Secretary Ray LaHood Future of U.S. Aviation Advisory Committee Kickoff Meeting Tuesday, May 25, 2010

o• Welcome, everyone, to the very first meeting of our new advisory committee to chartthefuture of aviation policy in the United States. • I have high hopes, and high expectations, for what this committee of diverse experts can accomplish on behalf ofthe aviation industry, its workforce, and consumers.

1• This all got started, you know, because ofa suggestion from Pat Friend, the international president ofthe Association of Flight Attendants. • Thankyou, Pat. But be careful what you wish for. You're on the committee now, and you have a jobto do.

2• Today, you begin an important conversation about howto ensure that aviation in America remains vital, competitive, sustainable, and, above all, safe. • This committee reflects our commitment at DOT to providethe kind of leadership that will help keep this industry healthy and moving forward.

3• Last November, at our Future of Aviation Forum, we challenged the entire aviation communityto select the top five issuesthat needed immediate attention. • And I asked everyone at the forum to nominate individualsto serve on this new advisory committee.

4• As a result ofthat process, we now have our highly qualified committee of 19. • It's a cross-section ofthe entire industry, encompassing the airlines, transportation unions, manufacturing, general aviation, academia, finance, and consumer groups.

5• Susan Kurland, DOT's Assistant Secretaryfor Aviation and International Affairs, isthe Department's very able representative. • I want to stress thatthe issues defining this committee's mission

- and driving itsfirst round of deliverables - are not Ray LaHood's issues. • This isn'tthe governmenttelling you what to do.

6• These are yourissues, your priorities, yourconcerns: ONE--Ensuring aviation safety, TWO--Ensuring a world-class aviation workforce, THREE--Balancing the industry's competitiveness and viability, FOUR--Securing stable funding for aviation systems, and FIVE-- Addressing environmental challenges and solutions.

7• As you begin yourwork, I'm charging all ofyou to keep three important goals in mind:

- First, recommend actions we can take 

### now, or in the very near future, which will make a real difference.

8- Second, bear in mind we have a powerful toolboxto workwith - including Federal rule-making, proposing legislation to Congress, and recommending compliance measures for private industry.

-And third, the real strength ofthis committee lies in this diversity. So, listen to one another. Learn from one another.

9Build new bridges of collaboration and cooperation. This will sparkthe kind of insight and innovation we need. • This isyour chance to make a meaningful contribution to ensure thatthe industryyou love will not merely survive, butthrive.

10• For example, on our agenda forthe next meeting will be a proposed rule - which we plan to announce nextweek - that provides additional consumer protections for airtravelers, building on the airline consumer rule thattook effect last month. • It will address data reporting and contingency plans in the event of tarmac delays.

11• It will broaden available consumer information. • And itwill strengthen consumer protections in a number of areasexpanding consumer rights in the event of over-sales, flight cancellations and long delays andensuring that passengers have accurate and adequate information to make informed decisionswhen selecting flights.

12• We value your input- and hopeto worktogether in improving both our airtransportation system and the way travelers interactwith it. • The bottom line isthis: The skeptics and cynics will say, "This isjust another blue-ribbon, government committee - all talk and no action." • Butyou're going to provethem wrong.

13• The aviation industry is at a critical crossroads, facing a range of complex economic, environmental, and technological challenges. • Simply put, we need your experience and expertiseto solve them.

14• I have every confidence in your abilityto come up with serious, actionable recommendations that are the basis for meaningful changes that we, or Congress, or otherstakeholders, can act on sooner rather than later. • You'rethe leaders ofthis industry. You can make it happen.

15• Thankyou in advance for all your hard work. I wish you much success. • And I lookforward to the results you produceforthis industry and the traveling public. • It's now my pleasureto introduce our FAA Administrator, Randy Babbitt.

###

16