WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) today urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to update their National Runway Safety Plan.  Last week the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommended that the FAA take several steps to enhance safety in its report entitled “Aviation Runway and Ramp Safety.”  In this report the GAO cited the need for an updated National Runway Safety Plan. 

“Aviation safety is vital to the nation and especially to my state of Alaska,” said Senator Stevens.  “It is crucial that the FAA seriously consider and act upon the recommendations of the GAO report and begin updating their National Runway Safety Plan.”

According to the GAO report, the FAA’s national runway safety plan that was established in 2002 is incomplete and must be addressed.  Because the plan has not been updated, efforts to ensure runway safety by individual FAA offices are uncoordinated and less successful.

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