In the movie, Catch Me If You Can, a con artist explains that the New York Yankees have pin stripes on their uniforms to distract the opposing players―if the other guy watches the pin stripes he can't watch the ball. Well, pin strips are all over the issue of contracting out ATC services, and no one seems to be watching the ball. A little background: In 1981 PATCO (Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization) ruled ATC, while the FAA resembled the U.N. stumbling around in blue helmets trying to negotiate peace. Unchallenged, PATCO's Emperor Poli Augustus, declared that his legions didn't need anyone's approval to strike, and strike they did―smack in their own nose. Down went PATCO and up came the FAA as the reemerged ATC power.
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