Luncheon, Which Was Added To Schedule, Will Begin At 12:30 PM To Accommodate Speaker

There’s a very tight interval between the Wichita Aero Club’s September luncheon, which featured IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger on Thursday, the 27th, and the next luncheon, scheduled for October 11 at which Michael P. Huerta, the Acting Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, will address the organization. In order to accommodate Mr. Huerta’s schedule, the WAC added the luncheon to its schedule and has pushed the starting time back to 12:30 PM.

Huerta assumed his current interim role on December 5, 2011, though his confirmation to be FAA Administrator and remove "acting" from his title has been held up in Washington. In his current role he is responsible for the safety and efficiency of the largest aerospace system in the world. He oversees a $15.9 billion dollar budget, over 47,000 employees and is focused on ensuring the agency and its employees are the best prepared and trained professionals to meet the growing demands and requirements of the industry. Huerta also oversees the FAA's multi-billion dollar NextGen air traffic control modernization program as the United States shifts from ground-based radar to state-of-the-art satellite technology.

Huerta was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the FAA's Deputy Administrator on June 23, 2010. He is an experienced transportation official who has held key positions across the country. His reputation for managing complex transportation challenges led him to the international stage when Huerta was tapped as a Managing Director of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. The Olympics drew 2,400 athletes from 78 countries to Salt Lake City. Huerta was critical in the planning and construction of a variety of Olympic transportation facilities, as well as the development of a highly successful travel demand management system that insured the transportation system operated safely and efficiently.

FMI: www.wichitaaeroclub.org