REMARKS AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

U.S. SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION NORMAN Y. MINETA

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVES

WASHINGTON, D.C .

MARCH 26, 2001

 

It is truly an honor to be here to speak with the folks on the front lines of aviation -- our airport directors, commissioners and local airport officials.  You know the challenges and hear the complaints first hand!

 

It is particularly pleasing to renew so many valued friendships.  During my first several weeks as Secretary of Transportation, I received many good wishes, and I want to thank you for your support. 

 

Serving as Secretary of Transportation, while challenging, is also exciting and a life-long achievement for me.  And, I look forward to working with all of you to ensure that our nation continues to enjoy the benefits of a safe and reliable transportation system.

 

America=s commercial airlines provide a greater number of flights, serve more domestic destinations, and carry a higher volume of traffic than any aviation system in the world. In today=s global marketplace, effective, convenient air service is now even more essential for providing consumers, businesses and communities with the goods and services they need.

 

Our air transportation system employs more than 700,000 people, and aviation=s ability to act as an economic engine for job creation is undeniable.  And, the volume of both passengers and cargo that travel via that system growing rapidly.  By 2010, more than one billion passengers  will fly compared to almost 700 million this year,almost a 50 percent increase.  The number of large jets in U.S. airline fleets will increase by about 1,000 and hundreds of regional jets will enter service.

 

Air cargo is expected to continue to grow more rapidly than passenger transportation.

 

While we proudly point to these forecasts as a measure of our success, they also serve as a red flag for those of us responsible for our national airspace system.

 

At this point in the new century, we simply do not have the capacity -- the airports, runways or air traffic control capabilities -- to handle such growth. 

 

The task before us is clear:  We must close the gap between demand for aviation services and the ability of our aviation infrastructure to meet that demand.  And doing so will take what I call the Three Cs -- Commitment, Cooperation, and Concrete:

 

• Our concerted commitment to finding solutions to increasing system capacity, safety while ensuring environmental quality;

• An effort on the part of everyone -- the aviation industry, federal, state and local government, the Congress, interest groups and the public -- to cooperate on tough issues and to work together; and finally

• Concrete, meaning we will need to expand our nation=s aviation infrastructure to some degree within the decade, including new or expanded runways, terminals and aprons.

 

While my Department and I certainly don't have all of the solutions to our growing aviation needs, we stand committed to meet with you and others in the aviation community to discuss your ideas and perspectives.  We are partners!

 

Your input is essential.  Meeting the challenges facing our aviation system cannot be done alone.  Just as the aviation system relies on airlines, government, labor and a whole host of organizations to make it function on a daily basis, meeting our future challenges will require the same type of partnership and commitment. 

 

Finding solutions to our aviation challenges is one of President Bush=s highest transportation priorities.  Over the next year, we are committed to working with you, as well as with the Congress, to develop a plan of action.

 

Safety is the Department of Transportation's # 1 priority, and it will continue to call for cooperation among the entire aviation community to ensure our air travel safety.

 

At the same time, I believe the people=s government can, should and must work to make the transportation of people and goods as efficient and convenient as possible.

 

Air traffic congestion is wasting too much precious time and inflates costs for airlines, airports and ultimately the traveling public.  Allowing this to continue is unacceptable.  While the flying public considers safety a priority, addressing airline delay problems is now on the front burner of their concerns.

 

And, you -- our nation's airport executives and leaders -- are just as concerned.  You understand the need to add capacity -- be it in the form of infrastructure or technology -- to be able to handle both near- and long-term growth.

 

The nation=s 25 busiest airports account for 63 percent of all passengers and 86 percent of all severe air traffic delays.  About 15 of these top 25 airports plan to add new runways by 2010. If these runways are built, they will substantially increase the capacity of the national airport system.

 

We don=t expect any major new airports will be built over the next decade, but there are a few proposals under study by state and local governments.  For example, Illinois is considering developing a south suburban airport to serve the Chicago area.

 

In addition to airport expansion, capacity is being added through reliever airports, airport replacement and conversion of military airfields to commercial airports.  Of the seven airports opened in the last 20 years, four were former military airfields.

 

Whenever we talk about expanding infrastructure, whether it be an airport, a runway or a highway,   there are always environmental reviews that must be done.    

 

Earlier this month, I met with the Runways Coalition with Jane Garvey, and we discussed the need to streamline the EIS process.

 

The Department of Transportation and your organizations share a common interest in improving the environmental review process to reduce unwarranted delays in airport capacity projects.  We also agree that efforts to streamline and accelerate the environmental process should not short-change environmental protection.

 

The AAAE and ACI-NA have submitted to Congress a package of initiatives -- the Expedited Airport System Enhancement Initiative or EASE -- to expedite the environmental review process for critical airport capacity projects.  It included some proposals we agree with and others that we agree with at least in concept and intent.  But, we believe there may be some less complicated ways to streamline environmental reviews, and the FAA will be sharing those ideas with you.

 

This April, the FAA will complete an environmental streamlining report to Congress as requested in AIR-21.  You will recognize some of the proposals in EASE in our report to the Hill.  I am sure these recommendations, along with the EASE proposals, will be useful in the debate on Capitol Hill.

 

We are also working on a number of initiatives of our own to expedite and streamline environmental reviews for airport improvement projects without legislation.

 

For example, the FAA has proposed establishing a team for each new EIS for a major runway enhancement project at large hub primary airports.  EIS teams have a successful track record and have already been established for new runway proposals at San Francisco, Dulles, and Cincinnati, and for the new airport site in Illinois.

 

The FAA will be hiring 5 new environmental specialists for the Airports Program and exploring mechanisms to enable airport proprietors to fund additional FAA resources to expedite EISs for critical projects.  We are also expanding consultant services to provide more EIS assistance.

 

We are working on an initiative to streamline environmental requirements for all airport projects within the current structure of environmental laws.  This includes expansion of the projects that are exempted, using a shorter Environmental Assessment form, and limits on EIS size.  These initiatives have been discussed conceptually with the President=s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and EPA and will be worked out in detail this summer.

 

We are also looking at using informal and formal agreements with other agencies to map out and implement improvements and efficiencies for EIS procedures.

 

Aviation is a key contributor to our economy, and that is why we need to cooperate with the private sector to ensure a strong and healthy aviation system.

 

President Bush understands the important role that aviation plays in our economy and in our quality of life. This is why we are fully committed to doing everything we can to improve the efficiency of the air traffic control system.

 

We can and must take advantage of the procedural and technological solutions that offer the greatest return for future advancements.

 

One idea I am convinced will make a difference is better use of the radio spectrum.  When it comes to satellite navigation, we must advance and expedite development of the Wide Area Augmentation System.  I am also excited about Free Flight Phase 1 and 2 technologies, which are already showing results.

 

Moving forward requires a better understanding of our current capacity.  That is why we are developing the Airport Benchmarks.  These benchmarks will be key to understanding airline schedule practices and the relief that can be expected from technology and from new runways.

 

I know there is growing consensus that we must give the FAA many of the attributes of a private entity.  We have made progress in this area.  But we must -- and will -- do more.