FAA chief tells aviation conference in Atlantic City to fasten seat belts for NextGen advancement
By DAN GOOD, Staff Writer | Posted: Wednesday, May 26, 2010
ATLANTIC CITY - The nation's top aviation official, Randy Babbitt, told an industry conference in Atlantic City Wednesday that
NextGen technology being developed in Egg Harbor Township is the real thing - and the next thing - for U.S. aviation.
Babbit, who leads the Federal Aviation Administration, told the Air Traffic Control Association's Technical Symposium at Resorts
Atlantic City that NextGen will be like the internet boom of the last decade.
NextGen involves the shift from the 70-year-old air traffic control system to a satellite-based one. Some NextGen initiatives
developed at the FAA's William J. Hughes Technical Center have already saved lives, technologies like safety overrun areas,
heat-resistant objects and floor lighting.
"People who are afraid to buy into NextGen technologies, they're the same people who were sitting there, saying, ‘I wonder if I
should buy one of these computer things?'" Babbitt told the crowd of about 300.
Babbitt said other countries are developing their own advanced airport technologies. He talked about a recent trip to Asia, where
he saw 3-D cameras and fingerprint technology in use at airports.
"The rest of the world is moving forward at a pretty good clip," he said. "It's important for the United States to follow along with
NextGen investments and take advantage of the capabilities."
The conference runs through Thursday.
See Thursday's editions of The Press for additional coverage.
ATLANTIC CITY - The nation's top aviation official, Randy Babbitt, told an industry conference in Atlantic City Wednesday that
NextGen technology being developed in Egg Harbor Township is the real thing - and the next thing - for U.S. aviation.
Babbit, who leads the Federal Aviation Administration, told the Air Traffic Control Association's Technical Symposium at Resorts
Atlantic City that NextGen will be like the internet boom of the last decade.
NextGen involves the shift from the 70-year-old air traffic control system to a satellite-based one. Some NextGen initiatives
developed at the FAA's William J. Hughes Technical Center have already saved lives, technologies like safety overrun areas,
heat-resistant objects and floor lighting.
"People who are afraid to buy into NextGen technologies, they're the same people who were sitting there, saying, ‘I wonder if I
should buy one of these computer things?'" Babbitt told the crowd of about 300.
Babbitt said other countries are developing their own advanced airport technologies. He talked about a recent trip to Asia, where
he saw 3-D cameras and fingerprint technology in use at airports.
"The rest of the world is moving forward at a pretty good clip," he said. "It's important for the United States to follow along with
NextGen investments and take advantage of the capabilities."
The conference runs through Thursday.
See Thursday's editions of The Press for additional coverage.
