The job of an air traffic controller is stressful by nature. Conditions like aircraft congestion in the skies, an outdated air traffic system and understaffing at control centers can add to the daily stresses of controllers and often cause fatigue. These conditions describe the current status of Air Traffic Services (ATS) in the United States. If left unaddressed, they could compromise safety, the primary objective of air traffic control. The purpose of this thesis is to assess the regulatory framework surrounding ATS specifically in the area of Safety Management Systems (SMS) and Human Factors and determine the course of action to be taken to improve safety in air traffic control. / This thesis begins with a description of what air traffic controllers do and the issues that ATS face in the U.S. It then examines the regulatory framework of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the U.S. regarding ATS, specifically SMS and Human Factors. A comparison is made between the privatized air traffic system of Canada and the government owned air traffic system of the U.S. and how privatization makes a difference economically, politically and legally when implementing standards and regulations and enforcing them. Finally, suggestions are made in order to improve the legal framework of air traffic services in the U.S.

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