WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. House Aviation Subcommittee, chaired by Congressman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), held a hearing today to discuss the state of American aviation. Pete Bunce, President and CEO, testified on behalf of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).

General aviation is an essential part of the U.S. transportation system, serving as an economic lifeline to small communities, delivering disaster relief supplies to those in need, assisting in medical evacuations and facilitating the development of the growing energy industry. General aviation supports over 1.2 million jobs and more than $150 billion in economic activity annually. General aviation manufacturing employs individuals in more than 40 states and generated $4.8 billion in exports in 2012.

To ensure the industry continues to grow, Bunce said the FAA must continue to improve its certification process and leverage its resources more efficiently. “As manufacturers, we need clear and consistent leadership in the international aviation marketplace, which means the FAA must actively defend the robustness and efficiency of its safety certification globally,” Bunce said. He also called on the Subcommittee to give the Department of Transportation “a clearer role in advocating for the aviation community within the government and internationally.”

In his testimony, Bunce outlined several steps the FAA should take to improve the state of general aviation:

• Partner with industry to create efficiencies and streamline the certification process, which will cut certification costs for the government and industry while increasing safety;

• Pursue collaborative, data-driven efforts, such as the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee, to advance technologies to improve safety; 

• Recognize fiscal realities of the federal budget by leveraging public and private expertise to advance aviation safety;

• Deliver the consolidation report that Congress called for in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 and begin the process of acting on that plan;

• Prioritize NextGen resources; and

• Ensure that resources the industry pays to the federal government in the form of taxes and fees for FAA operations and investments are protected from future government fiscal disruptions.

“From small towns to large metropolitan areas, aviation plays a crucial role in our transportation system,” Bunce said. “As we go forward, we need to ensure that all segments of the aviation industry have an input into charting the future of U.S. aviation policies and that general aviation is integral to economic success in the U.S. and globally,” Bunce said.

GAMA’s written comments are available at http://www.gama.aero/node/12528.