washington unite state top transportation official wednesday promote trump administration propose privatization air traffic control system face criticism democratic lawmakers republicans air traffic organization must nimble u.s. transportation secretary elaine chao tell senate commerce committee bulky federal government procurement apparatus move fast enough keep pace new technologies new demand president donald trump monday unveil plan modernize air traffic control low fly cost proposal air traffic control would spin federal aviation administration faa put aegis nonprofit entity critics say plan would hand control key asset special interest big airlines senator roger wicker mississippi republican say wednesday small airports state oppose plan say air traffic privatization unite kingdom airline passenger fee rise 30 percent tough sell wicker say senator jerry moran kansas republican say remain skeptical idea remove congress air traffic control oversight hand 13-member board administration say would charge private entity government air traffic control assets would bar congress review fee charge board senator bill nelson florida democrat oppose proposal give away billions dollars government assets entity govern large part airlines ask nelson argue fundamental breakup faa advance strong divisions among aviation stakeholders congress happen chao deny major airlines would control board say would two seat board also pledge address rural concern one big issue whether general aviation could face high cost access airspace private board take executives unite airlines ual.n hawaiian airlines inc haii.ul american airlines inc aal.o southwest airlines co luv.n represent airlines america lobby group praise trump plan monday faa spend nearly 10 billion year air traffic control fund largely passenger user fee spend 7.5 billion next-generation air traffic control reform recent years unclear whether privatization would speed rollout new systems satellite-based aircraft track replace grind radar date back world war two senators challenge trump plan privatize air traffic control