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Air Traffic Control

Eric Boehm is seen with an airplane and an air traffic control tower in the background | Adani Samat/Cody Huff

Air Traffic Control

Why Does the Government Run Air Traffic Control?

Air traffic control is simply too important to leave up to the politicians.

Eric Boehm | 7.29.2025 11:00 AM

Heavy duty generators are driven into Dade Collier Training and Transition Airport on June 24, 2025. | D.A. Varela/TNS/Newscom

Florida

The Everglades Jetport Was Supposed To Be a World Wonder. Now It's 'Alligator Alcatraz.'

Our dreams have fallen from supersonic world travel to jailing migrants who've hurt no one.

Matthew Petti | 7.3.2025 10:03 AM

Three jet airplanes | Illustration: Eddie Marshall | Midjourney

FAA

The 3 FAA Failures Creating a Dangerous Mess in the Skies

Outages, staffing shortages, and outdated tech are crippling air traffic control and putting the public at risk. It's time to take the job away from the FAA.

Robert Poole | 5.21.2025 10:45 AM

Jets at JFK Airport. December 19, 2023. | Edna Leshowitz/ZUMA Press Wire

Drones

Newly Released Documents Show What the Feds Knew About the New Jersey Drone Scare

Even after the Biden administration realized the most alarming claims were bunk, it didn't publicize the evidence it had.

Matthew Petti | 5.9.2025 12:31 PM

People carrying binders bearing the seal of the US Justice Department reading "The Epstein Files: Phase 1" walk out of the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC, USA on February 27, 2025. | Abaca Press/Gripas Yuri/Abaca/Sipa USA/Newscom

Department of Justice

The Sad Quest for a Secret 'Epstein Client List'

The Trump administration’s spectacle rehashed information that journalists, lawyers, and victims had already unveiled.

Matthew Petti | 2.28.2025 12:55 PM

Reagan airport disaster | PO1 BRANDON GILES/UPI/Newscom

Air Traffic Control

Understaffed Air Traffic Control, DEI Are Unlikely Causes of D.C. Plane Crash

There's still a lot we don't know and initial speculation from the media and the president about the causes of Wednesday's disaster appear off-base.

Christian Britschgi | 1.31.2025 4:00 PM

U.S. Postal Service website and logo | Timon Schneider/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

Privatization

Privatize the Postal Service, Amtrak, Airports, and More

Privatization isn't about cutting corners; it's about unleashing and leveraging the ingenuity and competitiveness of the private sector to deliver better services at lower costs.

Veronique de Rugy | 12.26.2024 4:35 PM

Jetliners on the tarmac at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. November 18, 2024. | Anthony Behar/Sipa USA/Newscom

UFO

Police Data: N.J. Drone Sightings Concentrated Along Airport Flight Paths

Are New Jerseyans mistaking normal airplanes for mysterious drones?

Matthew Petti | 12.20.2024 1:53 PM

The Iranian flag flying with a sketch of a classic looking UFO over it | Illustration: Lex Villena; Paul Cowan | Dreamstime.com, Nikolayn

New Jersey

No, an Iranian 'Mothership' Isn't Attacking New Jersey With UFOs

The wave of drone sightings is sparking sci-fi speculation mixed with war fever.

Matthew Petti | 12.12.2024 3:50 PM

abolishthedeptoftransportation | Illustrations: iStock

Transportation Policy

Abolish the Department of Transportation

When money comes down from the DOT, it has copious strings attached to it—strings that make infrastructure more expensive and less useful.

Christian Britschgi | 11.14.2024 6:00 AM

A sign with the inscription "Shelter" indicates a shelter at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel. | Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom

Airlines

Should Airliners Be Forced To Fly Through War Zones?

Rep. Ritchie Torres (D–N.Y.) claims that airlines are engaging in discrimination and enabling price gouging by canceling flights to the Middle East without government permission.

Matthew Petti | 9.3.2024 4:04 PM

A plane in the air shortly after taking off. | imageBROKER/Mario Kuhnke/Newscom

Federal Aviation Administration

How Political Meddling in New York and New Jersey Causes Airline Delays in the Entire U.S.

Congestion and slowdowns in the airspace around New York City account for up to 75 percent of all airline delays, yet efforts to depoliticize its management remain stalled.

Robert Poole | 8.23.2024 11:59 AM

Lamborghini Huracan VS Helicopter CHASE | Alex Choi | (YouTube/Millionaire Motorsport)

California

California YouTuber Faces 10 Years for Having Too Much Fun With Fireworks

The feds charged Alex Choi with “causing the placement of explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft” after he shot fireworks out of a helicopter into an empty desert.

Matthew Petti | 6.7.2024 3:45 PM

Maj. Gen. Phil Brooks, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general, center, observes as to students practice disabling UAVs during training at Fort Sill's new Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) University (JCU). | U.S. Army/Christopher Wilson

Drones

Does Uncle Sam Consider Your Backyard Restricted Airspace?

The areas where you need FAA approval to fly a model plane or drone are surprisingly large.

Matthew Petti | 5.6.2024 9:56 AM

A DJI Mavic 3 drone is seen outside of State Farm Stadium, Tuesday, Sep. 27, 2022, in Glendale, Ariz. | Dylan Stewart/Image of Sport/Newscom

Drones

Should It Be Illegal To Fly an RC Plane Within 3 Miles of a Sports Game?

The FAA imposes notoriously wide flight restrictions around stadiums. The consumer drone industry wants to change that.

Matthew Petti | 4.30.2024 10:35 AM

Phantom thunderstorms scotch thousands of flights, because the FAA sucks. | JOHN ANGELILLO/UPI/Newscom

Airlines

Government Ruins Yet Another Holiday Travel Weekend

Phantom thunderstorms scotch thousands of flights, because the FAA sucks.

Matt Welch | 6.30.2023 2:15 PM

reason-atc | Jaromír Chalabala/Dreamstime.com

Transportation Policy

Blame the Feds for Your Canceled Flight This Memorial Day

Staffing shortages and laughably out-of-date technology in the federal government's air traffic control system are leading to a lot more flight delays.

Christian Britschgi | 5.27.2023 7:00 AM

John Stossel is seen in front of an air traffic control system | Stossel TV

Air Traffic Control

Blame America's Air Traffic Control System for Your Flight Delay

In countries that privatized, there are fewer delays and costs are lower. But labor unions and the private plane lobby stand in the way.

John Stossel | 3.15.2023 3:05 PM

Property Rights

Was the Chinese Surveillance Balloon in U.S. "Near Space"?

The nation's control over the air above our heads is less settled than some may think.

Jonathan H. Adler |The Volokh Conspiracy | 2.14.2023 2:52 PM

Large image on homepages | Wang Ying Xinhua News Agency/Newscom

Transportation Policy

Air Safety Is Important. We Shouldn't Let Politics Put It at Risk

It's time to remove this vital function from the government budget.

Robert Poole | 1.24.2019 3:25 PM

Large image on homepages | Antongepolov/Dreamstime.com

Air Traffic Control

U.S. Air Traffic Controllers Are Working Without Pay During the Shutdown. Canada's Privatized Air Traffic Control System is Bailing Them Out With Free Pizza.

Spinning off America's air traffic control system from direct government control would immunize it from the shocks caused by government shutdowns.

Christian Britschgi | 1.14.2019 4:35 PM

Large image on homepages | Casfotoarda / Dreamstime.com

Disruptive Technologies

Let's Get Our Skies Ready for Flying Cars

The future we've fantasized about really is coming, and soon.

Andrea O'Sullivan | 12.4.2018 8:30 AM

Large image on homepages

Air Traffic Control

Who Benefits from the Status Quo?

Several key groups benefit from the current tax-funded, government-run air traffic control system.

Robert Poole | 10.1.2017 12:00 PM

Large image for longform feature pages. | Joanna Andreasson

Air Traffic Control

Your Flight Is Delayed

The frenzied battle to reform American air traffic control

Robert Poole | 9.26.2017 9:10 AM

Large image on homepages | Reason

Air Traffic Control

Will Congress Fix Air Traffic Control at Long Last?

After almost 50 years, Reason's fight for air traffic control reform might finally pay off

Robert Poole | 9.26.2017 9:10 AM

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