NEXTOR-III Webinar: The Pandemic and Aviation
Webinar #3
The Pandemic and Aviation — Air Navigation Service Providers and Flight Operations
The global coronavirus pandemic is arguably the greatest challenge the aviation industry has faced in its history. Join leaders from academia, industry, and government for a series of webinars exploring the impacts of the pandemic on air transportation.
Hosts
- Michael Ball, University of Maryland
- Joseph Post, University of South Florida
Presenters
Date
October 15, 2020 - 11:00am
It's an idea that has, at various points, had support from both major political parties. And it's already been done in many major industrialized countries. So what's so difficult about privatizing air traffic control here in the United States? Nearly everything, says the Smith School's Michael Ball. Air traffic control has long been government-run for several reasons. There's the fact that it involves the use of a public good, the national airspace. And there's the overriding public concern for safety. But there are also potential advantages from taking air traffic control out of the direct control of the government, says Ball. 
Air passengers are poised for improved baggage handling as a result of a broader set of forthcoming rule changes from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Smith School professor Martin Dresner says the new rules won't significantly hurt airlines, which already do a pretty good job of delivering bags reliably and on time. He says one possible winner might be Southwest Airlines. 