Fri, Oct 07, 2011
Remarks In Testimony Before The House Aviation Subcommittee
Wednesday
In prepared remarks before a congressional hearing held
Wednesday, NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen emphasized the
industry’s steadfast support for efforts to modernize the
nation's system, while underscoring the industry's strong
opposition to user fees as a method of funding the transformation.
He called on lawmakers to support rapid deployment and approval of
useful and cost effective new technologies, funded through the
existing – and effective – fuel tax structure.
"While much has changed for the industry I represent as a result
of the recession, one thing has remained constant – our
continued support for modernization of the nation's air traffic
control system," Bolen told members of the Aviation Subcommittee
for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
"Accelerating the transition to the Next Generation air
transportation system will advance important national objectives
including: further reducing the industry's environmental footprint,
reducing long-term costs at the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), enhancing safety, expanding system capacity and reducing
delays."
The hearing came as congress continues to consider various
proposals for funding the FAA and transforming the nation’s
ground-based aviation system into a satellite-based "NextGen" air
traffic control network. Citing the safety and economic benefits of
recently-deployed enhanced visual approaches at a number of
airports throughout the southwestern United States, including
Albuquerque and Las Vegas, Bolen told lawmakers that NBAA would
like greater emphasis on the deployment of similar technologies to
benefit all users of the air traffic control system.
Bolen also cited the industry's desire to see the FAA deploy the
operational infrastructure needed to speed replacement of radar
surveillance and separation systems with ADS-B. He tied the
industry's support for NextGen to concerns over recent calls for
new per-flight user taxes against non-recreational aircraft
operators on top of the per-gallon fee on aircraft fuel. "As I have
stated, NBAA supports our nation’s transition to NextGen. We
are prepared to do our part to help our country realize the
benefits of NextGen including a smaller environmental footprint,
enhanced safety, expanded capacity and reduced delays," Bolen said.
"Please understand, however, that our ability to support NextGen is
currently at risk because of the proposed $100 per-flight fee that
is threatening our industry.
"We look forward to continuing to work with you to make NextGen
a reality sooner rather than later," Bolen added, speaking directly
to subcommittee Chairman Tom Petri (R-WI-6) and Ranking Member
Jerry Costello (D-IL-12), "And we thank you for consistently
recognizing that per-gallon fuel charges work but per-flight taxes
destroy."
More News
Airbus Racer Demonstrator Makes Inaugural Flight Airbus Helicopters' ambitious Racer demonstrator has achieved its inaugural flight as part of the Clean Sky 2 initiative, a corners>[...]
A little Bit Quieter, Said Testers, But in the End it's Still a DA40 Diamond Aircraft recently completed a little pilot project with Lufthansa Aviation Training, putting a pair of >[...]
Line Up And Wait (LUAW) Used by ATC to inform a pilot to taxi onto the departure runway to line up and wait. It is not authorization for takeoff. It is used when takeoff clearance >[...]
Contributing To The Accident Was The Pilot’s Use Of Methamphetamine... Analysis: The pilot departed on a local flight to perform low-altitude maneuvers in a nearby desert val>[...]
From 2015 (YouTube Version): Overcoming Obstacles To Achieve Their Dreams… At EAA AirVenture 2015, FedEx arrived with one of their Airbus freight-hauling aircraft and placed>[...]
Airbus Racer Helicopter Demonstrator First Flight Part of Clean Sky 2 Initiative
See All