Says 'Stability Needed' To Protect Trust Fund, NextGen

Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) President Greg Principato (pictured) has joined the chorus urging the bipartisan congressional leadership of both the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to pass a long-term extension of the operating authority of the FAA when they return to Washington next month.

In his letter, Principato emphasized, "At a time when both the economy and job growth are on shaky ground, one positive step Congress can take is to provide a two-year extension of the FAA’s operating authority through Fiscal Year 2013 in order to provide the stability needed to plan and move forward with needed improvements in the national aviation transportation system and to protect the integrity of the Aviation Trust Fund."

Principato stresses that airports will continue to support the efforts of both chambers to complete their negotiations on the pending FAA bill but, "Congress cannot afford to leave the aviation industry or the FAA in limbo any longer. In the last year and a half alone there have been 12 extensions, providing an average of 51 days of operating authority. This is not, as Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has said, the way to run the safest aviation system in the world."

Airports Council International - North America represents local, regional and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada.

FMI: www.aci-na.org