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 BBC Scotland's Asad Ahmad"Edinburgh Airport is highlighted by Peter Reed"  real 28k  |
The claim has been made by Peter Reed, former economics manager at the Civil Aviation Authority, in a document published on the internet.
He believes commercial pressures are already compromising the service and privatisation would makes things worse.
'Railtrack in the sky'
The UK Government wants to sell off 51% of National Air Traffic Services (Nats), including Scotland's centre at Prestwick, to generate money for new investments.
But Nats is "inherently unsuited to commercial operation", according to Mr Reed, who believes the plan would create a "Railtrack in the sky".
He is worried that full radar cover at Edinburgh Airport is already being restricted to daytime hours and there is no radar advisory service provided from the control centre at Prestwick.
 Opponents are asked to register on the site
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His views have been published on the website of the independent left-wing think-tank, Catalyst.
Mr Reed, who advises airlines and has served on an expert panel of the International Air Transport Association, said the effects of commercial pressures were already being felt throughout the UK air transport industry.
Views rejected
He cited "overloading of controllers, pressure on supervisors to approve engineering work they haven't seen, and a refusal on grounds of cost to provide radar cover where pilots clearly judge this to be necessary".
Mr Reed believes privatisation has little or no support within the air transport industry or from the travelling public.
He added that pilots were firmly opposed, as were "the men and women who carry the responsibility of guiding pilots through crowded airspace".
 The skies are becoming more crowded
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"Mr Reed's analysis is way off beam and wrong on every count."
"The plans will maintain high safety standards by guaranteeing the investment NATS needs to meet the relentless demand for air travel.
'No reduction' in safety
"There can be no reduction in safety standards because the law forbids it.
"The airlines are unanimously in favour of it and British Airways and Virgin have said the private public partnership will not compromise safety."
He added that the provision of radar systems was a matter for individual airports and the privatisation plans would not affect this.
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