[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E356-E357] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-26
Chamber: EXTENSIONS
Mr. CARSON: today I join my colleague, Rep. Stauber, in re-introducing the bipartisan and bicameral National Center for the Advancement of Aviation Act of 2023. Our Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation has worked for years to make American skies the safest in the world, and to strengthen the industry workforce to maintain the highest standards of aviation excellence. Our legislation, the National Center for the Advancement of Aviation (NCAA) will support and promote collaboration among civil, commercial, and military aviation sectors to address the demands and challenges associated with ensuring a safe and vibrant national aviation system through research, education, and training. This will also contribute to the economic growth of $4.7 billion in the aviation industry as noted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA, 2022). According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the global economic impact could be impacted either directly or indirectly. This suggests that the NCAA Act would increase opportunities in the job market impacting the economy positively. Furthermore, the National Center for Advancement in Aviation could support the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Flight Plan 21 through optimizing training opportunities to provide the aviation industry a pool of diverse and qualified professionals from varied backgrounds. Too often in the past, innovation and lessons learned from various aviation sectors have not been shared in a collaborative or timely manner, especially with rapid developments in new technology. Our bill helps break down silos across commercial aviation, general aviation, and military aviation sectors. This will not only improve safety and best practices, but also expand opportunities for those interested in the aviation workforce--for the young and not so young, from those just starting out, to those with experience who want to move into other fields within aviation. The NCAA Act focuses on four key areas with an emphasis on aviation workforce development. First, it will support education efforts and provide resources to curriculum developers so educators at all levels have the tools and training to educate the next generation of aviation professionals. Second, the National Center for Advancement in Aviation will provide a forum to leverage and share expertise across industry sectors, including the dissemination of existing high school education curriculum to develop and deploy a workforce of pilots, aerospace engineers, unmanned aircraft system operators, aviation maintenance technicians, or other aviation maintenance professionals needed in the coming decades. Third, it will serve as a central repository for economic and safety data research and analysis allowing a comprehensive perspective ofindustry information that would improve safety for all stakeholders. Finally, it will support symposiums and conferences to facilitate collaboration across the industry and develop future advancements for the aviation and aerospace community. This legislation also allows the FAA to focus on safety, certification, and air traffic operations. Diversity Our aviation and aerospace industry supports over 10 million jobs and contributes more than $1.2 trillion per year to the national economy. More than 130 organizations including schools, airports, airlines, manufacturers, unions, and other entities involved in aviation and aerospace have expressed strong support for this legislation. The list of organizations supporting this legislation is provided below.  AAR Corp, ACI Jet, Aeronautical Repair Station Association, Aerospace Center of Excellence, Aerospace Industries Association, Aerospace Maintenance Council, Air Care Alliance, Air Line Pilots Association, International, Air Medical Operators Association, Air Wisconsin Airlines, Airbus, Aircraft Electronics Association, Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Airlines for America, Alabama General Aviation Alliance, Alaska Airlines, Alaska Airmen Association, Alaskan Aviation Safety Foundation, Allegiant Airlines. Alliance for Aviation Across America, Allied Pilots Association, American Airlines, American Bonanza Society, American Yankee Association, Arizona Airports Association, Arizona Flight Training Working Group, Arizona Pilots Association, Arizona Safety Advisory Group, Arkansas General Aviation Association, Armed Forces Aero Club, Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, Association of California Airports, Atlas Air Worldwide, Aviation Council of Pennsylvania, Aviation Spectrum Resources, Inc., Aviation Technician Education Council, California Pilots Association, Cape Air, Cargo Airline Association. Cessna Flyer Association, Choose Aerospace, Inc., Citation Jet Pilots, Inc., Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations, Colorado Aviation Business Association, Commemorative Air Force, Community and Airport Partnership for Safe Operations, CommutAir, Compass Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Delta State University. EAA Type Club Coalition, EAA Warbirds of America, East Central Ohio Pilots Association, East Hampton Aviation Association, Empire Airlines, Endeavor Air, Envoy Air, EVAC, the Emergency Volunteers Air Corps, Experimental Aircraft Association, ExpressJet Airlines, FAST, FedEx Express, Flight School Association of North America, Flying Knights Flying Club, Flying Physicians Association, Friends of Linden Airport, Frontier Airlines, Fullerton Airport Pilots Association, General Aviation Council of Hawaii, General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Glasair Aircraft Owners Association, GoJet Airlines, Grumman Owners & Pilots Association, HAECO Americas, Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission, Hawaiian Airlines, Helicopter Association International, Horizon Air, International Air Transport Association, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, International Council of Air Shows, Inc., International Council of Airshows Foundation, Iowa Aviation Association, JetBlue Airways, Kentucky Aviation Association, Kimmel Aviation Insurance, L3Harris Technologies, Ladd Gardner Aviation Insurance, Inc., Lancair Owners and Builders Organization, Lewis University Airport. LIFT Academy, Long Island Business Aviation Association, Los Alamos Airport, Louisiana Airport Managers and Associates, Maine Aeronautics Association, Maine Aviation Business Association, Massachusetts Airport Management Association, Michigan Business Aviation Association, Mid- Atlantic Aviation Coalition, Minnesota Pilots Association, Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association, Mississippi Agricultural Association, Montana Pilots Association, Mooney Summit, Inc., National Agricultural Aviation Association, National Air Carrier Association, National Air Traffic Controllers Association, National Air Transportation Association, National Association of State Aviation Officials, National Business Aviation Association. National Coalition for Aviation and Space Education, NetJets, NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots, New Hampshire Pilots Association, New Jersey Aviation Association, New Mexico Airport Manager's Association, New York Aviation Management Association, North American Trainer Association, Ohio Regional Business Aviation Association, Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, Oklahoma Airport Operators Association, Oklahoma Pilots Association, Oregon Pilots Association, Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, Palo Alto Airport Association, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, Pearl River Community College, Pennsylvania Drone Association, Petaluma Area Pilots Association, Piedmont Airlines. Piper Flyer Association, Plane and Pilot News, Professional Aviation Maintenance Association, PSA Airlines, Pure White Smoke Oil, Inc., Recreational Aviation Foundation, Redlands Airport Association, Red Star Pilots Association, Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association, Regional Airline Association, Republic Airways, Rhode Island Pilots Association, San Carlos Pilots Association, San Diego Christian College, Scottsdale Flying Club, Seaplane Pilots Association, Skill Aviation Services, LLC, Sopwith Flying Club, South Carolina Aviation Association, South Dakota Pilots Association. Southwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, Spirit Airlines, StandardAero, Start Skydiving, Inc., ST Engineering North America, Stennis International Airport, STS Aviation Group, Sturdivant Brothers Flying Service, Sun Country Airlines, T-34 Mentor Association, The Boeing Company, The Museum of Flight, Seattle, Washington, Tradewind Aviation, Trans States Airlines, Triumph Airborne Structures, Tyonek Services Group, Inc., U.S. Contract Tower Association, U.S. Parachute Association. United Airlines, UPS, Vertical Flight Society, Veterans Airlift Command, Virginia Aviation Business Association, Washington Pilots Association, Washington Seaplane Pilots Association, Women in Aviation International, Wencor Group, Western Aero Club, Zerowait, Inc.  Mr. Speaker, this legislation will address the demands and challenges our aviation and aerospace industry face today and tomorrow. I strongly encourage my colleagues to join us in cosponsoring the National Center for the Advancement of Aviation Act of 2023.