WashingtonWire - 2002-10-14
TSA Funding Lacks Precedent
U.S. Department of Transportation secretary Norman Mineta last week said that the failure of Congress so far to pass any fiscal year 2003 appropriations bills has "especially disadvantaged" the Transportation Security Administration.
Speaking at a Washington, D.C., aviation forum sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Mineta noted that all federal programs are operating under a temporary continuing resolution, which allows agencies to operate at a spending rate proportionate to the last fiscal year's level of spending. The federal government's fiscal year began Oct. 1.
"TSA is especially disadvantaged by this process because it does not have money from previous years to help bridge the gaps between its programmatic needs and the funding it receives under the continuing resolution," Mineta said. "This is a difficult situation for us as we strive to meet our upcoming statutory deadlines for airport security. As a result, we are working diligently with the Congress and the White House to ensure that TSA has the resources it needs to carry out its responsibilities."
Mineta said DOT is striving "to accomplish the mission of returning the traveling public's confidence in the safety and security of the nation's aviation system. And in doing so, we know we are helping to return fiscal solvency to an industry sector that is absolutely vital to the well-being of the nation's economic health. We know that these two goals are linked. This industry cannot be financially sound without being safe and secure."
Airlines Seek Gov't Absorption Of Security-Related Costs
Delta Air Lines chairman and CEO Leo Mullin told delegates at the same Commerce Department conference that major airlines are focused on obtaining relief "from the costs of fighting the war on terrorism and providing national security for our citizens—responsibilities that are fundamentally governmental functions, appropriately paid for by the U.S. government."
Noting that carriers have reduced operating costs, Mullin added: "The most obvious reason for the industry's continued losses is that revenue remains depressed." For the 20 years prior to Sept. 11, 2001, airline fares correlated closely with the gross domestic product, he said. Since Sept. 11, "This connection appears to have become unhinged, with revenue amounting to only 0.7 percent of GDP." Mullin said there currently is no indication that the correlation between fares and GDP will improve in the near term.
New FAA Chief Outlines Air Procedures, Mgmt. Style
New Federal Aviation Administration administrator Marion Blakey, also speaking at the forum, said FAA within the next 30 days will approve approach procedures for specially equipped airplanes to make precision landings under adverse weather conditions at San Francisco International Airport. Blakey said the agency will implement "required navigation performance" procedures as a step toward changing the United States from an exclusively ground-based navigation system to one located within the aircraft itself.
"Through the use of onboard technology, pilots will be able to navigate aircraft to any point in the world using only geographical coordinates," Blakey said. "RNP is a major leap forward in safety and efficiency. By providing pilots precise guidance to all runways, RNP can help prevent two major causes of accidents—controlled flight into terrain and loss of control."
RNP procedures at San Francisco International will open up another runway for use during bad weather, Blakey said. Due to its high degree of precision, RNP will enable planes to fly closer together and more safely than before, she said. Alaska Airlines, which uses RNP procedures at seven Alaskan airports, has reported significant safety and economic benefits with the program.
As for her own management style at FAA, Blakey told attendees that she is a firm believer in "letting the data drive you." She said she intends to look at the "hard numbers" and make decisions based on "what is really there, not what you would like to be there." She also will work to improve consistency and predictability in the way FAA works with the airline industry. "There should be no significant variations from region to region, or from field office to field office."
Further, Blakey is placing "a strong emphasis on the international role the FAA and our aviation industry can play. We must step up our efforts in global leadership, in technology, in aviation standards and, last but not least, in raising the safety bar throughout the world."