"If the United States wants to retain its global air transportation leadership — and we do — we need to modernize and transform our air transportation system starting right now. Our economy depends on it."
Former Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta, January 2004
Air transportation is at the core of America's economic growth, national security, and global competitiveness. Civil aviation activity contributes more than $640 billion annually — or 5.4 percent of our gross domestic product — to our economy. A strong air transportation system offers more convenience, more jobs, and more freedom.
The U.S. civil aviation industry, however, faces enormous challenges today:
- The air transportation system is outmoded and inefficient.
- Plummeting research and development funding is threatening our leadership.
- Unresolved trade issues are giving our international competitors an advantage.
- Important environmental challenges need to be addressed.
Flight delays and travel hassles are an indication of the crisis. Leadership from our elected officials and insistence on improvements from Americans who rely on air travel are needed to ensure a reliable aviation system and our country's continued well-being.
Related Election 2008 Issues:
- Modernize the nation's export control system to build interoperability, capability, and defense cooperation with friends and allies.
- Ensure that global aerospace trade is conducted fairly, securely, ethically, and transparently without market-distorting interventions that impair competitiveness.
- Ensure economic competitiveness and world leadership through robust investment in research and development.
- Develop a highly skilled, stable, secure, and renewable aerospace workforce to ensure America's national security and economic prosperity.
- Transport people and goods with increasing safety, security, and efficiency while eliminating infrastructure constraints to economic growth.
- Ensure environmental standards and policies that are global in development and application.
