Message from Secretary LaHood on FAAC
Message from Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood
Today, aviation plays an ever more critical role in our Nation’s economy while continuing to expand its vital support of global commerce and trade. Conversely, the state of the economy and the occurrence of events around the world have a direct, and often immediate, impact on aviation. During the first decade of this century, the U.S. aviation industry has struggled.
Last November, I invited interested participants – aviation analysts and academics, and representatives of airlines, airports, labor, manufacturers, general aviation and consumer groups – to provide their candid views about the challenges faced by the aviation industry and to offer innovative solutions to address those challenges. We heard much about the aviation industry’s concerns, specifically in the areas of competition, environment, finance, safety, and labor, as it proceeds on a path toward financial recovery and prepares for the tough challenges ahead. I promised to establish a Federal advisory committee to provide the kind of critical and innovative thinking that will help to move this industry forward.
On April 2, I announced the establishment of the “Future of Aviation Advisory Committee”. This Committee will provide information, advice and recommendations to the Department on ensuring the competitiveness of the U.S. aviation industry and its capability to address the evolving transportation, needs, challenges and opportunities of the U.S. and global economies.
The Advisory Committee will look at the areas the industry has identified as priorities, including the competitiveness of the industry, infrastructure financing, workforce, environmental and safety issues. The Advisory Committee will consist of 19, members who will represent the broad spectrum of aviation stakeholders.
The Committee’s meetings will be open to the public and the committee will meet five times before December 31, 2010. I expect that the broad-based participation will enable the Committee to define the most significant challenges facing the industry, determine the drivers of change, and identify realistic and attainable solutions including recommendations that can be implemented to bring lasting positive improvements to the aviation industry.
I believe that this advisory committee will play a meaningful role in the future of aviation. I look forward to hearing the ideas and recommendations from the Future of Aviation Advisory Committee on what the government, working with industry, can accomplish.