Nationwide NextGen Alliance Surpasses 1,000 Members

NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Alliance for the Advancement of NextGen (NAANG) has surpassed 1,000 members, signaling the unprecedented support for improvements in air traffic systems among travel and tourism industry and business leaders. In announcements across the country, officials highlighted that already the benefits of NextGen are being realized today, and there is a need to press forward the implementation of NextGen to ensure the nation's busiest commercial airports can continue to serve air passengers and air cargo users without suffering gridlock in the sky. NAANG announced that the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce is its 1,000^th member and that the group is up to 1,038 members, and counting. 

NAANG was formed in 2009 by organizations concerned about the congestion at the nation's airports in order to press for an expedited FAA timeline for delivering NextGen technologies and benefits.  NextGen will vastly improve the national air traffic control system by deploying new technologies, and modifying procedures and operations utilized by airlines and airports. NextGen is expected to help reduce delays at the nation's most congested and delay-proned airports, saving the nation billions in congestion-related costs.  NextGen will also help airports better accommodate the traveling public without compromising safety, and benefit the environment by reducing use of fuel by 1.4 billion gallons by 2018. 

In recent weeks, NAANG membership has grown to include companies and organizations from across the country, and from all sectors of the economy, not just those involved day to day in the travel and tourism sector.  NAANG's newest members include:  In California: First Century Bank, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, The Bay Area Council, LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce, Kindel Gagan, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, Maquire Aviation Group, Mercury Air Group, Premier Partnerships; in Colorado: the Metro Denver Aviation Coalition; in Illinois: Hon. Michael Zalewski, Chairman, Aviation Committee of the Chicago City Council, the Illinois Manufacturer's Association; in Ohio: The Ohio Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Cleveland Partnership; in New York: Loews Hotels; Nomia Design; in Virginia: Spider Management Company; and in Wyoming: Sagebrush Capital.  Additionally, official government proclamations on the importance of Next Gen were issued in recent weeks in the Texas cities of Dallas, Euless, Coppell, Grapevine and Fort Worth.

NAANG is also pleased to announce that The Silicon Valley Leadership Group has joined its ranks. The group, founded in 1978 by David Packard of Hewlett-Packard, represents more than 375 of Silicon Valley's most respected employers on issues, programs and campaigns that affect the economic health and quality of life in Silicon Valley, including energy, transportation, education, housing, health care, tax policies, economic vitality and the environment. Leadership Group members collectively provide nearly one of every three private sector jobs in Silicon Valley and contribute more than $3 trillion to the worldwide economy.

Jerry Roper, President Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, said: "We are honored to be the 1,000th member of the Next Gen Alliance, joining our colleagues in the business community to signal the importance of this technology and how it can improve airports across the country to the benefit of our nation's economy."

Susan M. Baer, Director of Aviation, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said, "NextGen is critically important as we strive to improve the experience of those utilizing the New York region's major airports -- where passenger volumes are expected to reach 170 million annually by 2030.  We applaud the progress the FAA is making in NextGen deployment and urge Congress to continue to make funding NextGen a top national transportation and infrastructure priority."

Kathryn S. Wylde, President & CEO, Partnership for New York City, said, "The implementation of NextGen technologies will spur economic development and improve the business climate in New York City. Congestion at our three major airports already costs us at least $2.6 billion annually in lost economic revenue – and the problem is only expected to get worse.  A timely deployment of NextGen is one of the single best steps we can take to overcome this challenge. The rapid growth of the National Alliance to Advance NextGen shows that this is a critical movement that virtually everyone can get behind."

According to Jonathan M. Tisch, Chairman, Loews Hotels and Chairman Emeritus, U.S. Travel Association, "Aviation is a major enabler of the travel and tourism industry.  We must continue to advance NextGen by investing in technology and infrastructure that will upgrade our nation's airports.  The move to NextGen is essential, particularly at our international gateway airports, where the growth of foreign travel is the greatest."

"In Miami, aviation is our top economic development driver as Miami International Airport is America's leading gateway for international visitors and cargo," said Barry E. Johnson, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.  "The Greater Miami Chamber is delighted to join the NextGen Alliance to support advancement in technologies for air traffic with safety and increased efficiencies for future growth."

"Massport is working closely with the FAA in three areas -- increasing safety, improving efficiency, and reducing emissions -- to ensure Boston Logan is in the forefront of the NextGen effort," said David S. Mackey, Interim CEO and Executive Director of Massport.

Said Scott A. Brockman, A.A.E, EVP/Chief Operating Officer, Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority: "As the Global Headquarters and World Hub of Federal Express, and the world's second largest cargo airport, NextGen is critical to the operations of our airline partners and will provide the increased efficiencies necessary for continued growth in a world economy."

"San Francisco is one of the leading visitor destinations in the world and the region's economy depends on efficient air travel in and out of SFO," said Jim Lazarus, Sr. Vice President, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. "If we are to see continued growth in air travel we need a modernized air traffic system that can improve on-time performance, allowing aircraft to fly more precise, direct and fuel efficient paths across the country and around the world."

NAANG also continues to draw new members from within the travel sector, and American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines and all 28 members of the Regional Airline Association have joined.  So have airports across the country, including: Baltimore Washington International, San Francisco International Airport, Thurgood Marshall Airport, Long Island MacArthur Airport, Los Angeles World Airport, Oakland International Airport, Memphis-Shelby County Airport, Mineta San Jose International Airport, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and the Westchester County Airport.  Additionally the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport issued an official proclamation on the importance of NextGen.

The National Aviation Day (August 19) is a United States national observation that celebrates the creation and development of aviation. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued a Presidential proclamation in 1939 designating Orville Wright's birthday (August 19) to be National Aviation Day.  Wright was born in 1871. 

For more information on NAANG please visit www.panynj.gov/airports/nextgen.html

SOURCE The National Alliance for the Advancement of NextGen