Urge Funding For Improved Hiring, Staffing, Modernizing NAS

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) along with 33 aviation groups from all sectors of the industry sent a letter to Congress urging the government to fund improvements to air traffic controller hiring and modernizing the system to enhance the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System.

The letter reads, in part, that the aviation industry “… from commercial aviation to general aviation, manufacturing, labor, airports, advanced air mobility and other emerging technologies – accounts for more than 5% of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) generating over 10 million high-quality jobs.

“To achieve this, we must support air traffic controller workforce hiring and training, modernize and deploy state-of-the-art air traffic control facilities and equipment, implement procurement and program efficiencies and facility realignment, and address budget reforms for the Airport & Airway Trust Fund (AATF).”

The groups are all in agreement in not pursuing privatization of U.S. air traffic control services because it would distract from the needed investments and reforms.

Priorities considered important include:

1. Robust emergency funding for critical air traffic control technology and infrastructure and controller staffing and training
2. Direction to FAA to achieve prudent divestment from legacy NAS elements and utilize new and innovative procurement methods to facilitate the deployment of state-of-the-art technology
3. Realignment and modernization of ATC facilities to improve operational efficiencies
4. Additional financial mechanisms to more effectively utilize AATF balances to enhance safety in the air and on the ground including through multi-year budgeting
5. Exempting the Federal Aviation Administration from government shutdowns to ensure apredictable funding stream to ensure continued safety and air traffic control personnel hiring and training

The letter concludes, “Our organizations are ready to work with you to ensure the FAA is more capable and prepared to deliver economic growth, foster American innovation, adapt to challenges, and continue to be the safest, largest, and most complex air traffic control system in the world. Please let us know what we can do to support your consideration and efforts.”

FMI:  nbaa.org/