Page 24 - Volume 10 Number 12

Recent Aviation Happenings
Election Results Related to the viation Industry
or some notable legislators who have supported aviation, there were some close races and some losing their seats. In what media is calling a
“NBAA has always worked with elected officials in both political parties to advance policies that foster the growth of business aviation in the United States. In that spirit, we look forward to working with President- elect Trump, as well as those in his administration, and congressional representatives from both parties, to promote proposals that recognize the industry’s value and protect its interests.”
FAA Gives Update on NextGen ATC
At the recent Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA) conference, several Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials who spoke says the agency is making progress toward its ambitious NextGen effort to modernize the ATC system. Some of that progress, as described by Chief Operating Officer of the FAA Air Traffic Organization (ATO), Teri Bristol, is “improving NAS [National Airspace System] performance, delivering benefits through NextGen, and integrating drones and rockets in the airspace system.”
FAA Administrator Michael Huerta stated that there is significant public resistance to redesigning airport arrival and departure routes to take advantage of performance- based navigation (PBN), considered one of the pillars of NextGen – in September, the agency released a 15-year strategy outlining its plan to make PBN the nation’s primary means of navigation. Under the Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex program, the agency has completed projects designed to improve air traffic flows in regions containing multiple large and small airports by redesigning airspace and incorporating satellite-enabled PBN routes and procedures. The public located in these areas has commented on the noise of the airspace redesign incorporating the new PBN
by Kim Blonigen
AF
“stunning” loss, Rep. John Mica (R-Florida), who served as the chairman of the House aviation subcommittee and then of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, was unseated by Democrat challenger Stephanie Murphy in a 51.4 to 48.6-percent decision.
Mica, who had served in the House since 1993, had been involved in many issues affecting the aviation industry including airport funding, transportation security and FAA reauthorization. Most recently he backed Rep. Bill Shuster’s (R-Pennsylvania) independent air traffic control organization proposal. Shuster, the current chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and up for re-election, won against his contender with 63.4 percent of the vote.
General Aviation Caucus member Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) won a close race at 52 percent and caucus member, Rick Nolan (D-Minn.), narrowly retained his seat with 50.3 percent of the vote.
In the Senate, aviation subcommittee chairman Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) was upset by opponent, Gov. Maggie Hassan, by 0.1 percent. Senate Commerce Committee chairman John Thune (R-S.D.), easily won his race with 71.8 percent of the vote.
National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Presi- dent and CEO Ed Bolen released the following statement regarding the outcome of the November 8 elections:
22 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
DECEMBER 2016
AVIATION ISSUES