Blakey: "Recommendations Strongly Echo AIA's Key Priorities"

AIA says it is very encouraged by the recommendations presented to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood by the Future of Aviation Advisory Committee Wednesday.

"The establishment of the committee shows that the administration understands the importance of aviation to our nation and the need to pay attention to the policy issues that will affect its future," said AIA President and CEO Marion C. Blakey. "The recommendations strongly echo AIA's key priorities for a healthier civil aviation industry and represent consensus among civil aviation industry stakeholders."

The Advisory Committee was established in April 2010 and chartered to provide information, advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation on ensuring the competitiveness of the U.S. aviation industry.

"We are especially pleased to see that several of the subcommittees recommended continued robust investment in the Next Generation Air Transportation System, and environmental research and development funding," said Blakey. "These are key policy recommendations in AIA's recent paper, Civil Aviation Growth in the 21st Century: Meeting Capacity and Environmental Challenges. We've long advocated accelerated implementation of NextGen as a way to kick start our economy, add jobs and help meet the president's manufacturing export goals."

Marion Blakey

The subcommittees also addressed a number of critical AIA priorities, including promoting development of sustainable alternative fuels and the importance of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education for future competitiveness.

AIA is particularly pleased that, in Secretary LaHood's words, these recommendations "will not sit on a shelf," and we look forward to the Secretary's report on implementation plans early next year.

Each of the five FAAC subcommittees included representatives from one or more AIA member companies, which included The Boeing Company, Goodrich Corporation and Cessna Aircraft Company.

FMI: www.aia-aerospace.org