FAA Budget Cuts? I don't think so!

 

30 October 2007

 

Over this past year, we have witnessed a number of infrastructure failures in the USA.  Among these failures include the nation's airports and air traffic flow and safety.  When we speak to government officials on the matter we frequently hear of budget cuts that are cuffing the hands of the FAA to be proactive.  In a review of 49USC106 (also known as Title 49) the FAA's budget has clearly grown over the past 17 years.  It's almost doubled.

 

In 1991, the FAA's budget was $4,088,000,000 (USD).  For FY 2007, the FAA's budget is $8,064,000,000.  So, why do we constantly hear from the FAA on budget cuts?  Who knows?  It might be a case of the FAA shuffling money around the Agency to keep the wheels on the wagon.  Meanwhile, the wagon is not going anywhere.

 

(Click on chart to enlarge)

So, the next time you hear the response from an FAA representative that their budget has been cut, don't let them get away with it.  Granted, $8-billion USD is not much in light of the military spending of today, but it still a lot of money and we must demand good fiscal management to ensure the safety of the system and the economic viability of the industry.

By: Michael J. Dreikorn

 

structure, communication, vision...

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