Blakey: FAA Request Puts NextGen On The Right Track

Reaction by the AIA to the release of the Obama administration's FY2012 budget requests was mixed Monday. Association president Marion Blakey had praise for the President's proposed spending level for the FAA, but said he left NASA a little short.

AIA's Marion Blakey

"We are pleased to see the administration's continued commitment to improving efficiency and safety and reducing the environmental impact of the National Aerospace System through the fiscal year 2012 President's Budget Request," Blakey said in a statement reacting to the FAA budget request. "In particular, the budget request proposes to fund the NextGen initiative at $1.24 billion, $200 million of which will come directly from the administration's Infrastructure Initiative. Including NextGen avionics equipment in the administration's $30 billion National Infrastructure Bank proposal could accelerate the benefits of NextGen. This will help address one of the larger challenges facing the full implementation of NextGen—establishing a sound business case for equipping airlines with upgraded avionics systems. Without the cockpit infrastructure component, there is no NextGen.

"Furthermore, AIA appreciates the administration's recognition of the important role aerospace manufacturers play in driving innovation and contributing positively to our nation's trade balance. Funding for an additional 100 certification personnel will help avoid delays that could hamper international competitiveness and speed the deployment of new products meant to improve safety and make air travel safer and more efficient."

But when it comes to NASA, Blakey said the requested budget falls short of the administrations stated goals for the agency. "We are disappointed with the proposed fiscal year 2012 budget for NASA of $18.7 billion, which represents a cut of $750 million from the authorized level and a major drop of more than $6.2 billion from the fiscal year 2011 request over the next four years," Blakey said. "In his State of the Union address, the president challenged this nation to embrace our "Sputnik" moment and win the future. Yet the administration's request for NASA fails to recognize the return on investment – both now and in the future – that our nation's space program provides as we strive to innovate, educate and build an America of which we can be proud.

"AIA understands the current difficult fiscal environment facing the entire U.S. government.  However, the aerospace and defense industry is a true economic engine, employing more than 800,000 people across the country, supporting over two million middle class jobs and 30,000 suppliers from all 50 states. It is important that near-term cuts aren't made to programs that affect our long-standing tradition of leading in space and impair our investment in the future."

FMI: www.aia-aerospace.org