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Congressional committee approves bill to privatise air traffic control

THE US Congressional House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has endorsed a bill that would hand over the responsibility of running the nation's air traffic control system to a private, non-profit corporation.

The bill - passed in a vote of 32-26 over Democrat objections - would give the new management six years to uphold its duties. But the Federal Aviation Administration will continue to monitor aviation safety.

Committee chairman and the bill's chief sponsor, Pennsylvania Republican Bill Shuster said "transformational" change is needed because the FAA's air traffic modernisation programme is taking longer and costing more than anticipated. The programme will switch the system from one based on radar to one based on satellites, reported The Associated Press.

The delays and cost overruns have come partly because Congress has subjected the agency to shutdowns, furloughs and repeated short-term funding extensions.

It's difficult for the FAA to commit to expensive, long-term contracts for new equipment and services because it's dependent on yearly budget infusions from lawmakers.

A private corporation would be able to set fees for use of air traffic services, which would produce a steady revenue stream and enable it to issue bonds and raise capital.

Mr Shuster said that would speed up deployment of the new system, which is expected to boost efficiency and save billions of dollars by reducing air traffic congestion and delays.

The panel also rejected a proposed amendment that would allow the FAA to issue safety regulations involving air cargo shipments of rechargeable batteries, which tests have shown can cause uncontrollable fires.

A 2012 law passed by Congress prevents the agency from issuing regulations that are more stringent than those of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, unless there is an air crash caused by a battery fire.