Open Letter Bryan Bedford, FAA Administrator "We'll tell you where we want you to be in three dimensions.and we'll tell you where we want you to be to hit that top of descent mark to [meet] the constraints of the runway". (Bryan Bedford, Washington Aero Club, Jan 22, 2026 <https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2026-01-22/faas-bedfo rd-provides-view-future-atc> ). This is backwards and misses the potential benefits of FAA's Brand New ATC System (BNATCS) ATC Centric Trajectory Based Ops. As a 45-year pilot (USAF, commercial), with decades of airline ops/ATC expertise, FAA's error is telling airlines how to operate. Airlines/users need to do the telling. FAA needs to do the listening. BNATCS, while good for replacing equipment (which is needed), won't reduce delays. And worse for airlines/passengers, as currently planned, BNATCS ATC Centric plan will further institutionalize ATC's control over the movement of the airline's aircraft, haunting the airline's "day of" operation for decades. What industry wants a government agency to control their primary production asset, or who believes a government agency can make an airline's operation efficient? No one. The airline's fire and forget, wing and a prayer "day of" operation, where airlines send Billions of dollars of aircraft out on the wing, and pray that it all works out, based on what FAA/ATC wants, is no way to run a "day of" airline operation. The critical missing part of BNATCS is the airlines "day of", real time business goals for each individual aircraft and the pilots 4D navigational ability, both critical to the success and profitability of the airline's "day of" operation, and something only each airline can know, decide and utilize efficiently. Therefore, the question is, "who should manage the movement of the aircraft, airlines or ATC"? Since it's their aircraft and their passengers, I vote for airlines to manage their aircraft movement since they have a clear vested interest in the outcome. Of course, separation/safety belongs to ATC, but this leaves lots of "day of" operational flexibility (gate departure time, speed, altitude, flight path, etc.) for airlines to step in (and step up) to manage the movement of their aircraft to meet their safety and "day of" business goals (schedule, connections, gate availability, crew legality, fuel, maintenance, galleys, lavs, etc.). FAA's goal should be, "The airline will tell ATC where they want to be in 4 dimensions . and the airline will tell ATC their desired top of descent point/time and coordinate with ATC to meet runway constraints. ATC will guarantee separation". Unfortunately, nothing in FAA's BNATCS plan accomplishes this, but airlines can. I would be glad to meet with Mr. Bedford and his team to explain in detail. Finally, FAA, Embry-Riddle University, GE Aviation, Georgia Tech, Delta Air Lines and others have independently validated a shovel ready, inexpensive, COTS, Airline Centric solution to mitigate most airline delays in actual airline operations at some of the world's busiest airports (ATL, DTW, MSP, CLT DBX). Michael Baiada
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revised: 20250507
You are receiving The Mifnet because you requested to join this list. The Mifnet is largely a labor of love, however the infrastructure isn't exactly cost-free. If you'd care to make a small contribution to the effort, please know that it would be greatly appreciated: https://wardell.us/url/mifbit All posts sent to the list should abide by these policies: 1) List members acknowledge that participation in Mifnet is a privilege--not a right. 2) Posts are always off the record, absent specific permission from the author. 3) The tone of discussions is collegial. 4) Posts are expected to be in reasonably good taste. 5) We discuss ideas and not personalities, and we don't speak ill of other Mifnet members. * The Mifnet WEB SITE is: https://www.mifnet.com/ * To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list at any time please visit: https://lists.mifnet.com/ OR: SEND THIS MESSAGE via email: [email protected]?subject=leave * Send Mifnet mailing list POSTS/SUBMISSIONS to: [email protected] * You may reach the person managing The Mifnet at: [email protected] * Please consider the DIGEST version of The Mifnet, which consolidates all list traffic into 1-3 messages daily. See instructions at: https://lists.mifnet.com/ * Manage your personal Mifnet SUBSCRIPTION at: https://lists.mifnet.com/ * For a list of all available Mifnet commands, SEND THIS MESSAGE via email: [email protected]?subject=help * View The Mifnet LIST POLICIES and PRIVACY POLICY at: https://mifnet.com/index.php/policies * View instructions for Mifnet DELIVERY PROBLEMS at: https://mifnet.com/index.php/delivery-problems * View The Mifnet LIST ARCHIVE at: https://lists.mifnet.com/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/
