Panel Will Convene May 25 at 0930

The Future of Aviation Advisory Committee will hold its first meeting on Tuesday beginning at 0930 EDT at the U.S. DOT headquarters in Washington, DC.  U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt will address the opening session of the meeting, which is open to the public, and Secretary LaHood will hold a brief media availability at 1130 EDT.
     
The committee was created in March to provide information, advice, and recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation on challenges facing the aviation industry.

“Aviation is essential to our nation’s economy and our ability to compete in international commerce,” Secretary LaHood said when the committee was announced.  “This committee, which represents a broad cross-section of the aviation community, will begin the important conversation about how to ensure the industry remains vital and competitive.”

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 advisory committee grew out of a forum last November hosted by Secretary LaHood on the future of the U.S. aviation industry, during which he urged attendees to nominate potential committee members. The members selected represent airlines, airports, labor, manufacturers, environment, finance, academia, consumer interests, and general aviation stakeholders.  The committee will meet at least four times over the next year, after which it will issue its recommendations to the Secretary.

FMI: www.dot.gov, www.faa.gov