Warns Cuts Could Undermine Nation's Standing In Aerospace

While most of the attention on President Bush's proposed FY2008 budget, released Monday, has centered on the contentious issue of user fees in the aerospace community, the American Institution of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) notes one area of that fiscal plan shows promise: the amount of funding allotted for NASA.

"AIAA is pleased that during a time of competing funding priorities the President has maintained his commitment to NASA with a $17.3 billion dollars request, representing a 3.1 percent increase over the 2007 request," said AIAA President Roger Simpson to ANN Tuesday. "As Congress commences with its own budget deliberations, AIAA would like to express our desire that the level of requested funding be maintained, if not enhanced."

Simpson added the administration's proposed budget request "will provide relative stability and more predictability for the agency while continuing to orient its activities toward space exploration. AIAA strongly desires additional top line funding for aeronautics research -- although not at the expense of other budget items."

That last comment is important, as critics of the budget plan outside the aerospace community -- and there are many, judging by a multitude of news reports surfacing -- state President Bush's plan gives short shrift to programs aiding lower income segments of the population, such as education programs Medicare.

Democrats, in particular, also note the proposal calls for a balanced budget by 2012 -- but apparently neglects funding for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan past 2009.

In the past, NASA has seen its funding cut sharply back from proposed levels in the final budget... in the interest of giving more to programs seen by some to have a greater beneficial impact on more people than the space program. AIAA cautions against that attitude, stating such cuts could cause the US to give up ground in the aerospace community.

"In an increasingly competitive global industry sector, the United States will have to strive ever harder and commit to stable, robust investments in aeronautics R&D if our nation is to maintain its global leadership position," notes Simpson.

AIAA is headquartered in suburban Washington, DC. The Institute serves over 35,000 members in 65 regional sections and 79 countries. AIAA membership is drawn from all levels of industry, academia, private research organizations, and government.

FMI: www.aiaa.org