Forceful Congressional Testimony To Maintain Safety

Ed Bolen, President and CEO of the National Business Aviation Association, delivered a powerful message to members of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Aviation concerning the “national imperative” to reform the air traffic control system’s infrastructure to ensure safety is maintained in the world’s most complex airspace system.

Bolen thanked the legislators for passing a strong, forward-looking and comprehensive reauthorization bill in 2024 and at the same time emphasizing that much more work needs to be done.

Bolen stated, “We must ensure the implementation of the reauthorization bill, and we urgently need to make a massive investment in our national airspace system. The good news is that, with the strong oversight of this committee, government and industry are moving ahead on both priorities.”

He also expressed his strong support for the proposed ATC investment bill put forward by Department of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.

Bolen noted that “By the end of 2028, the plan calls for an investment in people that will provide the United States with over 14,000 well-trained and highly skilled air traffic controllers, with additional significant upgrades to facilities and equipment. A wide array of aviation stakeholders including airlines, general aviation (GA) groups, airports and labor unions, have joined the Modern Skies coalition to support these critically needed investments.”

The coalition remains strongly opposed to any plan to privatize the ATC system, saying it would distract from the most effective strategies for modernization of the system.

“The business aviation community works hard not only to be safe, but to be perceived as safe,” Bolen said, noting NBAA’s support for the Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing, or ASIAS, as well as the National Pause for General Aviation Safety.

Bolen concluded in his remarks by again pointing out “America has the safest, largest, most diverse and most efficient aviation system in the world. Yet, the system is under stress, which increases risk and decreases efficiency. NBAA looks forward to working alongside Congress and the FAA to maintain and improve safety in air transportation and ensure the U.S. remains the global leader in aviation.”

FMI:  nbaa.org/