Fri, Mar 19, 2010
Praised Administration For Funding Alternative Fuel
Research
GAMA testified Thursday in support of the Administration's
fiscal year 2011 budget request for the FAA before the House
Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban
Development, and Related Agencies. GAMA's President and CEO Pete
Bunce focused on several items within the budget proposal most
important to the general aviation manufacturing industry. These
include air traffic modernization and equipage, increased funding
for FAA certification and inspection personnel, and funding for FAA
research into an alternative, unleaded aviation gasoline for
piston-engine planes.
GAMA noted that the Administration's budget request provides $1.14
billion in support of NextGen programs, a thirty percent increase
over the FY 2010 enacted level. "We believe that this increase
demonstrates the FAA's commitment to move forward on NextGen and
implement technology quickly in order to realize the safety,
capacity, economic and environmental benefits as soon as possible,"
said Bunce. "The aviation industry stands ready to work in a
public-private partnership to accelerate NextGen through aircraft
equipage so that all stakeholders begin to accrue the benefits.
Additionally, the equipping of airplanes will not only move
modernization forward, but it will provide more Americans with the
opportunity for good jobs in our nation's avionics companies and
maintenance facilities. As an industry that has lost nearly 20,000
manufacturing jobs throughout the last year and a half, we want to
put people back to work."
Bunce (pictured) also commented on proposed funds for an
additional 82 FAA safety inspectors, which includes 41 engineering
personnel. "GAMA has long been a champion of increased funding for
the FAA's Aircraft Certification Office because of its role in
certifying new products and equipment. Not only will adding
additional staff prevent certification delays, but it will also
help ensure that the FAA will have the resources necessary to
certify new technologies that are essential to NextGen. Any delay
in certifying NextGen technology could cause a delay in realizing
safety and efficiency benefits," said Bunce.
Finally, GAMA is encouraged that the Administration's fiscal year
2011 budget proposal adds $2 million within the FAA's research and
development account to support development of an alternative
unleaded aviation gasoline. GAMA and other industry stakeholders
are actively involved in developing a plan to transition to a new,
unleaded avgas for piston-engine aircraft. Bunce added,
"Unfortunately, no safe, simple alternative exists for leaded
aviation gasoline. The president's budget request will allow the
FAA to partner with both the general aviation industry and fuel
producers to research, test and ultimately approve a safe and
environmentally friendly unleaded aviation gasoline."
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