Air Line Pilot Association (ALPA) executive leaders and safety champions testified on behalf of 63,000 airline pilots at two hearings this week on Air Traffic Control (ATC) modernization and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization.
On Tuesday, September 24, ALPA president Capt. Joe DePete and other aviation industry leaders provided testimony at a hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Aviation and Space Subcommittee. In his testimony, DePete cited the need for continued modernization to the ATC system and the safe integration of NextGen.
As the United States works to meet growing passenger and freight transportation demands, as well as integrate new users such as #CommercialSpace flight and remotely piloted vehicles, air traffic control modernization will be critical. -@ALPAPresident Capt. Joe DePete
— ALPA (@WeAreALPA) September 24, 2019
For more than a decade, we've collaborated with the regulators, airlines, and other stakeholders to ensure this modernization work is performed to the highest standards and incorporates frontline pilots perspectives. -@ALPAPresident Capt. Joe DePete
— ALPA (@WeAreALPA) September 24, 2019
We recognize #NextGen has many benefits from efficiency gains to emissions reduction. However, maintaining and enhancing safety through NextGen is ALPA's highest priority. -@ALPAPresident Capt. Joe DePete
— ALPA (@WeAreALPA) September 24, 2019
ALPA pledges to continue to offer our expertise in what must be a collaborative effort to create an air traffic control system for the future that is efficient, modern, and most of all, safe. -@ALPAPresident Capt. Joe DePete
— ALPA (@WeAreALPA) September 24, 2019
Read DePete’s testimony.
On Thursday, September 26, Capt. Bob Fox, ALPA first vice president and national safety coordinator, testified before the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Aviation about critical safety components in the FAA Reauthorization including: secondary barriers; maintaining lifesaving pilot qualification and training regulations; inflight use of oxygen masks; and the importance of two fully qualified, highly trained, and adequately rested pilots on board each aircraft.
“Congress clearly had the interests of the traveling public at heart in passing this FAA reauthorization—others should follow your lead and implement it as intended,” said Fox.