From Bridges and Dams to Airports: More Systems Collapse

After the bridges and dams, we now get confirmation that air transportation is in jeopardy. of course, for those of us reviewing American infrastructure, non of this is new (Grover Norquist Kills 49; One More Critical)

Now Time informs us,

We are at a breaking point," Blakey says of the U.S. air transportation system. Flight delays will reach record highs this year, and they are expected only to worsen as more passengers fly in the coming years.

What is so stunning is that the satellite technology we desperately need to for both safety and efficiency is already partially implemented by the European Union. Yes, the French are ahead of us again.

The solution is a satellite technology called NextGen, (Popular Mechanics really broke the story this month) which is far superior to radar. UPS has its own system in its planes and its center in Louisville. High accident rates prompted a test of the system in Alaska where accidents are now down 40%.

To make matters worse, while it costs $22 billion to implement, delays will push the price to $40 billion and the nation is already losing $9 billion a year because of flight delays and cancellations.

Assume that the new system can only save us $5 billion.   

Now let's make these numbers manageable. Would you make a $22,000 improvement to your home so you could save $5,000 a year? Most of us are responsible enough and bright enough to figure out that is a good idea.

But the solution is not that simple. We also need more runways, more air traffic controllers, and more ground equipment.

As Popular Mechanics noted, a contract for development of the NextGen system will go to either ITT Corp., Lockheed Martin, or Raytheon. Ugh. Oh well, someone has to do it. Lets' just keep it honest and fair.

Can you say high speed interurban rail? Bullet train? 

Comments

[Jack Lohman]

This should not come as any surprise. All while ignoring the nation's infrastructure, Bush has chosen to spend our resources on tax breaks for his wealthy contributors and, just coincidentally, himself when he leaves office. The only answer to this and many other catastrophic events is to get the private money out of our public electoral system so politicians can start making decisions that are in the best interest of the public instead of their contributors.

[Dan Sebald]

This issue just goes to show how shallow politics is across the board, republican and democrat. I'm not paying much attention to debates, but what I catch is just uninspiring. Clinton/Obama/Edwards are still dancing around the "had I known then (should have) what I know now about Iraq I wouldn't have voted for the war" rationale. With so many half efforts where an administration announces some program, talks about it for a while and shortly thereafter claims some momentous victory while all along doing nothing, our federal government has gotten to the point where it wouldn't know where to start with important projects like infrastructure. I think I mentioned the sewer socialists before. Where is leadership that says here's what is needed and we'll get the job done for you.