Broad Aviation Coalition Addresses Issue In A Letter To
Congress
In a letter dated November 23 addressed to House Transportation
and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN) and
Ranking Member John Mica (R-FL), 19 aviation-related associations
explained that funding for NextGen would "provide a platform for
domestic job creation thereby ensuring that the civil aviation and
travel industries-which directly and indirectly generate over 10
million jobs and $1.2 trillion in economic activity annually-can
continue to positively contribute to growth in the domestic
economy."
Rep James Oberstar
The letter comes in advance of Obama's Forum on Jobs and
Economic Growth, scheduled for December 3, and on the heels of a
November 17 announcement that the House will consider job-growth
legislation before the December recess.
Providing funding to move forward with the switch from
ground-based radar to satellite-based infrastructure would create
thousands of jobs for engineers, software developers, and other
high-tech workers, but pilots and maintenance facilities and travel
and tourism companies also would benefit from the push to switch to
the new system. This would be a welcomed boost for the industries
that have suffered massive blows since the 2001 terrorist attacks.
General aviation activity has decreased 35 percent, and employment
at GA companies has fallen 50 percent; air carriers have cut
155,000 jobs since 2000, the letter states.
"Funding NextGen in turn will help fund GA, and that will
produce benefits for every corner of the country," said AOPA
President Craig Fuller of the need for funding and impetus to the
letter. "This type of funding would benefit Main Street, not just
Wall Street."
Rep. John Mica
Moving forward with the new air traffic control system also
would improve aviation safety, reduce delays, cut carbon emissions,
and help the United States remain a world leader in aviation,
according to the association.
The letter asserts that the European Union, Australia, and
Canada are surpassing the United States in implementing NextGen,
and the United States must act quickly to retain its leadership
position, according to the groups. "Other countries like China and
India will look to either the U.S. or Europe for leadership as they
develop their air traffic control systems," it letter says. "If the
U.S. does not demonstrate leadership in deploying these
technologies, opportunities for U.S. manufacturers and workers will
be lost."
While the United States traditionally has not been viewed as a
"green" country, "accelerated NextGen implementation also has the
potential to put aviation at the forefront of 'green' initiatives,"
the groups said, citing the Government Accountability Office's
statistics that NextGen could cut carbon emissions 12 percent,
which would be equal to "taking 2.2 million cars off the road for
one year."
AOPA President Craig Fuller
"Expedited NextGen investment will eliminate a significant drag
on the nation's economy and transform aviation into a powerful job
creator in the near term," the groups concluded. "With a commitment
to fund expedited NextGen, we can provide a short-term economic
boost, and also provide the infrastructure which will lead to
long-term efficiencies and economic growth."