ATA applauds FAAC recommendations

The FAAC consists of a cross-section of aviation stakeholders: airlines, airports, manufacturers, labour, academia, finance, consumer interests and general aviation.

The recommendations, which the FAAC has formally approved and presented to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood yesterday, address some of the most challenging and complex economic, environmental, safety and labour issues confronting the US airline industry in an increasingly global and highly competitive market.

The ATA supports and is encouraged by the recommendations, which would:

• Foster global airline alliances and unfettered access to the largest and fastest-growing global markets through Open Skies agreements

• Accelerate NextGen implementation by providing government financial incentives to airline operators for equipage

• Expedite the most cost-beneficial elements of NextGen, including ADS-B and performance-based procedures

• Ensure that the federal aviation tax burden does not undermine the viability and competitiveness of the airline industry

• Mitigate jet-fuel price volatility by supporting federal regulatory efforts to mitigate the impact of speculative activity on the price of oil

• Reduce the impact of aviation on the environment through the use of sustainable fuels and improved aircraft technology

• Further enhance aviation safety by strengthening FAA voluntary data-sharing programs and safety-risk discovery capabilities