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PRESS RELEASES:

NATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION REVIEW COMMISSION SUBMITS PRELIMINARY REPORT

For Immediate Release
September 11, 1997
Contact: David Traynham
National Civil Aviation Review Commission
Phone:(202)366-6942
Fax: (202)493-2963

The National Civil Aviation Review Commission yesterday submitted to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater its Preliminary Report containing recommendations on how best to finance, manage, and improve the performance of the nation's civil aviation programs. The Commission was established by Congress last year to develop specific recommendations with regard to the funding of the Federal Aviation Administration, the agency that operates the air traffic control system and regulates air safety. The Secretary has 30 days to review and make comments on the preliminary report before the Commission developes a final report to submit to the Secretary and the Congress.

The Commission findings and recommendations are unanimously supported by the 21 Members of the Commission. The Commission strongly believes that the recommendations should be treated by the Administration and the Congress as an integrated and comprehensive package and that implementing some elements of this package without others risks losing the strong consensus that has been developed and achieved.

The Commission's Chair, former U.S. Representative Norman Y. Mineta said, "This is a comprehensive set of concrete, specific actions that should be implemented by the Administration, the Congress, the FAA, and the industry so that the agency is ready to meet the daunting growth, technology, and financial challenges of the next century. Without these changes, air travelers, the aviation industry, and the economy in general will be faced with delays and congestion like we have not witnessed before. We strongly urge that policy-makers act on these recommendations as soon as possible."

The membership of the Commission was appointed earlier this year by the Secretary of Transportation and Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress. The Commission will now turn its attention to aviation safety issues which is the other half of its charge.

Previous Press Releases:

NCARC Announces Public Hearing on Aviation Safety
September 11, 1997

NCARC Announces First Public Hearing
May 14, 1997