Avionics - April 2010

later than earlier forecasted.

At the forecast conference in Washington, FAA and industry executives called for increased emphasis on implementing Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) technologies to improve efficiency and accommodate the increase in traffic. “I believe that this aviation forecast is a major point in a very strong business case for NextGen. If you’re thinking that because the numbers are down, there’s no need for NextGen or airport improvements, I would counter that it is unwise to make long-term decisions with short-term information,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt.

“What excites me most about Nex-
tGen is its potential,” said James May,
president and CEO of the Air Transport
Association. “What concerns me most is
when we’re going to implement NextGen.
Right now, I don’t think NextGen is the
national priority that it needs to be.”
—Emily Feliz

AIRE Extended
American and European aviation officials
pledged to extend the flight demonstra-
tions conducted under the Atlantic
Interoperability Initiative to Reduce
Emissions (AIRE) into regular, daily
operations. “We will perform new trials
in 2010, and the intent there is to move
from trials to day-to-day operations,” said
Carey J. Fagan, director of International
Strategy & Performance with FAA’s Air
Traffic Organization.

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