Remarks as prepared for delivery

Good morning, everyone. 

As you know, the FAA is putting in place the Next Generation Air Transportation System.  NextGen includes innovative technologies and procedures that are making flying more efficient and greener, while ensuring that all safety needs are met.  And all of this is in real time, as you’re about to see.  NextGen is very clearly, very definitely happening now. 

We’re in Memphis today, because NextGen is making a difference, and for companies like FedEx—for whom being on time is the coin of the realm—NextGen is just what they’d hoped it would be. 

In the water, big boats cause big wakes.  In aviation, it’s the same thing, except the wake is an unseen, turbulent wave of air that can disrupt anything that gets too close.  This can create a flight hazard, and it’s especially a concern if a smaller aircraft is following a larger one.  Ask any air traffic controller, and they’ll tell you that they’re always keeping an eye out to make sure trailing aircraft are at a safe enough distance.  

Now, because of NextGen air traffic technology, we're able to more efficiently separate aircraft and still avoid wake turbulence.  It's a process we call Wake RECAT … and it means that aircraft can safely land and depart – one behind another – slightly closer than before.  Wake RECAT more narrowly and accurately defines safe wake turbulence separation standards based on the performance characteristics of aircraft.  This eliminates conservatively long separation standards that are necessary under current broader wake-turbulence classifications, which are based primarily on aircraft weight classes.

We’ve implemented Wake RECAT here at Memphis … and several other major airports like Atlanta’s Hartsfield … Louisville … Cincinnati … and Houston’s Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports.  And soon, we'll add JFK … LaGuardia … Newark … and Teterboro to that list. 

So that’s what it is and where it’s going.  Let’s talk about what it’s doing. 

Because of Wake RECAT, FedEx gets 20 percent more planes in and out of Memphis every hour. 

Simply put, this means that Wake RECAT is helping FedEx deliver all of your packages on time.  That includes your Valentine’s Day flowers … chocolates … and teddy bears too!  You know, I never used to think of NextGen and Valentine’s Day at the same time, but I do now.    

Passenger carriers are seeing the benefit too.  At Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport, Delta Airlines is reporting a 14-24 percent reduction in departure queue delays.  Delta projects to save $15-38 million dollars in fuel costs over a one-year period.   

In a moment, Captain Paul Cassel [Castle] from FedEx will say more about their flight operations, and the specific benefits they’re seeing from Wake RECAT.  Then, Paul Rinaldi, President of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, will share his thoughts about what Wake RECAT means for controllers. 

Before turning over the microphone, let me emphasize that Wake RECAT is just one of many innovations that the FAA is putting in place all around the U.S. as part of our NextGen modernization effort.  Through NextGen, our nation is fundamentally evolving from a radar-based air traffic control system to a satellite-based system.  In doing so, we'll continue to make flying more efficient and greener.  And we’ll continue to reduce delays and aircraft fuel consumption.  This means less carbon dioxide emissions. 

So NextGen is good for the parcel shippers …

… good for the passengers … and

… good for the planet.

Now, let me turn it over to Captain Cassel …