These reviews make it clear that this nation needs to improve the capacity of existing airports, especially new runways. However, it should also be noted that we have already made tremendous progress in modernizing our air traffic control systems. For example, all of our 20 centers throughout the country have new automated workstations and displays for use by controllers. At two of the centers, Free Flight tools are now in use every day. We will continue to build on these successes and we will look to the airlines and airports to work with us to further improve airport capacity.
Transportation is about more than concrete, asphalt and steel.
We also need to work together to move forward in terms of quality of service to customers. If we do not, I am concerned that there will be increasing public pressure on the Congress to consider at least a partial return to some form of regulation. I would also mention one final promising development in the area of efficiency and capacity. The FAA will now merge all ATC functions into a single entity called the Air Traffic Organization under the oversight of a public interest Board of Directors. Even though we already have the safest system in world, we are not content.