GAMA, AOPA Welcome Peters To New Post
In one of the swifter
confirmations of a nominee for a post in the Bush cabinent, on
Saturday the US Senate gave its approval for former highway
administrator Mary Peters to succeed Norman Mineta as Secretary of
Transportation. Mineta resigned from the post in July, after six
years in office.
"I am pleased that the Senate swiftly confirmed Mary Peters as
Secretary of Transportation," said President George W. Bush. "Mary
is an innovative thinker who will work with state and local leaders
to confront challenges and solve problems. I look forward to
working with her to reduce highway and aviation congestion,
modernize our nation's infrastructure, and increase the efficiency
of travel in our
News of the confirmation also brought reaction from the General
Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), which states it was
pleased by the Senate's swift confirmation of Peters.
"Ms. Peters brings to the DOT a tremendous background in
transportation issues and we look forward to working with her to
promote general aviation safety and enhance our industry's ability
to grow the US economy," said Pete Bunce, GAMA’s President
and CEO. "There is important work to be done in the coming months
and years and we are confident that the White House has chosen the
right person to lead our nation’s transportation system."
As Aero-News reported last
month, Peters served as chief of the Federal Highway
Administration from 2001 to 2005... where she was an advocate of
tolls for building new highways.
It is unclear whether that view may also be applied to the
aviation sector... as some aviation insiders fear she might also
support user fees -- tolls, by another name -- for general aviation
pilots. Phil Boyer, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots
Association, says a dialogue on that matter has already begun.
"Mary Peters reached out to me before the Senate vote, and we
began the dialogue on the future funding of the FAA and our
opposition to user fees," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "I'm sure
that will be just the first of our many frank discussions of issues
important to AOPA members and GA pilots."
While perhaps best known for heading the Federal Highway
Administration, Peters does have experience with aviation and
general aviation. Prior to the aforementioned post, she led the
Arizona Department of Transportation (DOT), which oversees
aviation and 82 airports in the state, in addition to other modes
of transport.