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FAAC Charter

1.  Committee’s Official Designation (Title).  This committee shall be entitled The Future of Aviation Advisory Committee.

2.  Authority. This charter establishes The Future of Aviation Advisory Committee in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C. App. 2.

3.  Objectives and Scope of Activities.   The Aviation Advisory Committee will provide information, advice, and recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation on ensuring the competitiveness of the U.S. aviation industry and its capability to address the evolving transportation needs, challenges, and opportunities of the global economy.  The committee will assess fundamental changes in each of the areas below, and identify the drivers of such change and the challenges and opportunities presented by industry developments.

4.  Description of Duties.

Balancing the industry’s competitiveness and viability—A competitive airline industry is critical to our national economy.  Therefore, the committee should:

  • examine changes in the operating and competitive structures of the U.S. airline industry;
  • consider innovative strategies to open up new international markets and expand commercial opportunities in existing markets;
  • investigate strategies to encourage the development of cost-effective, cutting-edge technologies and equipment that are critical for a competitive industry coping with increasing economic and environmental challenges; and
  • examine the adequacy of current Federal programs to address the availability of intermodal transportation options and alternatives, small and rural community access to the aviation transportation system, the role of State and local governments in contributing to such access, and how the changing competitive structure of the U.S. airline industry is likely to transform travel habits of small and rural communities.

Ensuring a world-class workforce necessary for a robust aviation industry—In light of the changing socio-economic dynamics of the aviation industry, the committee should examine avenues for recruiting the best and brightest of our future workforce for careers in the aviation industry.

Securing stable and sufficient funding for our aviation systems—The importance of the aviation system for the Nation’s economy requires state-of-the-art infrastructure.  The committee should explore ways of augmenting funding systems to ensure the development, implementation, and maintenance of long term aviation investments.

Addressing environmental challenges and finding solutions—The aviation industry faces increasing environmental and energy challenges that require integrated solutions and strategies, which allow continued growth and economic vitality of the aviation sector.  The committee should examine short-, medium-, and long-term steps and strategies that can be taken by aviation sector stakeholders and the Federal Government to reduce aviation’s environmental footprint and foster efficiency gains and sustainable energy in cost-beneficial ways.  It should also consider potential approaches to promote effective international action on these issues through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Ensuring safety in aviation—Future expected growth and increased complexity in the air transportation system creates new opportunities and challenges in the way the air transportation system manages safety.  The committee should examine policies and practices that take a proactive approach in ensuring the aviation system continues to achieve a high level of safety.

5.  Official to Whom this Committee Reports.  This committee reports to the Secretary of Transportation.

6. Support.  The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, with support by the Federal Aviation Administration, will provide administrative support for all meetings of the committee, subcommittees, and/or work groups and ensure that at least one agency representative is present for each meeting.

7. Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years.  It is estimated that the annual operating costs is $400,000.  Approximately four person-years will be required to support the committee.

8. Designated Federal Officer.  The Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs shall designate an agency representative to serve as the Designated Federal Officer for the Future of Aviation Advisory Committee.

    1.  The Designated Federal Officer shall approve the calling of the committee meetings and subcommittee meetings and develop and approve the agendas in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation.

    2.  The Designated Federal Officer must be present at each committee and subcommittee meeting and has the authority to adjourn a meeting whenever such action would be deemed to be in the public interest.

9. Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings.  The committee will meet at least four times over the year.  Special meetings may be called as necessary.  A notice of each meeting shall be published in the Federal Register at least 15 calendar days prior to the meeting.  All meetings are open to the public, unless the Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs or the Designated Federal Officer closes the meeting in accordance with a secretarial determination under 41 CFR 102-3.155.  Members of the public are invited to appear before or file statements with the committee.

10.  Duration.  This committee shall continue in operation for 1 year from the filing date of this charter.

11.  Termination.  This committee shall continue in operation for 1 year unless the Secretary of Transportation determines that the committee will be dissolved in less than that time.

12.  Membership and Designation.

a.  Qualification:  Members of the committee will be representatives of the aviation community.

b.  Estimated number of members:  The committee will consist of approximately 19 voting members.

c.  Selection of membership:  Members will be selected to provide a balanced cross section of viewpoints in the aviation industry or related disciplines.  The members will represent a variety of interests relating to the industry, including air carriers, airports, labor, manufacturers, finance and academia, consumer interests, and general aviation stakeholders.  All members will be appointed by the Secretary of Transportation for the duration of the term.  Replacement members may be appointed to serve out the remainder of a term.  Members who are not Federal employees shall serve as representatives of their interests.

d.  Committee officers:  The Chairperson will be the Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs of the Department of Transportation. The Chairperson shall ensure adherence to the agenda and maintain order.  If the Chairperson is absent, then the Designated Federal Officer shall perform the duties of the Chairperson.

e.  Compensation for members:  Members shall not receive salary compensation and shall be responsible for their own expenses of participation in the committee.

13.  Subcommittees. The chair of the committee is authorized to establish subcommittees as necessary.  The subcommittees shall hold open meetings, subject to the exception described in paragraph 9 of this Charter, and shall comply with all regulations to which the committee is subject.  Subcommittee meetings will be announced to the public.  The subcommittees shall bring to the committee all actions, decisions, and recommendations and will not provide advice or work products directly to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

14.  Recordkeeping.  The records of the committee, subcommittees, or other subgroups of the committee shall be handled in accordance with General Records Schedule 26, Item 2.
These records shall be available for public inspection and copying, subject to the Freedom of
Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, at the headquarters building of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The records, reports, transcripts, minutes, and other documents that are made available to or prepared for or by the committee will be available to the public via the Government’s docket management system at http://www.regulations.gov.

15.  Filing date.  The filing date of this charter is April 16, 2010, which is the date it was filed with Congress.

Last updated: Monday, May 20, 2013