The costs and benefits are not always defined and backed by credible study. New procedures must not require pilot or controller actions that cannot always be complied with and pilot responsibilities must be properly integrated with all other flight deck duties. All capacity initiatives must be proven to maintain or increase the safety of air operations and good test and evaluation data is needed to support the implementation of new technologies and procedures. We can accept nothing less. No pilot organization wants capacity controls placed on the air traffic system.
Fewer airplanes means fewer jobs.
At the same time, we cannot schedule twenty aircraft to depart one airport at the same time and not have significant delays. If market forces dictate those departures, something will have to yield. The La Guardia Airport experience after slot restrictions were relaxed demonstrates that we can not have unlimited service at physically limited airports. Just as is the case when new runways and airspace changes are proposed, a public debate on scheduling practices is necessary. In closing, I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to address this most complex of topics.