Meeting Topics Included FAA Reform, ATC Overhaul 

Congressman Mike Pompeo (R-KS) hosted a special town hall meeting Tuesday with general aviation leaders and Members of Congress to discuss industry priorities leading into the upcoming debate on reforming the FAA. Topics of discussion included certification and regulatory reform, NextGen implementation, and the implications of recent proposals to overhaul our nation’s air traffic control system.

“As a representative of Kansas’ Fourth District, I am proud of the prominent role that general aviation plays in driving our economy, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and providing billions of dollars in labor income and economic output,” Pompeo said. “Improvements to the FAA need to be made in order for general aviation to continue in excellence, but it is crucial that Congress take a commonsense approach to reforming the FAA in a way that strengthens our entire air transportation system. This means focusing on smart solutions to specific problems, and steering clear of Washington’s typical sledgehammer approach to legislating, which only ends up creating more problems than we fix. We have an enormous opportunity in the aviation community, and across other industries, to improve the way our skies are regulated and strengthen general aviation simply by doing what makes the most sense for our businesses and for the American people.”
 
“The current proposals to privatize our nation’s air traffic control system represent the most significant threat to the future of general aviation I have seen in over four decades in the industry," said Russ Meyer, Chairman Emeritus, Cessna Aircraft Company. "At the invitation of Rep. Mike Pompeo, nearly two dozen leaders from the Kansas aviation community flew to Washington, D.C. to underscore our grave concerns. We are very fortunate to have Mike Pompeo, Senators Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts and a Congressional delegation who, not only understand and appreciate the critical role general aviation plays in our nation’s transportation system and economy, but are willing to fight for it.”
 
“I really commend Congressman Pompeo for his leadership in bringing together a large and diverse group of people connected to general aviation in Kansas to discuss the eminent threat of privatizing our air traffic control system. General aviation is facing a huge challenge and it was encouraging to see that the entire Kansas Congressional delegation getting involved in this fight,” said Jack Pelton, Chairman and CEO, Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).

(Image provided with Congressman Pompeo's news release)

FMI: http://pompeo.house.gov