PASS Members Attend Aviation Symposium
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- Published: June 18, 2015
Earlier this month, PASS Region III Vice President Dennis Cherwinski and Chapter NV3 Legislative Committee Chair Patrick Peterson had the unique opportunity of attending the inaugural Titus Aviation Symposium hosted by Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.), a member of the House Aviation Subcommittee. Held in Las Vegas, the conference brought together a diverse selection of national aviation and aerospace leaders with federal officials to discuss the importance of various sectors of the aviation industry.
The event included three distinct panels, and allowed industry experts, federal regulators and entrepreneurs to discuss different methods to pave the way for the future of aviation. “From small business people to major stakeholders, they were all there,” said Peterson. “One recurring theme was that the FAA is failing to keep up with the technological demands of their own rulemaking. Certifications aren't getting done or are delayed, proposed rule making is slow and inefficient, and the FAA as a whole is being cited as impeding commerce, driving the argument to privatize.”
Opened by Titus and keynote speaker FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, the overall goal of the symposium was to raise important questions and bring forward ideas to improve current regulations and policies. The first panel focused on original equipment manufacturing, specifically addressing issues impacting developers, manufacturers and end users, and the process that brings new parts and aircraft to market. The second panel concentrated on aviation tourism, focusing on the importance of international tourism to the United States and steps that companies and communities are taking to attract tourists from around the world. The third and final panel shifted to the topic of unmanned aviation, examining the potential and challenges facing this rapidly growing industry.
During their time at the symposium, Cherwinski and Peterson were exposed to the industry climate regarding the FAA and were also able to engage some of the participants in discussions around privatization. “This conversation is happening all over the country and we need to stay vigilant to the opportunities to be heard at events like this,” Peterson said. Peterson felt that they were able to make a clear distinction between the current FAA and some of the global models of privatization and that they presented PASS well. “The symposium was an eye-opening experience to say the least. I think this event will grow exponentially in the coming years and I believe we should be more active with it. We currently enjoy a very cordial and positive relationship with the congresswoman and will continue to grow that relationship.”