The FAA states under its new funding plan -- formally known as
the Next Generation Air Transportation System Financing Reform Act
of 2007 -- passengers travelling on commercial airliners will see
significant benefits, at a time when passenger demand has already
returned to pre-9/11 levels. The agency projects US commercial
airlines will carry more than one billion passengers annually by
2015.
Benefits touted by the agency from its proposed funding scheme
to passengers and the public include:
Reduced congestion and passenger delays -- The
FAA states the NextGen ATC system will accommodate two-to-three
times current traffic levels by shifting from 40 year-old
ground-based, voice-driven technology to satellite-based,
cockpit-to-cockpit enabled air traffic management. The FAA states
if it fails to achieve this system transformation by 2014, it
estimates there will be 29 days in which the number of delays would
exceed the highest one-day total recorded in 2004. Also, estimates
suggest Americans will lose $22 billion in annual economic activity
by 2022.
Reduced travel time -- NextGen technologies
like ADS-B will give pilots and air traffic controllers more
detailed information, allowing flights to go from point to point,
all while maintaining safety levels.
Provides tax relief -- The FAA's proposed
financing bill eliminates the domestic passenger ticket tax, the
segment tax, and reduces the international arrival and departure
tax by 50 percent. This change will significantly reduce the
overall burden on airlines and the traveling public.
Reduces emissions and noise -- Area Navigation
(RNAV) arrival and departure procedures take advantage of
NextGen’s satellite-based technologies and, as they expand
across the system, will drastically reduce noise, emissions, and
fuel usage. The FAA notes RNAV procedures at Atlanta are already
saving airlines $34 million in fuel costs and we expect to deploy
50 additional RNAV procedures nationwide by the end of 2007.
Improves water quality -- A new environmental
demonstration pilot program will fund de-icing and anti-icing
technologies that will reduce the impact on water quality and
facilitate safer and more efficient use of the system.
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