ALPA criticises Bush administration's FAA funding cuts

Airline Industry Information, Feb 13, 2001

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2001 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) has released a statement criticising a proposal by the US government to reduce funding of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by USD568m.

According to ALPA, the funding cut will push back an upgrade of the nation's air traffic control systems, resulting in increased congestion and delays for passengers. Captain Duane Woerth, ALPA's president, stated: 'the [Bush] administration is proposing to cut back on FAA capital and operating expenditures by more than a half a billion dollars. This includes a USD368m shortfall in capital programmes as guaranteed in the AIR 21 legislation, plus a USD200m shortfall in FAA's operational funds as authorized by AIR 21. The FAA operational funds actually will be USD600m short of what the agency says it needs to carry out its responsibilities.'

Woerth has urged President Bush to withdraw the proposed funding cut and restore full funding.

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