Panel Heard Tuesday From FAA, Industry

The Senate Commerce Committee on Tuesday held a hearing on possible reforms for the U.S. Air Traffic Control (ATC) system. The hearing took place as Congress prepares new FAA reauthorization legislation. The legislation will determine the FAA’s funding and priorities in the coming years, including work to continue to evolve the nation’s aviation traffic system to a Next Generation, or “NextGen” system.

"The U.S. air traffic control, or ATC, system involves thousands of dedicated air traffic controllers guiding tens of thousands of flights safely across the country on a daily basis," said committee chairman John Thune (R-SD) (pictured). "We can all be proud of the system’s safety record.

"At the same time, increasing demand, the need to improve efficiency, and changes in technology all underscore the need to modernize a system that is still radar-based and operated using concepts and procedures developed decades ago.  

"Efforts to modernize ATC hardware and software have made some progress recently, but the long view indicates modernization programs have often taken too much time and cost too much," Thune said.

"The FAA will always face challenges attracting and retaining the talent needed to drive major technological change when it must compete with cutting edge businesses in the private sector," Thune continued. 

"To address these challenges, we must carefully consider if there is a better way to deliver ATC services for the traveling public and airspace users, and I am open to considering all ideas.  FAA has a great record as a safety regulator—something that would certainly continue if air traffic control services were moved out of the FAA or government.

"Many countries around the world have undergone such transitions with success, and I look forward to hearing from our witnesses about what reform of our system might look like, and how reform could serve the needs of all airspace users."

Another aspect of the hearing focused on access to airport without scheduled airline services, a topic of particular interest to NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. Bolen’s concerns about preserving congressional oversight for taxes, fees, airports and airspace have been prompted by some recent proposals that have been discussed as part of the FAA reauthorization debate, which would eliminate congressional authority over aviation system funding and governance.

For Bolen, the ability of Congress to retain control over aviation policy is essential to ensuring that the best interest of the public – including the citizens, companies and communities that rely on general aviation for business, and other reasons – is served. To illustrate that point, Bolen described four NBAA Member Companies, from four corners of the country, which are based in small communities that rely on a robust system of general aviation airports.

“Eighty-five percent of NBAA’s Members are small and mid-size companies, most of which are located in secondary and rural communities,” Bolen told committee lawmakers. “Most of their aircraft begin or end their flights at airports with no scheduled airline service. These companies can remain in their communities because of their ability to access airports and airspace, reliably and at a reasonable cost.”

Congressional oversight of the aviation system helps ensure that these and other concerns are understood and incorporated into aviation system decision-making in the public interest – a framework that best serves all Americans, and one that needs to remain in place.

“It is critical that Congress keep in mind that the airspace above our heads belongs to the American public, and it should be operated for the public’s benefit,” Bolen (pictured) told committee lawmakers. “So, the question on the table – perhaps the fundamental question in this reauthorization debate – is who is going to ensure that our public airspace is operated for the public’s benefit? Will it be the public’s elected representatives, or will it be some combination of self-interested parties?

“The authority over taxes and access to airspace and airports belongs to Congress under the Constitution, and it is an authority that cannot be delegated,” Bolen continued. “Communities of all sizes, in every corner of the country, are depending on you to retain your oversight authority in the areas of taxes and access, to ensure that the public airspace benefits the public.”

As part of his testimony, Bolen told committee members that NBAA has identified a set of nine guiding principles for congressional action during FAA reauthorization, including the following:

Make NextGen a reality.

• Keep congressional control over taxes, fees and charges.
• Say no to user fees for general aviation, and retain the fuel tax instead.
• Ensure predictable, affordable access to airspace and airports for all users large and small.
• Protect the privacy of those in flight.
• Protect the nation’s federal system of airports.
• Improve the certification and approval process for aircraft and avionics.
• Ensure that new aviation technologies are safely introduced and integrated into the nation’s aviation system.
• Ensure the continuity of government aviation services.

FAA Administrator Michael Huerta's remarks focued largely on the progress the FAA has made with NextGen, and some of the issues that have arisen in implementing the GPS-based air traffic control system.

Others providing testimony included:

• The Honorable John Engler, President, Business Roundtable
• The Honorable Byron Dorgan, Senior Policy Advisor, Arent Fox LLP
• Mr. Jeff Smisek, Chairman, President and CEO, United Airlines
• Mr. Paul Rinaldi, President, National Air Traffic Controllers Association

The Association for Airports Across America provided a list of states that have passed resolutions supporting general aviation and local airports across the country prior to the hearing.

The agency’s current authorizing legislation, passed by Congress and signed into law in 2012, is set to expire in September.

FMI: www.commerce.senate.gov