Aerospace Industries Association
AIA on the Hill
DOT Reviewing Status of the Aviation Industry
The U.S. Department of Transportation hosted a forum last month to discuss the state of the aviation industry. Representatives from airlines, the general aviation community, manufacturers, labor and consumer groups and the financial sector participated in the forum, which wasn’t open to the public or media.
At the end of the three-panel forum, DOT Secretary Ray LaHood announced the formation of a federal advisory panel to develop solutions to the industry's economic problems. He said he wants the panel to take "no longer than a year" to come up with a roadmap for solutions.
LaHood asked forum participants for suggestions on the top five issues the panel should address and recommendations of candidates to serve on the panel.
Defense Trade Treaties Appear to be Making Progress
The U.S. State Department and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) have reportedly reconciled their differences on the United Kingdom and Australian Defense Trade Treaties.
It is likely that a hearing will take place in the near future featuring witnesses from the departments of Justice and State. AIA is submitting a statement for the hearing stressing the treaties' merits and noting our support over the last two years. The full Senate could potentially consider the treaties before Congress breaks for the Christmas recess.
Senate Passes NASA Appropriations
The Senate has approved its fiscal 2010 Commerce-Justice-Science and Related Agencies Appropriations bill (H.R. 2847), including $18.7 billion for NASA. The Senate version now heads to a conference committee with the House, which okayed $500 million less for NASA than the Senate’s topline funding.
As passed, the Senate version includes the following mission directorate funding levels:
- Science Mission Directorate: $4.5 billion, including $1.4 billion for Earth Sciences.
- Aeronautics Mission Directorate: $507 million, including $60 million for the Environmentally Responsible Aviation Project.
- Exploration Mission Directorate: $3.96 billion, including $3.58 billion for the Constellation program.
- Space Operations Mission Directorate: $6.16 billion, including $3.15 billion for remaining space shuttle operations.
House Subcommittee Reviewing NextGen Modernization Recommendations
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Aviation Subcommittee is reviewing testimony from government and industry representatives on the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) Mid-Term Implementation Task Force Report.
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Neil Planzer |
Testifying on behalf of AIA, Neil Planzer, vice president of strategy at Boeing Air Traffic Management, discussed wide stakeholder consensus on the value of NextGen to the U.S. aviation system, security, economy and environment.
His testimony detailed AIA's position on the need for NextGen implementation to include clear performance metrics, specific milestones to identify benefits for users, policy and procedure alignment with technology improvements, aircraft equipage incentives and accommodations for future developments such as the integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system.
Senate Committee Hears Witnesses on Contracting Efficiency
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs recently held a hearing on new "OMB Guidance to Combat Waste, Inefficiency and Misuse in Federal Government Contracting."
Jeffrey Zients, deputy director for management and chief performance officer for the Office of Management and Budget, testified on behalf of the administration.
The hearing focused on plans to save 7 percent of contracting costs by 2011 and 10 percent on cost-plus or non-competitive contracts by 2010 by changing contract types, ending some contracts and strengthening the acquisition workforce.
