Statement on ADS-B Rollout in Gulf of Mexico
Statement by AIA President and CEO Marion C. Blakey
January 14, 2010
The successful rollout of the ADS-B air traffic control system in the Gulf of Mexico this week is a major step forward for the modernization of America’s outdated aerospace infrastructure. The rollout in Philadelphia next month will be another milestone event as the benefits of NextGen technology become immediately apparent in one of the nation’s busiest airspace corridors. FAA and AIA member companies have stepped up to the plate in managing such a complex program on time and under budget.
While we are greatly encouraged by the progress demonstrated so far, there is still much to be done. Congress has opportunities in the jobs bill and the FAA reauthorization to promote accelerated implementation of NextGen and incentivize further investment in our aerospace infrastructure. We estimate the total number of direct and indirect jobs generated by an approximate $6 billion investment in NextGen equipment at more than 150,000 through 2012, with 30,000 jobs generated the first year.
