Page 42 - Twin and Turbine September 2017

40 • TWIN & TURBINE
September 2017
From the Flight Deck
by Kevin R. Dingman
Bee Hive Basics
The FAA / ATC Divorce: Who gets custody of GA?
The Part 121 folks claim they are being hobbled by an antiquated system no longer capable of supporting their needs. Why else would they be chronically late if not for a broken, government- run system? Severe weather was approaching as I planned my departure from the EAA
convention this year. The options were to wait an hour in order to use an IFR reservation, during which time the weather would arrive, or to get in line and depart VFR ahead of the approaching thunderstorms. I departed VFR and, in accordance with OSH NOTAMS, attempted to obtain an IFR clearance once 70 nm from OSH. Of course, many other aircraft had the same plan and ATC was saturated to the point that very few were able to obtain a clearance. This type of saturation is illustrative of the current saturation-induced delays encountered by the airlines. The traveling public is exasperated and some think the privatization buzz is a honey of a plan.
I’m an airline pilot, so the colony may restrict my ration of honey for saying so, but if airline executives and politicians could look further down the runway, they would preserve and promote the freedoms, efficiencies and the new- pilot supply chain of GA. By ignoring the underlying saturation issue, airlines are attempting to deflect modernization costs to other hives. And in doing so, they aren’t worried about GA paying for a clearance, deciphering an unplanned route or even that our freedom of flight may wither into non-existence, thusly destroying the supply chain.
Airline CEOs seek lower expenses, higher revenues and fewer late arrivals. And who could blame them? It’s the best way to operate the hive: gather pollen from all sources including the baggage- fee-flower, depart on time and repeat as often as possible. Maintaining a schedule is paramount to the “repeat” portion of the operation an in producing the hive’s quota of royal jelly for the Queen and honey for the shareholders.