FAA Administrator Blakey Congratulates ACI-NA for its Leadership on Airport Legislative and Regulatory Work

During the keynote address at ACI-NA's 15th Annual Conference held September 25-28 in Reno, Nevada, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey discussed construction safety and construction projects, runway safety areas, new airfield projects, financial pressures on airports and the upcoming FAA re authorization legislation.

Regarding re authorization, Blakey said, "…let me point out that as part of ourre authorizationn exercise, we are looking at whether airports and state aviation officials can play an expanded role in moving to the next generation system. And we are looking at how AIP and PFC investments can be used to assist you to prepare in being part of this important transition.

We've asked for your input in the past and we'll continue to do so. I've said on many, many occasions that aviation is a lifeline. The truth of the matter is that airports are what make that lifeline possible. You've done an outstanding job thus far, and as we move forward to modernize, as we lay the groundwork for the future, we're creating a foundation for success. I, for one, am glad to work shoulder to shoulder with you to make it happen."

Blakey also said that we need a stable revenue stream and that we can't do that without fundamental reforms of the current financing system. If traffic grows as expected, we project that by 2014 delays in the U.S. will increase 62 percent over 2004 levels.

Blakey concluded the question and answer period by congratulating Greg Principato and ACI-NA for its work with FAA regarding airport financing, bonds and trust fund modeling.

Read the full content of Blakey's speech