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November 14, 2009

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Editorial: Spend more money on air traffic control

Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1999 | 9:42 a.m.

This summer air travelers found the skies weren't so friendly, with flight delays increasing 34 percent. Air traffic controllers blamed airlines for scheduling too many flights and the airlines contended an antiquated air traffic control system was at fault. Congress has an opportunity to at least alleviate one of the gridlock's contributors, if it approves an overhaul of the air traffic control system.

Members of Congress are trying to reach a compromise on the funding for these modernization, safety and operating programs. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater says failure to reach an agreement, as happened last year, could result in even more delays. Disagreements over increasing the number of flights at some of the busiest airports, and whether Congress should be banned from using Aviation Trust Fund money for nonaviation uses, have stalled the funding. For the sake of the nation's air travelers, though, Congress should not let these disputes derail the much-needed improvements to the air traffic control system.

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