U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood last week hosted the first meeting of a new advisory committee on the future of the country’s aviation industry. “This is not going to be just another advisory committee,” LaHood said in his blog post. “I am not commissioning some report to fill space on my bookshelf. This committee will make a difference.” The group includes representatives from airports, air carriers, management, labor, manufacturers, general aviation and consumer groups, who are to address the industry’s challenges and map the way forward. “This country has an aviation system that is losing billions of dollars, shedding jobs, and using an aging infrastructure,” said LaHood. “It’s time to get to work fixing it.”
Craig Fuller, president of AOPA, attended the forum. “While the details of the committee have not yet been formalized, AOPA is pleased to be included in the process,” he said. “We remain committed to being at the table to represent the interests of the GA community as the administration develops its agenda.” At the first meeting, Fuller took part in three sessions: assessing the current state of the industry with representatives from the airlines, airports, labor, aviation analysts, and consumer groups; shaping the future of the industry, focusing on the environment, financial viability, outsourcing, and globalization; and areas for future work.
