…With Many Challenges Ahead…

Blakey said the FAA must deal with three immediate challenges — building a next-generation air transportation system that incorporates new technology, operating more like a business and changing how the FAA is financed. “They are all interrelated,” Blakey said. “Each depends on the other.” She also cited the ongoing contract negotiations with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA). “We cannot and will not sign a contract that we cannot afford,” she said. “The outcome of these negotiations will fundamentally affect the future of this agency. We want a deal that’s fair and equitable. … And we’re hopeful that we’ll reach a voluntary agreement.” The future financing of the agency may be the biggest challenge, Blakey said. “The taxes that fuel the trust fund will expire in 2007. … What we need is a constant, stable revenue stream that’s related to the actual cost of the services we provide.”