Jack Pelton And Cindy Egnotovich Were Named To The Panel
Of the 19 members of the Future of Aviation Advisory Committee
(FAAC), which forwarded its final recommendations to improve the
competitiveness and viability of the aviation industry to Secretary
of Transportation Ray LaHood on Wednesday, two are members of the
GAMA Board of Directors.
The panel was formed in April by Secretary LaHood. "The decision
to create this advisory panel was a positive indication that
Secretary LaHood values stakeholder input in shaping the future of
our nation's air transportation industry," said GAMA President and
CEO Pete Bunce. "As our industry recovers from tough economic
times, we look forward to working with him to implement the FAAC's
key recommendations, especially those central to economic
prosperity and job creation in the aviation industry."
GAMA Board Members Cindy Egnotovich, segment president, nacelles
and interior systems of Goodrich Corporation and Jack Pelton,
chairman, president, and CEO of Cessna Aircraft Company, both
received appointments to the panel. Pelton was also selected to
lead the Financing Subcommittee. As members of the FAAC, both
Egnotovich and Pelton championed some of the key recommendations of
the FAAC. Egnotovich pushed to further government and industry
efforts to improve science, technology, engineering, and math
(STEM) education programs and make them a top tier initiative for
the Department. As a member of the Environment Subcommittee, she
also played a key role in pushing for the permanent extension of
research and development tax credits to speed engine and airframe
developments thus lowering industry carbon emissions as well as
promoting U.S. aviation as a first user of sustainable alternative
fuels.
Cindy Egnotovich
As chair of the Financing Subcommittee, Pelton worked across a
wide range of industry stakeholders to build support for
recommendations to improve the airport and air traffic
infrastructure in the United States. One recommendation focused on
accelerating benefits of NextGen by equipping commercial and
general aviation aircraft through a public/private partnership.
Another asks Secretary LaHood to push the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) to deliver the operational capabilities,
procedures, and approvals necessary for operators, the government,
and the travelling public to realize NextGen benefits as quickly as
possible. Pelton also served on the Competition Subcommittee whose
recommendations addressed improving the competitiveness of the
aviation industry and targeted the secretary's appointment to the
President Obama's export promotion cabinet as a way to encourage
U.S. manufacturing exports.
Additionally, both Egnotovich and Pelton supported the Aviation
Safety Subcommittee recommendation that the Department make a
renewed effort to identify potential new sources of data for safety
decisions, including those from general aviation. They also
expressed that it was imperative for general aviation to receive
the same protections offered to the commercial segment for data
that is submitted voluntarily and review needed protections for the
entire industry in light of the development of safety management
systems.
"I am very proud of Cindy's and Jack's work on the FAAC," said
Bunce. "They took on some extremely tough issues and helped to
build consensus and chart a sensible policy direction. Once these
key recommendations are implemented, the entire industry will
benefit from the insight and dedication of these leaders."