Marc Scribner
@marcscribner
Transportation policy @ReasonFdn. Covering infrastructure, planes, trains, and automobiles—especially when robots are involved.
My 2025 Annual Aviation Infrastructure Report is out today @ReasonFdn, with updated data and analysis on private-sector involvement in airports and air traffic control around the world. Unsurprisingly, the U.S. remains an outlier among affluent countries: reason.org/policy-brief/a…
In my latest @ReasonFdn, I examine the launch of the Tesla Robotaxi in Austin a few weeks ago. While Tesla has a manufacturing advantage over its competitors, it’s starting from behind with a product with some potentially serious performance limitations. reason.org/transportation…
Expanding the use of automation in track inspections will increase early defect detection and reduce defects over time. reason.org/testimony/expa…
This will be law tomorrow. I like ATC facility consolidation, but carrying it out will take a lot more money. And while I don’t think this will deliver “a brand new ATC system,” the remote tower funding might do some real good. My May remote tower report: reason.org/wp-content/upl…
The FAA ATC facility consolidation provisions in the reconciliation bill are a positive step. Integrating modern tech and best practices could reduce the number of ARTCCs and TRACONs by 3/4. But upfront costs are large and Congress likes to keep pork flowing to their districts.
The FAA Is Blocking Remote Towers Used Worldwide—Even Though They’d Help Solve The Controller Shortage For A Fraction Of The Cost - View from the Wing viewfromthewing.com/the-faa-is-blo…
For a summary of our case for remote towers, see our article in the new issue of Aviation Policy News: reason.org/aviation-polic… Secretary Duffy’s air traffic control modernization plan announced last week made no mention of remote/digital towers, which was a surprising omission.
My new @ReasonFdn report on remote/digital air traffic control towers is out today. Coauthored with distinguished airport engineering executive Ginger Evans, we survey the technology, its global success, why it hasn't caught on in the U.S., and how to bring it here. (1/13)