US: Plan to privatize US air traffic control lacks support: Congressman

The chairman of the US House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said on Tuesday there is not enough support in Congress to move forward with a plan backed by President Donald Trump to privatize the air traffic control system. Republican Representative Bill Shuster said that the "air traffic control reform provisions did not reach the obvious level of support needed to pass Congress." But Shuster vowed to work with the Senate to move forward with legislation to reauthorize the FAA, which expires at the end of March. Without authorization the FAA would not be able to collect aviation taxes and many of its employees would have to be laid off. In June, Trump unveiled a plan to privatize air traffic control in what he said would modernize the system and lower flying costs. Democrats contended it would hand control of a key asset to special interests and big airlines, and some Republicans opposed it.<br/>