U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao addressed NATCA in Washington (NiW) attendees on Monday, May 22. During her remarks, she shared her vision for the future of the National Airspace System (NAS).
On Jan. 31, 2017, Secretary Chao was confirmed as the 18th U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Chao previously served as the 24th U.S. Secretary of Labor from 2001-2009. She is the first American woman of Asian descent to be appointed to a President’s Cabinet and the longest-tenured Secretary of Labor since World War II.
In her opening remarks, Chao described air traffic controllers as the true experts of the NAS, encouraging attendees to share their vast knowledge with Congress.
“You are the backbone of the system,” Chao said. “You manage the most complex airspace system in the world and your reputation as the best in the world is undisputed. So let me begin by thanking you for your dedication and professionalism in keeping our skies safe.”
Chao remarked that the current increase in air traffic coincides with many new technologies and modernization efforts. By 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) estimates that the NAS will have to support one billion passengers each year. Chao believes that without change, the current system will not be able to keep pace with that traffic. She said that in order to move into the future, NAS stakeholders must embrace innovation and new technology, including equipment and organizational issues.
She also discussed NextGen and modernizing the NAS, as well as the complex challenges facing the integration of new technologies like unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Chao explained that upgrading the system has the potential to create a more comprehensive, sustainable approach to operations, oversight, and safety.