Leaves FAA Post To Work On Behalf Of The Airlines
ANN REALTIME
REPORTING 03.31.06 1045EST: It could be a shot in the arm for those
who theorize the FAA and the ATA are in collusion over the issue of
user fees. The Air Transport Association (ATA) announced Friday
that former FAA assistant adminstrator Sharon L. Pinkerton has
been named the organization's vice president of government
affairs.
In her new role, Pinkerton will oversee several aviation-related
issues before federal, state and local governments, and report
directly to ATA President and Chief Executive Officer James
May.
After serving as the assistant administrator for aviation
policy, planning and environment at the FAA where she provided
policy guidance and expertise to both FAA Administrator Marion
Blakey and Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta,
Pinkerton will join ATA on April 17.
Aero-News first learned of Pinkerton's probable hiring earlier
this week. When ANN contacted David A. Castelveter, ATA's Vice
President of Communications, to confirm the story, he replied the
news was "nothing but a rumor, and ATA never comments on rumor or
speculation."
In her time with the FAA, Pinkerton managed the agency’s
strategic performance and planning process, served on the US
delegation to the 35th General Assembly of the International Civil
Aviation Organization, and successfully navigated passage of the
$14 billion FAA reauthorization bill, in 2003.
For the past several
years, Pinkerton's office has been spearheading the FAA's
Flight-100 reauthorization proposal on the Hill, and has also been
coordinating the FAA's new five year strategic plan also know as
"Flight Plan 2004- 2008"
"Sharon is a highly talented and reputable aviation policy
professional, with vast knowledge of the airline industry and
demonstrated leadership skills," said May. "Her contributions have
strengthened the foundation on which the Federal Aviation
Administration is built, and those efforts have helped to ensure
that our nation’s airlines will remain a key and positive
influence on our national economy."
"Airlines are starting to turn the corner, after years of
extraordinary challenges and painful sacrifices," said May. "Sharon
will play a critical role in supporting the ATA mission of creating
a positive environment for the nation’s air carriers, and she
will be an enormous addition to the ATA senior management team. I
am delighted that she has chosen to join our association."
"I am excited to be joining ATA and its highly regarded
government affairs team. ATA and its member airlines clearly are
dedicated to improving the health of an industry that has faced
unprecedented uncertainty, and I am looking forwarding to
complementing their efforts," said Pinkerton.
When asked to comment on Pinkerton's hiring at ATA, AOPA Media
Relations Director Chris Dancy stated, "Although AOPA hasn't always
agreed with Sharon Pinkerton, especially over the future of FAA
funding, we respect her and wish her well at the Airline Transport
Association."
"We look forward to the challenge of "crossing swords" with
her," Dancy added.
ANN will have more reaction throughout the aero-community as
soon as it becomes available. Stay tuned.