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NextGen Now | Winter 2014
economic growth. He's exactly right, as are the chorus of elected officials from both parties
and others that agree. Fortunately, the upcoming FAA Reauthorization provides a rare
opportunity to make changes and allow America's aviation system to be the envy of the
world.
Chairman Bill Shuster has said he wants the FAA Reauthorization to be transformational. We
agree – it needs to be. The current situation requires it. That means everything has to be
on the table to improve our system, including getting NextGen fully up and running. It also
requires us to explore models that allow the FAA to make decisions more like a business.
Through an independent third-party, A4A is currently benchmarking and developing a fact-
based assessment of the financial, operational, and governance factors of the U.S. ATC
system. We need the facts to drive any decisions about ATC reform, not the other way
around.
We are also developing U.S. ATC options highlighting economic benefits and implications
for NextGen, while identifying potential risks and benefits of reform. These efforts, among
others, are intended to jumpstart policy solutions that will give us the aviation system we
all want and deserve.
In the end, we have a choice. We can continue with the status quo, or we can usher in
innovation, speed, and efficiency by pursuing a smarter approach. We have the best pilots
and air traffic controllers in the world. Through these efforts and ongoing collaboration with
all aviation stakeholders, we are confident that we can give them a better system in which
to operate.
