Six year ATM bill introduced for part privatisation of US ATC
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Bill Shuster introduced (03-Feb-2016) the six year Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization (AIRR) Act to establish an "independent, not-for-profit corporation, outside of the federal government, to modernise" US ATC services. The AIRR aims to remove "over 30,000 people from the federal government's payroll", 'streamline' aviation equipment and aircraft certification processes, provide "additional consumer protections", support airport infrastructure improvements and give the FAA "more tools" for the safe integration of drones into airspace. Mr Shuster acknowledged the current ATM system is "incredibly inefficient" and "overly bureaucratic certification processes are handicapping American companies". Mr Shuster confirmed the AIRR will aim to overhaul these issues while also being "a good thing for rural areas" and airports. [more - original PR]