David (vayuwings) you pointed out that the Essential Air Service (EAS) program is under threat, and that got me thinking-what’s the real story? So I looked deeper and found that The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, through its Mandate for Leadership (Ch. 19, Aviation, pg. 630), laid out a roadmap for aviation that pushes deregulation, privatization, and market-driven policies. Some of these ideas are gaining traction, aligning with the current administration’s direction and a growing **bandwagon of supporters ** pushing for fundamental aviation reform following the trend. But the more I looked, the bigger the picture became.
What’s at stake? A faster, more competitive airline market, but also weaker passenger rights, a looser approach to pilot training, and a rural air service crisis if EAS disappears.
Here’s a look at what Project 2025 envisions and how it stacks up against the policies shaping aviation today:
Deregulation & Airline Competition – New airline approvals within 12 months, potential foreign ownership, and slot reform at congested airports to favor efficiency over legacy carriers.
Rolling Back Passenger Protections – Less transparency on fees, refunds, and delays, shifting power toward airlines.
Pilot Shortage Fixes – Easing the 1,500-hour rule, increasing simulator training, and exploring single-pilot operations in regional markets.
Eliminating the EAS Program – Cutting 137 small airports (38 in Alaska, 99 in the lower 48), leaving rural travelers with longer drives and fewer options (DOT EAS Overview).
Privatizing Air Traffic Control (ATC) – Separating ATC from the FAA, shifting to user fees, and leaving R&D to the private sector.
The aviation industry is at a crossroads, and Project 2025’s vision is shaping the debate in real time. Whether these policies take off-or crash and burn, depends on how the administration and industry leaders respond. One thing is clear: American aviation is on the verge of major change.