Urges Passage Of $15B Proposal By House T&I Committee

The National Air Transportation Association added its support to calls for passage of the $15 billion funding bill to improve the nation’s air traffic control system currently being considered by the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

The bill, aimed at improving the nation’s aviation system’s safety, efficiency, and modernization, is also strongly backed by a broad coalition of 56 aviation industry stakeholders known as the Modern Skies Coalition.

The Coalition stated, “For decades, aviation stakeholders have raised concerns about outdated infrastructure, aging technology, and persistent staffing shortages among air traffic controllers and technicians.”

Curt Castagna, President and CEO of NATA, stated in a separate letter to Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), “NATA’s 3,700 member companies operate at nearly 4,500 airports in thousands of communities across the nation, providing air transportation services, driving economic growth, and supporting critical disaster relief, law enforcement, and medical services.

“Every day, our members experience firsthand the negative impacts of aging ATC infrastructure, insufficient technology at general aviation airports, and inadequate controller staffing in busy airspaces. We believe the proposal will positively affect these areas, while providing necessary Congressional oversight to ensure funds are used in a strategic, timely, and transparent manner.”

The funding proposed in the bill is aimed at several priorities including renovation of ATC towers and TRACON facilities, replacing aging radar and communications systems, and strengthening recruitment and training of the ATC workforce to address staffing needs.

FMI:  nata.aero/