[samtheman]

Minimum required IQ to understand why this is a good idea: 50.

Number of serious congressional attempts to push this idea in the past: 0.

[Williams]

CNN: Trump To Speak Live Amid Several Firestorms

[Williams]

Had to listen to vacuous FOX commentary. No evidence of any collusion but still Trump has only himself to blame. Pence speaking now.

[1Old Pro]

Why just the controllers, let’s privatize the TSA too.

[theBuckwheat]

My only reservation is that where this has been implemented the per service costs have priced private aviation out of the sky, especially for instrument operations. That price is based the very costly bureaucracy that many operations really do not need, but are imposed upon them by the FAA.

A few years ago, my local control tower held a users meeting at which they discussed their budget and operations counts. When I divided their budget by the number of operations, it came out to more than $19 per take off and landing.

In a fully user-costed privatization, if you went out to the airport and shot your 3 takeoffs and landings (for your 90 day currency to take passengers), you would get a bill for 6 x 19 = $114 for air traffic control services. You may or may not need tower services, but if the control tower is open when you fly, you must accept the services and you also must accept how much it cost the government to provide those services.

The issue is that when government assumed full legal control of the operation of aircraft, that became a national infrastructure function of government. That naturally falls upon the general budget of the government. Further, government monies out of the general fund have been used to build and maintain all manner of air navigation facilities. All citizens, by the simple fact of their citizenship, must have equal access. It is a Constitutional issue of equality before the law.

I realize that my reservation goes to the heart of the issue.

[Williams]

There is now a signing but these idiots have to talk over him as if they have something more important to say, then they cut away. CNN has a countdown clock to Comey’s testimony. Fox isn’t much better.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks so much for your support to this point... I personally apprecaite it...
FReepers, it's time to wrap up this FReep-a-thon.  Lets do it...

President Donald J. Trump and the Free Republic of the United States of America

Ramirez political cartoon: Economic Climate Change LARGE VERSION 06/03/2017: LINK  LINK to regular sized versions of his political cartoons (archive).

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...this is a general all-purpose message, and should not be seen as targeting any individual I am responding to...

Just $274.00 to 85.00%

[Skywise]

I’d prefer he dissolve the TSA and return airport security to the airport and airlines first.

[wiseprince]

Who will be the first Republican Senator to declare this DOA? McCain, Linda....Place your bets. McCain has been seen rushing to the nearest CNN microphone. If it’s not war or VA it’s not happening.

[onona]

you know what would be cool ?

Privatized health care.

You like apples ?

[shanover]

There is not one thing government does better than a civilian counterpart except the military and its role under the Constitution. Government needs to go on a diet and go to rehab. I am sick of these fools and thieves.

[Ancient Man]

He needs to privatize the VA.

[taildragger]

Boy where do I begin...

This is the big worry for all those in Gen-Av, especially in their media, go to www.aero-news.net to hear Jim "Zoom" Campbell opine...

Here is the cliff notes bullet version from where I sit, ya I got my ticket, no I am not current, but I did fly with one of my buds this past weekend.

* No we are not wealthy playboys.
* The Gen-Av fuel tax system if you look close and how the money is properly divvy'd up is probably the greatest example of why we should have a flat tax, expect the dominant media to gloss over it.
* Oh Britain and "X" did it yada, yada, yada. That is why everyone sends their pilots to be to Flight Safety, they killed Gen-Av in their countries, I know 3 from England,Scotland,Wales that left and became citizens here just to fly.
* Gen Av is hurting we are so gentrified it isn't funny. So the feeder system is in jeopardy. The field I hang at lost it's FBO/Flight School and the place looks like a ghost town. I am sure the real estate vultures would love to snag it, however special circumstances prevent that.
* My Airline Pilot gnome tells me of an impending Pilot Shortage something like 20,000(?) short in 5 years. To the point the various branches of our Military are offering six digit retainer bonuses so their pilots don't leave for the Majors.
* So ya think still we are playboys? Tell that to your wife in 5 yrs when you can't get a flight because of no pilots.

Tangent to this...

* Training aircraft are costly.
* Electric powered could help with the fuel cost, but the price point of the candidates in that space are quiet high, a big note to carry, and they are not ready yet.
* A low parts count ( Think Republic Seabee RC-3 ) type aircraft is needed IMHO to try to get the cost down, their are other designs I think fit the bill, but I'll let it go.
* The possible re-write of FAR 23 to get the FAA new designs some reprieve from over-regs during certification in needed ASAP.

Go w/ a 501(c)(3) system, get the House and Senate out of the funding etc start their, total privatization might be the end of Gen-Av, unless a carve out to protect them is in this. A healthy Gen-Av system is a mirror of Liberty IMHO, the more Liberty the more Gen-Av.

Just my 2 cents...

[PhiloBedo]

I’m all in for the President’s agenda. I just think there are other priorities he could be spending his energy on, like getting the promised tax cuts, the promised repeal of Obamacare, and building the wall, and draining the swamp.