DOT Secretary Opens The First Meeting Of The New Panel

At the opening session of the Future of Aviation Advisory Committee meeting Tuesday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood (pictured) charged the committee's members with helping to ensure that the U.S. aviation industry remains vital, competitive, sustainable and safe.

"Today, men and women who care deeply about the future of aviation in this country come together to challenge old assumptions and tackle persistent problems in new ways," Secretary LaHood told the members meeting at the U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters.  "I have high hopes and high expectations for what this committee of diverse experts can accomplish on behalf of the aviation industry, its workforce and consumers."

The committee, formally established in April, grew out of a forum last November hosted by Secretary LaHood on the future of the U.S. aviation industry.  The committee is charged with providing information, advice, and recommendations to the Secretary on ensuring the competitiveness of the U.S. aviation industry and its capability to address the evolving transportation needs, challenges and opportunities of the U.S. and global economy.

The committee will focus principally on five issue areas:  ensuring aviation safety, ensuring a world-class aviation workforce, balancing the industry's competitiveness and viability, securing stable funding for aviation systems, and addressing environmental challenges and solutions.  The committee plans to meet five times over the coming year, during which it will develop its recommendations to the Secretary.

FMI: www.dot.gov/faac