Press Releases

U.S. House Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) will chair a Congressional field hearing at the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) William J. Hughes Technical Center, located at the Atlantic City International Airport, next Tuesday to examine the Technical Center’s pivotal role in FAA’s efforts to modernize the nation’s air traffic control system.

LoBiondo’s subcommittee will receive testimony from the FAA and industry experts to learn about the resources of the Technical Center and how they can be best utilized to advance the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).

The hearing, entitled “Moving NextGen Forward: Leveraging the Assets of the FAA's William J. Hughes Technical Center,” is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 in the auditorium of the William J. Hughes FAA Technical Center in Egg Harbor Township, NJ.​

Note: this hearing will also be webcast live (click here).

IMPORTANT: RSVP’s for media and the general public are being handled by Representative LoBiondo’s office in Mays Landing: (609) 625-5008 or (800) 471-4450.  For security reasons, RSVPs are required with a deadline of 5:00 p.m., Friday, March 7^th.  Those who RSVP must arrive between 12:00 noon and 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11^th.    The public will enter and check-in at Gate #18/Amelia Earhart Boulevard, just prior to the Security Operations Center (SOC) building.  The media reports to the Security Operations Center (SOC), just prior to the main gate of the William J. Hughes facility to check-in.   A valid U.S. government issued picture ID is required for access.  Those who do not RSVP are not guaranteed access to the federal facility.

Tuesday’s Witness List:

Panel 1

The Honorable Michael Whitaker, Deputy Administrator and Chief NextGen Officer, Federal Aviation Administration
Mr. Dennis Filler, Director, William J. Hughes Technical Center, Federal Aviation Administration

Panel II

Ms. Cynthia Castillo, President and CEO, CSSI, Inc.
Mr. Melvin Davis, National Representative for NextGen, National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Mr. Pete Dumont, President and CEO, Air Traffic Control Association
Mr. Ben Gielow, General Counsel and Senior Government Relations Manager , Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International

The Technical Center serves as the core FAA research and development facility for modernizing our air traffic control system, including NextGen, and for advancing programs to enhance aviation safety.  In addition to research and development work, the Technical Center provides continuous operational support to the FAA’s field facilities across the country.  The Technical Center houses several laboratories, such as air traffic control and simulation facilities, the world’s largest full-scale aviation fire test facility, the National Airport Pavement Test Facility, and a fleet of specially-instrumented in-flight testing aircraft.

In terms of ATC modernization and aviation safety work, the Technical Center has a long track record of demonstrated expertise.  Given the significance of a successful NextGen program, it is important government and industry stakeholders are using every available resource to identify problems and develop solutions, such as the world-class laboratories and resources of the William J. Hughes Technical Center.           

More information about the hearing, including testimony and additional background information, will be posted here as it becomes available. 

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