NextGen

The FAA is currently formulating a plan to revitalize the current air traffic control system to make flying safer, sustainable, flexible and more economically friendly, there plan to do this is called Next Generation Air Traffic Control otherwise known simply as 'NextGen". 

According to the FAA there are four main "pillars" to this system and they all are very important to the future of air travel and air commerce. 

In the order of most importance (to me):

1.     Safety: Obviously safety is the most important thing to the FAA and to all aviators in general. This new system above and beyond the additional benefits is suppose to be taking leaps and bounds over the current air traffic control system as far as safety goes by providing more accurate aircraft locations, up to date weather information and airspace status information.

2.     Economic Impact: Clearly aviation isn't quite what it once was, there is not as much money to be made in it as there once was and over all the economy isn't particularly doing well, next generation air traffic control is suppose to be not only a job creator but a money saver for airlines and aircraft owners alike.

3.     Flexibility: With updated performance based navigation (PBN) air traffic control can free the skies up and allow the old methods of routing to be eliminated and replaced with more direct routing to make for a more efficient flight.

4.     Sustainability: Lastly sustainability, sustainability is of course also very important but in my opinion will just be provided with the first three pillars alone. the importance of this is providing ways to make better noise abatement procedures to make the airport environment more friendly and reduction in carbon emissions which is obviously very important to the economy.

Obviously there are some upfront costs in the implementation of such a vast and technologically advanced system, there has been talk among the aviation world of potential user fees for aviation, depending on the way these fees are implemented general aviation and corporate aviation. I believe that these user fees should be applied to foreign carriers to reduce their profitability in America and let American carriers replace their routes at a more affordable cost although I would rather just see user fees never come to fruition. (Article from AOPAabout user fees on GA businesses)

User fees could have a significant effect on my career depending where they are applied. User fees applied to general aviation (very unlikely in my opinion) could significantly impact the cost of flight training making my time as a flight instructor very challenging. The most likely option for these fees would be applied to part 121 and 135 carriers, and because I eventually plan to work within one of these operations this could significantly affect the profitability of whatever company I am working for.