Testimony of NATCA President Patrick Forrey at today's House Aviation Subcommittee hearing on runway safety

"Chairman Costello, Ranking Members Mica and Petri, and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee, Let me begin by first thanking the leadership of the Transportation Committee in passing a comprehensive FAA Reauthorization package in a timely fashion, moving it through the House last September with the bipartisan support of 267 Members of this chamber. We further applaud your efforts earlier this week in passing a short-term extension rather than putting this important legislation off until next year. It is NATCAs hope that the Senate will yield to the House and forgo efforts to move an extension that goes beyond June 30th. Our fear is that doing so would undermine the hard work of this Committee, as well as that of the Senate Commerce and Finance Committees, and fail to address the immediate and future needs of the National Airspace System. Aviation is vital to this nations economy and H.R. 2881 maintains important provisions to keep our system the safest and most efficient in the world. NATCA urges the Senate to take FAA Reauthorization out of its holding pattern and act swiftly on passing a comprehensive, long-term bill. Turning to the topic of todays hearing, NATCAs mission is to preserve, promote, and improve the safety of air travel within the United States, and to serve as an advocate for air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals. No one here today is more responsible for the safety of the runways at Americas airports than controllers and pilots. NATCA has been trying to direct attention to the decreasing safety margins in our skies and on our runways for years. We are no longer alone. In the past few months, a host of independent federal watchdogs have joined the chorus in raising concerns about aviation safety. In November, the GAO issued a report that warned of a high risk of a catastrophic runway collision occurring in the United States. In December, the Transportation Departments Inspector General launched an investigation on the role that workplace conditions played in several close calls at FAA facilities in Illinois. And the NTSB recently added runways incursions and incidents caused by air traffic controller fatigue to their 2008 list of Most Wanted Aviation Safety Improvements. In addition, last April NTSB Chairman Rosenker called on both NATCA and the FAA to work together to combat controller fatigue. NATCAs response was to welcome the recommendation to work with the Agency, and offered our assistance to the FAA to help make our runways safer. The Agencys response, however, was not to follow the NTSB Chairmans recommendation to work with the controllers, but rather to create a working group that didnt include NATCA. Despite the FAAs sound rejections of our input, NATCA offers its recommendations for improving runway safety today to the Aviation Subcommittee. First, because each airport presents unique challenges which negate the usefulness of a broad universal solution, NATCA recommends the creation of a Runway Incursion Prevention Committee for each airport. These groups would be composed of the local stakeholders, including pilots, air traffic controllers, airport management, airport vehicle drivers, and the FAA. Second, NATCA recommends that controller staffing at our nations FAA facilities be adequately addressed. Today there are 1,500 fewer fully-certified controllers than there were on 9/11 leaving fewer eyes to watch more planes, and the result is increased controller fatigue. If the FAA were to return to the bargaining table where the parties left off and negotiate in good faith with NATCA, the effort would make staying in the FAA more attractive to both newly-hired controllers and those eligible for retirement. The current rate of controller attrition is 6.2 per day, and the system cant sustain that rate for much longer. Third, NATCA recommends that the FAA work in collaboration with the Union in the development and deployment of new technology. Under the liaison program, the FAA and NATCA worked side-by-side in the creation of new technologies. ASDE-X, an effective surface surveillance system, is a product of that collaboration. NATCA recommends the deployment of this technology at all airports throughout the country with mid- to high-traffic density. NATCA further recommends that the liaison program, dismantled by the FAA in 2003, be reinstituted. Fourth, because runway incursions often occurs when the layout of taxiways force aircraft to cross a runway in route to a second runway or gate, NATCA recommends that End-Around Taxiways be constructed and utilized at all airports where such construction is possible. Mr. Chairman, NATCA is not alone in sounding the alarm on passenger safety. The NTSB and GAO have determined that the threat of controller fatigue is real. The increase of runway incursions is real too. There have been 12 serious A and B runway incursion the first four months of FY 2008 compared to 3 during the same time frame last year. The warnings of the GAO, the IG, and the NTSB should not go unheeded. NATCA stands by ready, willing and able to offer real solutions. We can only hope that the FAA is really listening. I once again thank the subcommittee for the opportunity to testify here today. I look forward to answering whatever questions you might have."