Chairman LoBiondo, Ranking Member Larsen and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for inviting me to speak today about the reauthorization of the FAA.
It seems like not that long ago we were united behind the FAA reauthorization of 2012 with a sense of urgency to provide long term funding to support our nation’s aviation system. And now we are here again to continue that work. We have a joint responsibility – government and industry – to pull together to create the air traffic system that will carry this nation well into the 21st century.
In the last five years the FAA has made major progress in transforming our airspace system through NextGen, and that progress continues as we speak.
The FAA has delivered on its commitment to build the foundation that will support the many applications of NextGen. In 2014, we completed the coast-to-coast installation of a network of radio transceivers that will enable a satellite-based air traffic control system that provides a more precise and efficient alternative to radar. With this foundation in place, we have fulfilled our end of the bargain. We are working with the airline industry and the general aviation community to help them do their part to meet their requirement to equip by the 2020 deadline.
By the end of this month, we will finish the upgrade of our en route air traffic control automation system. This system will accommodate the new technologies of NextGen. Again, we met our commitment. This is one of the largest automation changeovers in the history of the FAA. It results in a more powerful air traffic system that can handle the challenges of the coming decades.
Through our collaboration with industry, we have identified key priorities in implementing NextGen, and we have followed through. We now have more satellite-based procedures in our skies than radar-based procedures. We have created new NextGen routes in cities across America that are saving millions of dollars in fuel burn, shortening flight paths, decreasing carbon emissions and cutting down on delays. All of this means airline schedules are more predictable and travelers face fewer delays.
The United States stands as a leader in aviation internationally, and we intend to remain the gold standard. Our manufacturers produce innovative aircraft and avionics that help maintain our nation’s positive balance of trade. We are truly unique in that we have the most diverse aviation community, which includes new users like unmanned aircraft and commercial space vehicles. Civil aviation contributes 12 million jobs and $1.5 trillion to our economy.
America’s leadership in aviation is being challenged on a global level, however, with the growth of foreign competitors and the shifting dynamics of supply chains. Domestically, the FAA faces challenges that I think we can all acknowledge: We have competing priorities among our stakeholders – one of the byproducts of a healthy, diverse system. And, we have had to navigate a constrained fiscal environment in recent years, with nearly two dozen short term extensions prior to our 2012 reauthorization.
The FAA needs to prioritize its resources to leverage new technology and to respond nimbly to evolving challenges. To maintain our global leadership and to continue to reap the economic benefits of this industry, we should use the upcoming reauthorization to provide the FAA with the tools necessary to meet the pressing demands of the future. A lot is at stake, and we need to get this right.
To that end, the Administration has developed a set of principles that we believe will improve our nation’s airspace system and set the course for future progress.
First, we need to maintain our excellent safety record and foster the use of data and analysis to focus our precious resources on the areas of highest risk in our aviation system.
We must continue the modernization of our air traffic control system. Part of that effort is to ensure stable funding for core operations and NextGen investments. Collaboration with industry is absolutely essential. We need to deliver benefits, and industry needs to equip to use these improvements.
FAA Reauthorization should secure appropriate funding for our nation’s airports. It should also enable the integration of new users into our airspace system and support the agency in fostering a culture of innovation and efficiency.
The FAA also needs to realign today’s airspace system with current demands. We need the flexibility to make investment choices that further the health of our airspace system so everyone can benefit.
And finally, we need to maintain our position of aviation leadership on the world stage. This means the FAA needs to remain at the table to shape and harmonize international aviation standards that promote seamless travel around the world.
We are extremely proud of America’s aviation heritage and the innovation and inspiration that our strong and diverse system has always provided. I look forward to working together to make sure that the United States continues to lead the world as we create the right conditions for further innovation and achievement in the second century of flight.