Washington, DC – The following are the statements of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Republican Leader John L. Mica (R-FL) and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Tom Petri (R-WI) from today’s hearing on management of air traffic in the Hudson River airspace and the August 8, 2009 accident involving a small airplane and helicopter that killed all aboard both aircraft. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the accident.
Mica Statement
“Oversight of aviation safety is the most important duty of this Subcommittee. Unfortunately, unlike the Miracle on the Hudson earlier this year, this accident ended in tragedy.
“The accident is still under investigation, and we shouldn’t jump to any conclusions before the NTSB completes its work. Certainly, if it is determined that anyone was at fault in the circumstances leading to this incident, they should be held accountable.
“One thing we can agree upon is that our aviation system must be equipped with 21st century technology and procedures to allow the most effective air traffic communications possible.
“We must also resolve the ongoing New York/New Jersey airspace redesign. While it hasn’t been shown to be directly linked to the accident, air traffic congestion in the area is an important issue. Congestion in this crucial airspace is a factor in approximately 80 percent of the nation’s chronically delayed flights. It is essential for the safe and efficient operations of our entire aviation system that we finalize this important airspace redesign project.
“Finally, I would like to remember Bill DeCota, who served as the Director of Aviation for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for the last ten years, and who passed away on Friday. Bill was dedicated, day and night, to his job and aviation operations safety in possibly the most complex airspace in the world. He will be greatly missed.”
Watch Rep. Mica’s statement on YouTube.
Petri Statement
“It is vitally important that we understand and fully explore any and all safety issues related to operations in the National Airspace System.
Just over a month ago, a Piper airplane and a tourist helicopter collided over the Hudson River, killing all nine people aboard both aircraft. While the specific causes of this tragic accident are still under investigation, it is another reminder that while we have a very safe system, we cannot let our guard down or become complacent.
“Hundreds of flights a day from JFK, LaGuardia, Newark and Teterboro operate in the New York City airspace, making it the busiest on our globe. Maintaining safety in this airspace requires a dedicated, focused effort by air traffic controllers, operators and regulators alike.
“The NTSB has taken an important first step by releasing its recommendations for improving safety in the Hudson River airspace. These recommendations include revising air traffic control procedures as well as creating a special flight rules area in this airspace.
“The air traffic control challenges posed by this congested airspace should renew our focus on how accelerating air traffic control modernization can help address safety issues. With commercial and general aviation air traffic anticipated to continue to grow, modernizing our nation’s air traffic control system should be a top priority.
“Ensuring that every aviation operator, general as well as commercial, has the opportunity to obtain satellite positioning technology could go a long way in making aircraft operations safer and more efficient. Imagine if the pilot of the Piper had access to the air traffic control information right in his own cockpit. He could have been alerted to the presence of other aircraft and could probably have avoided the collision.
“We simply cannot afford to operate an analog airspace system in a digital world.”
Watch Rep. Petri’s statement on YouTube.
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