At a hearing held by the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation and Space Tuesday, the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) testified to the need for ongoing modernization of the national air traffic control system.
Passenger and freight transportation demands continue to grow. To date, ALPA’s president Joe DePete notes that nearly one billion passengers and thousands of tons of cargo are being transported annually for the United States. However, with numbers that large and ever-growing, old systems and boundaries can become rapidly outdated and limiting.
Things like commercial spaceflight and remotely piloted vehicles weren’t even considerations a decade ago, but now, they need space too. Shutdowns can leave the whole federal aviation system struggling to make ends meet and keep operations afloat.
“Let me be clear, ALPA strongly supports NextGen,” DePete said in testimony before the committee, referring to The Next Generation Air Transportation System, the FAA-led modernization of the U.S. air transportation system. “For more than a decade, we’ve collaborated with the regulator, airlines, and other stakeholders to ensure this modernization work is performed to the highest standards and incorporates frontline pilots’ perspectives. We recognize NextGen has many benefits—from efficiency gains to emissions reduction. However, maintaining and enhancing safety through NextGen is ALPA’s highest priority.”
Part of that concern is funding. Earlier this year, the aviation system strained under the weight of the longest federal shutdown in history, which caused delays, safety concerns, and unpaid workers. ALPA argues for the need for stable, consistent funding for the FAA the avoid such issues for future shutdowns. While Congress could push through a temporary stopgap, DePete argued for a sustained source of funding.
“The FAA cannot afford to experience another shutdown like we experienced earlier this year,” DePete said. “In addition to the stress and human costs imposed on the dedicated air traffic controller staff and other critical workers, the shutdown had an impact far beyond just the one month when it was occurring. Government shutdowns must be avoided as they are not good governance and, in the aviation sector, introduce unacceptable risks to our transportation system.”