WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. House Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) will chair a Congressional field hearing at the FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center, located at the Atlantic City International Airport, next Tuesday to examine the Technical Center’s role in the FAA’s efforts to modernize the nation’s air traffic control system.
LoBiondo’s subcommittee will receive testimony from the FAA and industry experts to learn about the resources of the Technical Center and how they can be best utilized to advance the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).
The hearing, “Moving NextGen Forward: Leveraging the Assets of the FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center,” is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, in the auditorium of the William J. Hughes FAA Technical Center in Egg Harbor Township, NJ.
Witnesses expected to appear at the hearing include:
- Michael Whitaker, FAA Deputy Administrator and Chief NextGen Officer,
- Dennis Filler, Director, William J. Hughes Technical Center,
- Cynthia Castillo, President and CEO, CSSI, Inc.
- Melvin Davis, National Representative for NextGen, National Air Traffic Controllers Association
- Pete Dumont, President and CEO, Air Traffic Control Association
- Ben Gielow, General Counsel and Senior Government Relations Manager, Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International
The Technical Center serves as the core FAA research and development facility for modernizing our air traffic control system, including NextGen, and for advancing programs to enhance aviation safety.
The Technical Center houses several laboratories, such as air traffic control and simulation facilities, the world’s largest full-scale aviation fire test facility, the National Airport Pavement Test Facility, and a fleet of specially-instrumented in-flight testing aircraft.
More information about the hearing, including testimony and additional background information, will be posted online as it becomes available.
Being a taxpayer, resident and voter in the local congressional district of the Hughes Tech Center I am hopeful that the Federal Government commits substantial resources to the NextGen effort. We as a community need to leverage the fact that Congressman is in a tough election against the son of the centers namesake, a capable man. My first thought when this hearing was announced was this was a political stunt. My second thought was what the Tea Party would want to cut to “pay for” funding. After all, their is little doubt that the Tech Center is the place for this this Research and Development. These commitments of government which wings of the Republican Party are ideologically opposed are are a tough sell in Washington these days. This hearing will be interesting on many levels. Bruce Strigh.