FAA To Dub Air Traffic Control "Commercial Activity"

The Federal Aviation Administration today confirmed that it has notified air traffic controllers of its intention to dub air traffic control a "commercial activity" instead of a governmental function, a move the National Air Traffic Controllers Association was expecting after earlier indications from the administration.

NATCA president John Carr, in a statement, said the move contradicts the FAIR Act of 1998, in which control of space and navigation is referred to as a governmental responsibility. But FAA spokesperson Laura Brown said the categorization, which is done annually, "would not allow contracting out. The nation needs air traffic control as a core capability and so it would not be subject to competitive outsourcing."

FAA made its decision in response to a request from the Office of Management and Budget, which asks agencies to select one of the two categorization options--governmental or commercial. Meanwhile, NATCA expects approximately 10,000 U.S. air traffic controllers to retire within the next 10 years.