The Agriculture Retailers Association, Alliance for Aviation Across America, Crop Life America, League of Rural Voters , National Agricultural Aviation Association, National Council of Agricultural Employers, National Farmers Union, National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, National Women in Agriculture Association, and USA Rice Federation have joined together as the Alliance for Aviation Across America to ask Congress to oppose privatization of the nation’s air traffic control system.

Privatization of air traffic control would remove it from Congressional oversight and place it in the hands of a private board of mostly commercial interests, the organizations state in their letter to Congress. The board would be in control of issues from taxes and fees to investment and access.

“Rural communities, agriculture and small businesses stand to lose the most under a privatized system, where there would be no Congressional oversight to ensure that all stakeholders and communities have access to air transportation,” the letter says. “Under a privatized system, a private board dominated by the largest commercial operators would undoubtedly direct resources and investments to the largest hub airports and urban areas where these investments would be most likely to benefit their bottom line.”