Featured Posts – National Air Carrier Association

NACA Applauds Nomination of Michael Whitaker for FAA Administrator

September 7, 2023/in Featured Posts, News/by Dan Stohr

In response to the nomination of Michael Whitaker to be the next FAA Administrator, National Air Carrier Association President and CEO George Novak issued the following statement:

NACA commends the White House for nominating Michael Whitaker to be the next Federal Aviation Administration Administrator. As a former commercial airline pilot and deputy administrator of the FAA, Mr. Whitaker is extremely well-positioned to provide the leadership the agency needs to address several long-standing challenges facing the airline industry.

Modernizing the nation’s air traffic control (ATC) system, ensuring robust air traffic controller staffing levels – particularly in Florida, to reduce congestion and delays – and addressing recent safety issues, including a rise in runway incursions, are all critical issues needing immediate attention. We look forward to working collaboratively with Mr. Whitaker, DOT leadership, and other aviation stakeholders to ensure that we continue to have the safest, most efficient ATC system in the world.

NACA Congratulates House T&I Leaders on Passage of FAA Reauthorization

July 20, 2023/in Featured Posts, News/by Dan Stohr

In response to House passage of the FAA Reauthorization bill, National Air Carrier Association President and CEO George Novak issued the following statement:

NACA congratulates House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Garret Graves (R-La.), Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) and the committee staff, for developing the epic, five-year FAA reauthorization bill, “Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act” (H.R. 3935), which the House passed today with overwhelming bipartisan support.

The bill addresses several NACA policy priorities:

Holding the line on the federal aviation tax burden by avoiding tax and fee increases;

Containing the regulatory burden by not including any new, unnecessary mandates on minimum seat dimensions;

Repealing the DOT Full-Fare Advertising Rule so airlines can better inform passengers how much of their total flight costs are attributable to federal taxes and fees;

Providing near-term relief on the national pilot shortage safely by increasing the mandatory retirement age for commercial pilots to age 67;

Reducing congestion and delays by requiring the FAA to hire as many controllers as the agency can train through 2028, and providing robust funding to modernize the nation’s air traffic control system; and

Including a wide range of initiatives to ensure that the United States and the FAA remain the world’s gold standard in aviation safety.

We look forward to working with House and Senate transportation leaders on a bipartisan basis to ensure that FAA reauthorization legislation that addresses these critical policy issues is enacted as soon as possible.

NACA Urges House Committee to stop TSA pay cuts

June 26, 2023/in Featured Posts, News/by Dan Stohr

On June 26, National Air Carrier Association President and CEO George Novak sent a letter to House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) urging them to reconsider proposed pay cuts to critical Transportation Security Administration employees.

“I implore you to reconsider the proposed pay cuts and take the necessary steps to preserve the recent pay raises that were rightfully approved for the entire TSA workforce,” the letter stated. “The requested funding of approximately $300 million to maintain pay levels for the entirety of the TSA workforce in fiscal year 2024 is a modest investment to ensure fairness and retain the invaluable expertise within the agency.”

The House fiscal 2024 Homeland Security funding bill includes language that would impose pay cuts on approximately 20 percent of a certain class of TSA employees. These individuals include air marshals, K-9 handlers, bomb technicians, and TSA employees based in the agency’s Springfield, Va., headquarters, which would face a significant reduction in their pay despite the recent approval of pay raises for the entire TSA workforce.

“It is disheartening to learn that these employees, who play crucial roles in ensuring the safety and security of our transportation systems, would be subjected to such discriminating treatment,” the letter said.

Read the full text of the letter here.

NACA strongly supports “Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act”

June 14, 2023/in Featured Posts, News/by Dan Stohr

In response to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approving the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (H.R. 3935), National Air Carrier Association President and CEO George Novak issued the following statement:

The National Air Carrier Association strongly supports the “Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act” (H.R. 3935), approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure today with overwhelming bipartisan support. We commend Chairman Sam Graves, Ranking Member Rick Larsen, and their staffs, for working collaboratively on the five-year FAA reauthorization and addressing the top priorities of NACA’s 21 U.S. airline members:

addressing the shortage of commercial airline pilots,

holding the line on the federal aviation tax burden,

bolstering air traffic controller staffing levels,

modernizing the air traffic control system, and

including a wide-range of reforms to ensure that the United States, and the FAA, remain the world’s gold standard in aviation safety.

We look forward to working with the Committee leaders and their staff as this important legislation advances in Congress.

NACA’s Doell Speaks at TSA Event

May 23, 2023/in Featured Posts, News/by Dan Stohr

NACA Vice President for Government Affairs and Security Policy Paul Doell joined TSA Administrator David Pekoske at a press conference in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Monday, May 22, to discuss several issues facing the airline industry during the upcoming summer travel season.

“Passengers should know that airlines will be encountering operational headwinds and labor challenges as we move into the summer season,” Doell said. “The FAA continues to experience staffing issues as it relates to air traffic control which will impact airline schedules along with normal delays from weather.”

In addition to FAA controller staffing shortages, Doell emphasized that airlines themselves are working through staff shortages — especially pilots — as they work to operate as smoothly as possible for the traveling public.

Doell also urged all passengers to exercise patience with TSA, airport and airline staff, as well as with their fellow passengers.

“We continue to see an unacceptable number of incidents of unruly passengers,” Doell said. “This is true both at the airport and on board our airplanes. Verbal or physical abuse is unacceptable and against the law, and we will work with federal and local law enforcement partners to make sure unruly passenger cases are prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.”

Doell thanked Administrator Pekoske for his leadership both during the pandemic and as airlines emerged from it into record demand for air travel, and closed by underlining that NACA’s members look forward to welcoming people onboard and getting them to their destinations as quickly and safely as possible this summer.

Also speaking at the event were Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and industry representatives including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Deputy General Manager for Operations Jan Lennon; Airlines for America President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio; Airports Council International – North America President and CEO Kevin M. Burke; American Association of Airport Executives Senior Vice President for Security and Facilitation Stephanie K. Gupta; and Regional Airline Association Vice President of Government and External Affairs Drew Jacoby Lemos.

NACA Mourns Passing of Chairman Bud Shuster

April 19, 2023/in Featured Posts, News/by Dan Stohr

In response to reports of the passing of House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bud Shuster (R-Penn.), National Air Carrier Association President and CEO George Novak issued the following statement:

On behalf of all of NACA’s members, we are saddened to learn of the passing of former House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bud Shuster. During his 28-year tenure representing Pennsylvania’s 9th congressional district, Chairman Shuster passed several major aviation and other transportation infrastructure bills with overwhelming bipartisan support – a rarity in today’s highly partisan environment in Washington.

To this day, millions of Americans are benefiting from the aviation systems, highways, ports, and rail and water projects that resulted from his unprecedented ability to bring Republicans and Democrats together in support of the nation’s infrastructure. We express our condolences and prayers to Chairman Shuster’s entire family, including his son, former Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster.

NACA Commends Reintroduction of “Let Experienced Pilots Fly” Act

March 22, 2023/in Featured Posts, News/by Dan Stohr

In response to the reintroduction of the “Let Experienced Pilots Fly” Act, National Air Carrier Association President and CEO George Novak issued the following statement:

NACA commends Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) for reintroducing the “Let Experienced Pilots Fly” Act to help address the shortage of commercial airline pilots that has led to reduced air service to smaller and rural communities across the country. With more than 3,000 pilots taking early retirement packages during the COVID-19 pandemic, and an additional 12,000 pilots expected to retire over the next five years, this timely legislation will provide some near-term relief.

However, given robust demand for domestic and international air travel, and an expected shortfall of 28,000 pilots by the end of the decade, Congress should take significant steps to boost the pipeline of commercial pilots. Specifically, we urge Congress to enact the “Let Experienced Pilots Fly” Act as part of the upcoming FAA reauthorization legislation, along with modernizing flight training requirements to provide additional credit for time spent on the most advanced, state-of-the-art flight simulators, and making FAA-certified flight education and training expenses eligible for federal student loans.

NACA commends the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Seat Pitch Decision

March 6, 2023/in Featured Posts, News/by Dan Stohr

In response to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit decision on March 3, 2023, to deny a Petition for Mandamus from FLYERSRIGHTS.ORG and Paul Hudson, Petitioners, the National Air Carrier Association issued the following statement:

“NACA commends the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit for refusing to order the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to adopt minimum requirements for commercial passenger airline seat size and spacing.

Seating density allows six of the nation’s lowest cost airlines (ULCCs) to offer rock-bottom base fares that make flying affordable for working families and small businesses. Additionally, because ULCCs carry more passengers on their modern, fuel-efficient aircraft than legacy airlines, they have the lowest fuel-burn per passenger in the U.S. airline industry, reducing their carbon footprint.

Congress directed the FAA in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 to consider establishing minimum seating dimensions that were “necessary” for passenger safety. The FAA and a panel of experts already have reviewed extensive cabin evacuation data and conducted state-of-the-art mock cabin evacuations and concluded that existing passenger seat dimensions do not adversely impact safety. Therefore, the Court correctly found that it is not a “clear and indisputable” fact that condensed seating poses a safety risk.

As Congress prepares to take up FAA reauthorization legislation this year, we urge Members to reject efforts to require the FAA to regulate seat dimensions on passenger aircraft.

NACA urges Senate to Confirm Phil Washington as FAA Administrator

March 3, 2023/in Featured Posts, News/by Dan Stohr

In response to Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation hearings to consider the nomination of Phil Washington to be the next Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, National Air Carrier Association President and CEO George Novak issued the following statement:

“NACA strongly urges the Senate to move quickly to confirm Phil Washington as the next Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Given the wide variety of significant policy challenges facing the FAA, including 5G deployment, the scarcity of commercial airline pilots, ongoing modernization of the nation’s air traffic control system, and implementation of the upcoming FAA reauthorization legislation, it is critical that a permanent FAA Administrator is confirmed as quickly as possible.

Mr. Washington has decades of experience leading large, complex transportation organizations and successfully managing a wide-range of multi-million-dollar airport infrastructure and other transportation projects. His pragmatic and innovative approach to managing major transportation programs will be invaluable.

We therefore believe Mr. Washington is well-positioned to lead the agency and ensure that the United States continues to have the safest, most efficient air transportation system in the world, and we urge the Senate to confirm him expeditiously.”

NACA Supports FAA-Industry Safety Summit

February 15, 2023/in Featured Posts, News/by Dan Stohr

In response to Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen’s call for a government-industry summit on aviation safety on February 14, 2023, NACA President and CEO George Novak issued the following statement:

The National Air Carrier Association fully supports the call for an FAA summit on safety to discuss recent incidents and broader trends to ensure the greatest level of safety of operations in our National Airspace System. It’s extremely important that the discussions include representation from all the diverse interests in the sector: passenger, cargo, charter, general aviation, and large and small carriers. We have great confidence that government and industry working together on a data-driven approach will yield the best results and increase safety across all operations.