Udall: Effort to Develop Next Generation Air Transportation System Making Progress, But Major Challenges Loom
At a House Science Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee hearing today on the future of the U.S. air traffic control system, Democrats made clear that while they applaud the progress that has been made to date in the initiative to develop the nation’s future air transportation system, they are concerned that a number of key policy, technical, and budgetary issues still need to be addressed.
Democrats pressed for continued Subcommittee oversight of the initiative.
"This topic should be of interest to all of us," remarked Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO). "Air transportation doesn’t just take us from point A to point B - it is a vital part of our national economy and it has a major impact on our quality of life."
At the close of 2005, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the U.S. airlines carried 660 million domestic passengers during the year, up from the 635 million carried in 2004. Air transportation demand is expected to triple between now and 2025.
Today’s hearing reviewed the progress of the interagency Joint Planning and Development Office (JDPO) in developing the nation’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NGATS) and heard testimony from a series of witnesses who identified issues that must be resolved in order to successfully transition to the new system.
The Science Committee helped establish the JPDO in 2003 under the Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act, Vision 100 (P.L. 108-176). JPDO exists now as an interagency office with participation from seven Federal agencies focused on leading the transition to NGATS.
"The job ahead is a big one," added Rep. Udall. "It will take a serious and sustained commitment by both the Federal Government and the private sector if we are to succeed. To borrow a phrase from the space program, ‘failure is not an option’."
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