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  • Commercial aviation helps drive more than 10M American jobs and 5 cents of every dollar of U.S. GDP

  • Commercial aviation drives more than $1 trillion per year in economic activity

  • In 2012, U.S. airlines moved more than 48,000 tons of cargo per day

  • In 2012, the value of a kilogram of U.S. merchandise exported by air averaged 121 times the value exported by sea

  • For every 100 airline jobs, some 360 are supported outside of the airline industry

  • Federal taxes constitute $61 – or 20% – of the price of a typical $300 domestic round-trip ticket

  • In 2011, U.S. airlines carried 16 percent more passengers and cargo using 10 percent less fuel than in 2000

  • Domestically, airlines drive 5% of economic activity but account for 2% of man-made GHG emissions

  • From 2000-2011, airlines reduced GHG emissions by 11% while transporting 16% more passengers and cargo

  • From 1975-2011, U.S. airlines and their partners reduced significant noise exposure by 99%

  • Commercial air travel is the safest form of intercity transportation in the United States

  • In the most recent decade, scheduled air service on U.S. airlines was seven times safer than in the 1970s

  • From 2000-2012, U.S. airlines improved the on-time arrival rate from 72.6% to 81.9%

  • From 2000-2012, U.S. airlines reduced the flight cancellation rate sharply from 3.30% to 1.29%

  • Airfares are a bargain: From 2000-2012, U.S. CPI rose 33% while average domestic fare rose just 14%

  • Adjusted for inflation, the average round-trip domestic airfare fell 15% from 2000

  • 2007 domestic flight delays cost the United States approximately $31 billion

  • In 2012, the value of U.S. merchandise exported by air reached an all-time high of $427B

  • In 2012, U.S. exports of air-travel services reached an all-time high of $39.5B, driving a $5.1B trade surplus

  • In 2012, U.S. passenger and cargo airlines spent more than $50B on fuel, averaging 36% of operating expenses

  • In 2012, U.S. airlines posted the lowest annual rate of mishandled baggage ever recorded

  • FAA projects U.S. air travel demand to top 1 billion passengers in 2027

  • In 2012, US airlines flew 83.4 million passengers in scheduled international service - a record high

  • In 2012, the total value of merchandise exported from or imported to the United States by air exceeded $927 billion

  • In 2012, 7.15 teragrams of merchandise was exported from or imported to the United States by air

 Safety & Operations - Flight Operations & Air Traffic Management

Safety & Operations section: man refueling a plane

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>> Flight Operations & Air Traffic Management
The operation of our member airline fleet of more than 7,000 airplanes is facilitated by constantly evolving technologies that provide navigation, communication and traffic control. A4A provides collaboration between the airline industry and regulators, in the United States and internationally, to ensure that these new technologies are timely implemented and supported.
 
The U.S. air traffic control (ATC) system, operated by the FAA, provides traffic management and separation services for airplanes operating in U.S. airspace. The basic design elements and technologies of the ATC system have not changed significantly in several decades. To meet anticipated future air travel demand, reduce current delays, and enhance safety, the FAA and the airline industry must deploy new technologies accompanied by appropriate regulations, procedures and policies. A4A is committed to a safe and efficient transition to the next-generation air traffic management system (NextGen).
 
This section includes flight operations related information of interest to the airline industry and traveling public.

 
FAA Reauthorization
A4A supports a long-term reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration and urges Congress to pass a bill to accelerate the NextGen air traffic management system, create jobs, and facilitate safe and efficient air service.
 
ERAM (En Route Automation Modernization)
ERAM is intended to replace existing NAS software and hardware with an open standards-based architecture allowing scalability for current and future needs. 
 
Questions and Answers on Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B)
A4A member airlines support a transition to an ADS-B surveillance system. Find out more about how it works and why FAA considers it the cornerstone of their Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).
 
FAA Announces Electronic Roll-Out of N.Y. Area Delay Reduction Plan - Beta Portal Sight
The FAA has announced the electronic roll-out of the N.Y. Area Delay Reduction Plan.
 
FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center
The mission of the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center is to balance air traffic demand with system capacity in the National Airspace System (NAS). 
 
FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center - A4A Desk
The A4A Desk at the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center in Warrenton, Virginia, represents A4A members' daily operational concerns by recommending strategic and tactical solutions to mitigate system constraints in the National Airspace System. 
 
System Capacity and Demand
Key sources of information to enhance the performance of the nation's aviation infrastructure 
 
FAA Produced NextGen Video
FAA produced a NextGen video that tracks how the same flight would be handled with the current ATC system versus modernized airspace management system. 
 
Useful Links
Links to government and industry resources related to air traffic control.

A4A Projects Increase in Summer Travel as Record Number of Customers Fly Internationally (5/16/2013)
A4A reported overall financial performance improves from first quarter 2012, more people will fly this summer than a year ago, and a record number of passengers will fly internationally.
Annual A4A NDT Forum (2/12/2013)
56th Annual A4A NDT Forum
A4A Commends Senate Confirmation of Michael P. Huerta as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (1/1/2013)
A4A applauded the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Michael P. Huerta as Federal Aviation Administration Administrator.
A4A Launches National Airline Policy Campaign to Help Ensure Global Competitiveness of U.S. Airline Industry (12/5/2012)
A4A launched a campaign for a National Airline Policy.
A4A Calls for National Airline Policy to Boost Global Competitiveness (7/18/2012)
A4A today called on the Senate to support a National Airline Policy in order to keep U.S. airlines competitive with foreign carriers, achieve sustained profitability and add highly skilled, technical jobs in the United States.
Aviation Associations Commend EPA Recognition of Industry Voluntary Pollution-Reduction Program (4/30/2012)
A4A, ACI-NA, AAAE and RAA today commended the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for finalizing new aircraft deicing regulations that recognize and build on the industry’s strong safety and environmental record while recognizing its unique operations.
A4A Calls for Disciplined, Data-Driven Approach to Safety (4/25/2012)
A4A today urged the government to take a disciplined approach to future safety regulatory changes and build on the industry’s solid foundation of increased accessibility to available operational data in order to further our extraordinary safety record.
A4A Testimony by Tom Hendricks, SVP for Safety, Security and Operations Before U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Aviation (4/25/2012)
A4A discussed the importance of data-driven analysis programs conducted by airline employees, airports, and the FAA to ensuring the highest levels of aviation safety, as well as the industry’s progress in implementing recent FAA safety initiatives.
A4A Members Set Two Operational Records in January (3/15/2012)
A4A today reported the best industry on-time performance and the lowest rate of mishandled bags for any January.
A4A Calls on the U.S. Government to Safeguard GPS, the Backbone of NextGen (2/8/2012)
A4A called for the development of a governmentwide policy to protect the aviation Global Positioning System (GPS) spectrum in order to avoid any future threat of spectrum interference.
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Safety is the number one priority for our airlines.

What the Experts Say:
"A4A supports NextGen-related policies and procedures that will deliver immediate benefits to passengers and shippers from aircraft equipage investments that carriers have already made.”


Sharon Pinkerton, senior vice president of legislative and regulatory policy, A4A

A4A press release

08/17/2012
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T: 202.626.4000 | E: a4a@airlines.org

For more information about the National Airline Policy campaign visit:
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