In the last 40 years, a total of 98 countries have taken their air traffic control systems away from government control and created entities similar to separately managed toll roads or utilities.  Canada, Britain and Italy have completely privatized their systems.  The benefits include a guaranteed revenue stream, much faster modernization and a better workforce.

A new Inspector General’s report from the Transportation Department lays out how the U.S. has misspent $40 billion under the NextGen program over the last two decades with results so meager it’s being shut down.

During President Trump’s first term, he came close to convincing Congress to finally create a new air traffic control model.  It’s time for him to restart that effort and finally improve air safety and reduce flight delays.  The alternative is for the U.S. to stagger on with a management model that almost all of the rest of the world has abandoned.