Tells RTCA Forum "We Have To Get This Launched"

FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt delivered remarks to the RTCA Forum on NextGen Tuesday, saying the reality of the air traffic control system is not reality TV. "That really is the taxpayer sitting there 16th in line," Babbitt said in his prepared remarks. "That really is Congress waiting there on the tarmac. The reality is — we need to fix that."

Babbitt praised the task force for its seven month effort to arrive at its recommendations. "The efforts of this group have resulted in a sharpened focus for the way ahead," he said. "No matter how you interpret the report or its recommendations, one message comes through with great clarity:  Everyone agrees that NextGen can’t come soon enough."

During the study, the task force identified five problem areas: Surface, Runway Access, Metroplex, Cruise, and Access to NAS,  as well as two cross-cutting areas: Data Communication Applications and Integrated ATM, and offered actionable recommendations in each of those areas.  The Task Force also made four broader recommendations it considered essential to the implementation of any of the prior recommendations. "The Task Force has forged a consensus across a wide spectrum of users, and I applaud you for that," Babbitt said. "This is an excellent head start. You’ve given us a short list of recommended operational capabilities. (The) Task Force efforts have provided us with a unique opportunity to align our implementation plan with the desires of the aviation community."

Babbitt told the RTCA forum that while the report contains several important themes, one of the main benefits it offered is credibility for the FAA. "I think the report gives us the traction we need to build confidence in the FAA’s ability to deliver early benefits. When we show that we can, will, and do deliver the goods, the rest will come naturally," he said.

FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt

But the bottom line, Babbitt said, is that the administration understands the importance of implementing NextGen. "I’ve flown enough to know that NextGen is a success story waiting to happen. We need to advance well beyond the preliminaries. We as a group need to commit together to giving it the juice it needs. Lest there be any doubt, I’m making that commitment for the FAA right here, right now. And I have the support of the Secretary and the President. They want this up and running, and they are fully supportive. The green light can’t get any greener than that."

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.rtca.org