Smart Skies Fact
How many flights were delayed in 2006?
Over half of the 1.6 million flight delays experienced by passengers were attributable to the national airspace system
Smart Skies > News Room > Smart Skies News Archive
Smart Skies News Archive
Review the full archive of news releases, statements, speeches and presentations that have played a part in the Smart Skies campaign.
September 2008
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ATA commented on the completion of the report by the FAA Advisory Rulemaking Committee (ARC) on Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B).
Air Transport Association
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Statement of Victoria Cox, Senior Vice-President for NextGen and Operations Planning Before the House Committee on Science and Technology on the Next Generation Air Transportation System.
FAA
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A report that reflects GAO's analysis of interviews with 25 key NextGen stakeholders about progress and challenges involved in the transition to NextGen.
U.S. Government Accountability Office
July 2008
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Our nation’s air traffic control system, run by the Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has not kept up with the explosive growth in air travel.
Hamilton Project Discussion Paper
June 2008
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At a time when fuel costs are soaring, the FAA has announced new East Coast routes over the ocean that have the potential to save millions of dollars in fuel, reduce delays and help the environment.
FAA
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As Americans prepare to pay extra for checked bags, wait in long lines, and endure
increasingly crowded commercial flights, super-wealthy private jet owners are enjoying tax breaks and luxury at the public’s expense.
Institute for Policy Studies and Essential Action
May 2008
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Bad weather causes 70 percent of all delays. The situation is worse during the summer: unlike winter storms, which take time to develop and move slowly, summer storms can form quickly, stretch for hundreds of miles and travel rapidly over large portions of the country, grounding flights and sending chain reaction delays throughout the nation’s airspace system.
Federal Aviation Administration
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Americans Faced 320 Million Hours of Delays in 2007, Passengers Spent 20% of Flight Time in Delays; Airport by Airport Analysis Shows Average Delays Are Widespread Coast-to-Coast
Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Senate
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In the midst of the second-worst year for flight delays, the FAA launched a software program in March 2007 that saved $27 million for the airlines and 1.1 million delay minutes for the airlines and the flying public in its first year of operation.
FAA
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ATA issued a statement regarding the Senate vote to end debate on the FAA reauthorization bill.
Air Transport Association
April 2008
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ATA issued a statement in response to the Senate's proposal on financing mechanisms to fund the Federal Aviation Administration.
Air Transport Association
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The Federal Aviation Administration has transitioned to a new telecommunications network that will serve as the backbone for NextGen.
FAA
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Marie Kennington-Gardiner of Staten Island has been tapped to serve as director of the New York Integration Office, created by the Department last year as part of a coordinated effort to address chronic aviation delays in the New York region.
DOT
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Washington Dulles is the latest airport to use satellite technology to move ground safety beyond the limits of radar. The new ASDE-X system gives air traffic controllers a more complete picture of activity on the ground, helping to prevent accidents.
FAA
March 2008
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A report by the Department of Transportation Inspector General on National Airspace System usage concludes that business jets are not fully paying for their proportional use of air traffic control services and contribute to air traffic congestion.
Air Transport Association
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A report by the DOT Inspector General has concluded that business jets' usage of the National Airspace System is "considerable." The report also found that "jet fuel consumption is a better proxy for the use of the NAS than the current aviation excise taxes, but it does not measure whether air traffic control services are used."
Department of Transportation Office of the Inspector General
February 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
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ATA emphasizes its commitment to collaboration with industry stakeholders in addressing New York airspace congestion.
Air Transport Association
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ATA applauds Sen. Schumer for working to help reduce the growing number of flight delays and improve the customer travel experience.
Air Transport Association
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Comments of FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety Nicholas Sabatini to NASA conference on getting to NextGen.
FAA
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Congress and the FAA should make this program a priority by creating financial incentives for accelerated deployment.
Air Transport Association
September 2007
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Statement of Robert A. Sturgell, Acting Administrator Before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Aviation on Airline Delays and Consumer Issues.
FAA
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DOT Secretary Mary Peters address to the National Business Aviation Association regarding the future of aviation.
Department of Transportation
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ATA expressed disappointment with the Senate Finance Committee passage of its tax provisions related to FAA reauthorization.
Air Transport Association
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ATA is disappointed that the House bill does little to promote NextGen or correct the subsidy of corporate jets by airline passengers.
Air Transport Association
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The Air Transportation Association today hosted an industrywide fly-in rally of airline pilots, flight attendants and other employees, urging Congress to pass legislation that would modernize the air traffic control system and create a fairer funding structure.
Air Transport Association
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ATA commented on the action and discussion taken by the House Ways & Means Committee on the FAA reauthorization bill.
Air Transport Association
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ATA touts program as a much needed first step to relieve congestion in the Northeast, and systemwide.
Air Transport Association
August 2007
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ATA issued a statement in response to the FAA announcement on the awarding of a contract for Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) services, the backbone of the NextGen ATC system.
Air Transport Association
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Marion Blakey addresses the FAA command center on the eve of the 2007 Labor Day travel season.
FAA
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With a forecasted 15.7 million passengers to travel globally on U.S. airlines during the 2007 Labor Day period, passengers can plan ahead to make their trip more enjoyable. To help avoid delays on trips in holiday seasons to come, passengers also must join ATA in urging Congress to modernize the nation's ATC system.
Air Transport Association
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Readers of Southwest Airlines' in-flight magazine, "Spirit," discover why reducing delays and congestion depends on a satellite-based ATC system, supported by an equitable funding system to pay for it.
Southwest Airlines "Spirit" Magazine
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Joe Kolshak, Executive Vice President and CEO of Delta Air Lines, points out the many benefits of an modernized air traffic control system and equitable funding mechanism.
Delta "Sky" Magazine
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ATA and Delta Air Lines have proposed a funding method that is designed to cover the passenger airlines' share of ATC and airport system costs while providing a predictable revenue stream to fund a NextGen system.
Air Transport Association
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Delta COO Jim Whitehurst and ATA President and CEO Jim May Testimony on Aviation Taxes before the Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee. Oral remarks included.
Air Transport Association
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FAA Administrator Marion Blakey oral testimony 8/1/07 as delivered during House Ways & Means Committee hearing.
FAA
July 2007
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Delta COO Jim Whitehurst testifies, on behalf of ATA, on the financing of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund before the Senate Finance Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Subcommittee.
Air Transport Association
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The need for ATC modernization is not in dispute - but paying for a new system should not fall to commercial airline passengers alone.
American Way
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Continental Airlines informs passengers about how an upgraded air traffic control system, and a reformed funding formula, will help combat congestion and delays.
Continental Magazine
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Doug Parker, Chairman and CEO of US Airways, speaks to the concerns of the future growth of the airline industry and how modernization can reduce delays and enhance the air traffic control system.
US Airways Magazine
June 2007
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Commercial Airlines Call for an End to Corporate Jet Subsidies
Air Transport Association
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The National Taxpayers Union (NTU) wrote a letter to Rep. Oberstar, Chairman, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure oppposing an increase in the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) that is now under consideration during reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration.
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Air Transport Association President and CEO James C. May says movement toward a next generation air traffic control system is a necessary step. VIDEO LINK
Bloomberg
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Northwest and other airlines are asking Congress to support a modernized ATC system that will provide airline passengers more efficient, convenient and delay-free service in the years ahead.
NWA WorldTraveler
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ATA President and CEO James C. May tells Hemispheres how satellite-based air traffic control will benefit the economy, businesses, passengers and the environment.
Hemispheres
May 2007
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ATA issues a statement opposing the amendment to eliminate the $25 modernization fee from the Rockefeller-Lott FAA reauthorization bill.
Air Transport Association
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FAA Administrator Marion Blakey speaks about RNP technology at a May 8 press briefing.
FAA
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The proposed Rockefeller-Lott FAA reauthorization bill is consistent with the ATA’s reauthorization principles in many ways.
Air Transport Association
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The Air Transport Association (ATA), the trade association for the leading U.S. airlines, commented on the proposed Rockefeller-Lott FAA reauthorization bill.
Air Transport Association
March 2007
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James C. May, president and CEO of ATA, the trade association for the leading U.S. airlines, testified before the Aviation Subcommittee of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure about the critical need to implement and fund a 21st century national air traffic control (ATC) system.
Air Transport Association
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ATA President and CEO James C. May testified that the U.S. must rapidly modernize the nation's 1950s ATC system and implement a system that can meet the demands of the 21st century.
Air Transport Association
February 2007
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Air Transport Association
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Air Transport Association President and CEO James C. May responds to aviation-related elements of the Bush administration's fiscal 2008 budget proposal.
Air Transport Association
January 2007
June 2006
May 2006
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ATA Applauds FAA for Support of ADS-B Services
Air Transport Association
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ATA supports the DOT plan to design and deploy a Next Generation Air Transporation System to increase capacity and reduce congestion.
Air Transport Association
April 2006
March 2006
January 2006
December 207