Source: The Hill
by Sean Tinney
“The FAA’s centralized monopoly makes American airspace hostage to congressional dysfunction. When budget negotiations collapse, so does air travel: controllers go unpaid, certifications halt, and the entire system seizes up. Regulatory capture turns these risks into body counts. During the 737 MAX disaster, the FAA delegated oversight to Boeing’s own engineers — 346 people died in two crashes over five months without independent review. Meanwhile, startups like Connect Airlines collapsed after months waiting for approvals that never came. The FAA is designed for stagnation, favoring industry giants with bailouts and expedited certifications while strangling startups with delays — protecting incumbents and gatekeeping competition. Canada once faced similar challenges. Then, in 1996, it privatized air traffic control. Nav Canada now operates on user fees, not tax revenue, and it delivers demonstrably superior performance.” (11/19/25)