Thu, Jun 18, 2009
Babbitt Testimony Before House Transportation Subcommittee
FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt
testified Tuesday before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on
Transportation, requesting nearly $16 billion for the agency next
fiscal year.
In his first congressional testimony as Administrator, Babbitt
told the committee, "Because aviation safety is my primary duty and
I do not take that charge lightly: let me start by saying that this
is a budget that enables the FAA to pursue our paramount mission
— advancing operational safety throughout the National
Airspace System."
That being said, I am aware that you don't have to turn too many
pages in the newspaper to see that we find ourselves in complicated
financial times. So I also want to stress that this is a fiscally
responsible request that will help us deliver on all of our
performance goals."
Of the $15.9 billion dollar request, $7.3 billion is for Air
Traffic Control, and $1.2 billion for "aviation safety," Babbitt
said. There is also a healthy appropriation for commercialization
of space.
He also talked about the promise of NextGen navigation. "The
equation is simple: run the system safely and look to the future
through NextGen and commercial space investment. You'll be pleased
to know that the budget funds the hiring of additional air traffic
controllers, aviation safety staff, and NextGen staff as well." In
the budget request, NextGen transformational programs, such as
ADS-B, System Wide Information Management , Data Communications,
and NAS Voice Switch are funded at $372 million. Approximately $392
million is provided for NextGen demonstrations, system development,
and "enabling" activities.
The budget also requests $3.5 billion for safety projects at the
nation's airports, including runway safety area improvements,
runway incursion reduction, aviation safety management, and
improving infrastructure conditions.
More News
Aero Linx: JAARS Nearly 1.5 billion people, using more than 5,500 languages, do not have a full Bible in their first language. Many of these people live in the most remote parts of>[...]
'Airplane Bounced Twice On The Grass Runway, Resulting In The Nose Wheel Separating From The Airplane...' Analysis: The pilot reported, “upon touchdown, the plane jumped back>[...]
"Burt is best known to the public for his historic designs of SpaceShipOne, Voyager, and GlobalFlyer, but for EAA members and aviation aficionados, his unique concepts began more t>[...]
"Polaris Dawn, the first of the program’s three human spaceflight missions, is targeted to launch to orbit no earlier than summer 2024. During the five-day mission, the crew >[...]
There Are SO Many Ways To Get YOUR Aero-News! It’s been a while since we have reminded everyone about all the ways we offer your daily dose of aviation news on-the-go...so he>[...]