On June 30, 2017, the Aircraft Electronics Association, along with more than 30 general aviation groups, issued the following statement opposing HR 2997. Click here to view the letter from the GA groups in its entirety.
General Aviation Groups United in Opposition to HR 2997
General Aviation is an important American industry that generates over $219 billion in total economic output, supports 1.1 million jobs, and includes a network of thousands of airports and heliports that connect many rural communities to the rest of the world.
After a thorough and detailed review of Chairman Bill Shuster’s (R-PA) proposal, HR 2997, the AIRR Act of 2017, which would remove our nation’s air traffic control operations from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), we have concluded that these reforms will produce uncertainty and unintended consequences without achieving the desired outcomes.
While we enjoy the safest, most-efficient air traffic control system in the world, we also believe that reforms, short of privatization, can better address the FAA’s need to improve its ability to modernize our system.
We have concluded that any structural and governance reforms that require protections for an important sector of users is fundamentally flawed.
In addition, the billions of dollars and time that would be spent transitioning our nation’s air traffic control system to a not-for-profit entity can be better applied to the continuing progress to update and modernize our air traffic control system – including meeting the FAA’s mandate to equip the general aviation fleet with see-and-avoid (ADS-B) technology by 2020.
Moreover, with strong bipartisan opposition in both the House and Senate to remove air traffic control operations from the FAA, we believe efforts should focus on developing a long-term FAA Reauthorization that creates the stability and funding necessary and that can reach the President’s desk for signature.
We are committed to addressing needed reforms that create predictable and stable funding for the FAA including biennial budgeting, consolidating unneeded and outdated facilities, procurement, and certification reforms, and putting to use some of the balance from the Airways and Airport Trust Fund to expedite technology deployment. We are ready and willing to work with all industry stakeholders and Congress to advance the consensus needed to improve our current system and to ensure that our nation’s air traffic control system remains the envy of the world.
ABS Air Safety Foundation
Air Care Alliance
Aircraft Electronics Association
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Alaska Airmen Association
Association of Air Medical Services
California Pilots Association
Cardinal Flyers Online
Cessna Flyer Association
Cessna Pilots Association
Cessna Pilots Society
Citation Jet Pilot Association
Classic Jet Aircraft Association
Commemorative Air Force
Experimental Aircraft Association
Flight School Association of North America
General Aviation Manufacturers Association
Glasair Aircraft Owners Association
Helicopter Association International
Kansas Pilots
Kentucky Aviation Association
Lancair Owners and Builders Organization
Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association
Minnesota Pilots Association
Mooney Summit
National Air Transportation Association
National Association of State Aviation Officials
National Business Aviation Association
Piper Flyer Association
Recreational Aviation Foundation
Soaring Society of America
South Dakota Pilots Association
Tennessee Aviation Association
United States Parachute Association
Veterans Airlift Command
Washington Pilots Association
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Founded in 1957, the Aircraft Electronics Association represents nearly 1,300 member companies in more than 40 countries, including approved maintenance organizations specializing in maintenance, repair and installation of aircraft electronics systems in general aviation aircraft. The AEA membership also includes manufacturers of aircraft electronics equipment, instrument repair facilities, instrument manufacturers, airframe manufacturers, test equipment manufacturers, major distributors, engineers and educational institutions.