US lobby groups urge government to increase funding for aviation infrastructure

Almost thirty aviation lobby groups and unions have called on the US government to increase its investment in air traffic control (ATC) infrastructure in order to maintain safety across the country’s national airspace system (NAS). The 26 organisations from across the industry sent a joint letter to members of Congress on 16 July, urging the legislators to better support the Federal Aviation Administration in sustaining and modernising the system, after alarming gaps have come to light in recent years. “We respectfully request authorisers and appropriators work with the FAA and all stakeholders to support the system through direction and predictable appropriations, derived primarily from the [Airport & Airway Trust Fund] AATF to help ensure the FAA has an updated plan in order to effectively use the resources necessary to continue to grow the NAS safely and efficiently,” the letter reads. Aviation accounts for more than 5% of gross domestic product, and therefore has “a unique economic importance”, the groups say. The FAA has come under fire in recent months after numerous safety incidents highlighted critical deficiencies in staffing, technology and infrastructure nationwide. Participants say that is a result of a lack of funding by the US Congress, and that this underinvestment could someday have disastrous consequences.<br/>