**Should the U.S. Follow Canada’s Lead on Air Traffic Control?**

In a dramatic display that could rival any horror movie, Transportation Secretary Shawn Duffy took to the stage to highlight the alarming state of the U.S. air traffic control system. Imagine a fusion of geeky tech nostalgia and shocking reality as outdated 1980s technology, like floppy disks and hulking monitors, was revealed. Among the most cringe-worthy props? The infamous paper flight strips. Yes, these strips are still used in many U.S. air traffic control towers, just like in the 1970s! But what if America’s skies could be managed with the same efficiency that our neighbor to the north, Canada, has achieved?

A major overhaul of the U.S. air traffic control system is long overdue, and Duffy passionately argues that tens of billions of dollars in funding from Congress could speed up modernization efforts that currently drag on for years. But hold your horses! Critics have raised an eyebrow at this approach. Veteran transportation policy expert Bob P. suggests that simply throwing money at an outdated system isn’t the silver bullet it seems to be. According to him, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) seems stuck in a bureaucratic swamp, struggling to even define the best ways to improve the technology.

So, what’s the alternative? Bob P. points to Canada’s shining success story. Back in 1996, Canada took a bold step and privatized its air traffic control system, forming NAV Canada. This independent corporation has the liberty to raise its own funds and remain free from the tangled web of political red tape. The result? A remarkable transformation of their air traffic system, improving safety and efficiency while slashing costs. Instances of planes failing to keep safe distances have plummeted, and reports suggest that their safety performance is up to six times better than that of the U.S. system!

With far less capital expenditure than their government-run days, NAV Canada has managed to develop technology three times faster than the U.S. has in recent years, making it look like America is stuck in a time warp. Meanwhile, the FAA grapples with crumbling infrastructure that includes leaking roofs and elevators that require air traffic controllers to climb a staggering 15 flights of stairs! Can you imagine having to work under those conditions?

The privatization idea isn’t new in the U.S.; it’s been tossed around since the 1970s. The last serious attempt at reform came from former House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Schuster, but it fizzled out in 2018 after facing a barrage of opposition from lobby groups worried that privatization would favor airlines at the expense of private pilots. Despite these setbacks, dozens of countries around the world, including New Zealand and many European nations, have embraced privatization with varying degrees of success.

So, is it time for the U.S. to take a page out of Canada’s playbook? As air travel continues to expand, the need for a robust and efficient air traffic control system becomes increasingly critical. With an outdated system in place, the skies over America could remain chaotic unless bold changes are made. As they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. But in the case of U.S. air traffic control, it’s pretty clear there’s something very broken that needs addressing!