the controllers, airways systems technicians, aviation safety inspectors, and so on, are all worth the money that the taxpayer pays them and then some.
(3) Really? Advocating for a reduction in compensation for a group of people? I never, ever advocate for that. Bad karma.
 
Phase out FSS and continue to privatize ATC, that will save a bundle, the contract tower guys make something like 50% of their FAA counterparts...
 
wheelsup said:
Phase out FSS and continue to privatize ATC, that will save a bundle, the contract tower guys make something like 50% of their FAA counterparts...
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I don't know what/if you fly, but I wish for you to have to fly an airplane into a contract SFO. You wouldn't be able to fly local IFR in Florida due to the mess that would make. "NXX I've got a flow window for you, it's 6 days from now."

And what do you propose we replace FSS with? I use them almost every time I fly. Not everyone does 20 out and backs from a bravo a week. And to prove my above point, look at the pile of pure horse crap FSS has become after is was contracted to Lockheed Martin.
 
N519AT said:
Some things just shouldn't be privatized....

ATC is one of them.


This post brought to you by beta from my iPhone.
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In Canada it already is.

In the US a large number of towers are contract towers. I taught at one, it was perfectly fine no reduction in safety from my end.
 
wheelsup said:
Well it did work from a business perspective. In your opinion why hasn't it worked?
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It's a temporary solution to a long term problem that has resulted in a degradation of the mainline product. It's no different than any other outsourcing regime; the short term benefits are lucrative, but the long term impact is seldom worth the savings. Another great example of the long term affects of outsourcing is the trade deficit that has developed between the united states and her trading partners, where companies have made short term benefits in cost savings but the country as a while suffers and thus, those companies will suffer.

Outsourcing works great for investors and almost nobody else.
 
Since no other controller has chimed in...

rocketman5150 said:
The federal budget is about 3729 billion dollars. The government is cutting 85 billion. That's about 2.2%. The FAA's budget is about 15 billion. The FAA needs to cut spending by about 0.3 billion The FAA has about 47000 employees. Reduce their compensation an average of $6400. Problem solved.
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Controllers took a 33% cut in the pay bands from 2006 to 2010. For already certified controllers it was essentially a pay freeze, for trainees at the time it was a true 33% pay cut. Those trainees haven't seen a legitimate length of service raise since they've been hired to this day 7 years later. I get what you're saying, but we've already given more than anyone in the public sector.

wheelsup said:
Phase out FSS and continue to privatize ATC, that will save a bundle, the contract tower guys make something like 50% of their FAA counterparts...
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Phase out FSS? Who will open and close VFR flight plans/distributes and disseminates NOTAMs/PIREPs/TFRs/weather briefs/enroute weather/enters IFR flight plans/relays clearances? There is a significant population out there that doesn't use tablets or smart phones as well as situations that those devises aren't a suitable replacement.

Also, your statement about contract controllers making 50% of what FAA controllers do is simply not true if you compare apples to apples. Most (certainly not all) contract towers are on par with an FAA level 4 or 5 VFR tower. I know what two contract companies pay in the CONUS and their pay is in line with the FAA level 4 and 5 pay scale.

The tower controllers making about twice what a contract controller makes are in places like DCA and LGA. I don't think you can, with a straight face, compare working the average contract tower with LGA or DCA and argue that they should earn the same.

Also, realize that a large portion of savings that a contract tower sees is due to single staffing most towers. The FAA doesn't allow their own facilities to staff with one controller at a time after COM5191. I personally believe that is wise policy.
 
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