Speech – International Aviation Club Luncheon

Acting Administrator Daniel Elwell
Washington, DC

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

As you can tell from that kind introduction, Ive been in the aviation industry for about 80 years or, most of my adult life.

Ive been fortunate to see aviation from so many vantage points. Of course, none better than the view from the cockpit.

But, my time at the FAA has been extremely rewarding. And its such an honor to be back with the opportunity to help shape an agency Ive always admired, at a time when its work is more important than ever.

Its also very cool to be invited to speak to the International Aviation Club. Ive been a member for years. So many good friends and colleagues Ive gotten to know and work with over the past few decades are here today. Its great to see you all.

Aviation has always been defined by change because it is constantly reshaping the world we live in. But the pace of change happening in the world right now is unique even by our standards.

I was recently in London, where Brexit and its March 2019 deadline is on everyones mind. As the clock runs down, removing uncertainty about the UKs relationship with the global aviation community only becomes more important.

It has the potential to affect passengers, businesses, and the entire global supply chain. If you make, operate, or maintain aircraft on either side of the Atlantic, Brexit will affect you.

So I knew I spoke for the entire aviation community when I shared with my European counterparts that it is in everyones best interest to reach a decision on the aviation components of Brexit as soon as possible. We have to get this right.

But in many ways, this is one of the easier issues our industry is dealing with right now.

Weve been certificating aircraft for decades. We know what agreements we need to have in place to ensure safe and efficient operations. We have clarity we need focus. We must stay focused on minimizing disruptions and supporting a seamless transition. And by we, I mean all of us.

A lot of other questions we need to answer about access, technology, and safety are much more complicated. And weve been facing those questions here in the U.S., and around the world for years.

A few weeks ago, I attended the Uber Elevate conference in Los Angeles. During a panel, I was asked if I would ever ride in an autonomous aerial taxi. The question sounded almost surreal. That used to be Jetsons stuff. Now, its right around the corner were talking when, not if.

But, the list of how do we? questions is not to be taken lightly. How do we safely integrate these new users into our already busy airspace? How do we harness technology to modernize the way we manage air traffic? How do we maintain the safety of our system without stifling innovation?

The questions arent new, but just because theyre familiar doesnt make answering them any easier. And were doing it at a time when some folks are wondering: Are we up to the task?

Theres a perception out there that government is where good ideas go to die. Too many bureaucrats. Nothing gets done. And that makes people not want to work with us.

The pace of change is too fast. The scope of work is too big. The stakes are too high. We cant afford to be alienating the pioneers the trailblazers the groundbreakers. Theyre the foundation of our industry. And we need them at our table.

So if theres one message you need to hear, from the Trump Administration, Elaine Chaos DOT, and the FAA, its this: The era of red tape strangling good ideas is over.

Were building a bigger table not just for traditional aviation stakeholders, but the newest Silicon Valley start-ups. Were doing away with outdated processes that dont work in todays aviation system. And if people come into my office and say the reason we do something a certain way is because thats the way its always been done? You better believe Im sending them back to the drawing board.

At the very time when American innovators are leading the charge by doing things in a new way, government has to keep up. The FAA has to keep up. If theres a way for us to improve a process, weve got to lead the way. Thats what makes us a world leader in aviation, in safety, in efficiency.

But, I knowtalk is cheap. Youre thinkingwhat does this look like in the real world?

Earlier this month, I joined Secretary Chao to announce ten UAS pilot program sites across the country where state, local, and tribal governments will be working with private industry to demonstrate and study expanded drone operations.

We will get a better understanding of how operations over people, beyond visual line of sight ops, and flying drones at night work at the local level. The information we gain from these trials will not only help us expand the regulatory framework for unmanned aircraft nationwide, but it will also help us determine the appropriate level of local control.

Were changing our approach to commercial space launches. Its not enough to just accommodate this growing industry. We need to fully integrate it into our airspace.

Were using new technologies like the Space Data Integrator to make launches less disruptive to nearby airspace users. And were revamping our licensing process to make it easier for commercial space operators to receive the approvals they need more quickly.

This attitude also extends to certification. Were moving toward a more performance-based system where the FAA sets safety standards and lets manufacturers figure out the best way to meet them.

A rule overhauling how we certify small general aviation aircraft went into effect last year. And while its going to take some time, we plan to apply these same principles to more aircraft categories, including UAS, moving forward.

We also remain committed to modernizing our air traffic control system.

Ill be the first to admit: the debate around the FAAs latest reauthorization didnt go the way I hoped it would. And while Im happy to see a long-term bill on the horizon, I worry it still doesnt tackle some of the larger funding and management issues we face.

But Im not going to stop using the megaphone Ive been handed to make sure our workforce gets the resources and technology it needs to keep delivering the level of safety and efficiency the American people expect. And were going to continue working with industry to prioritize our modernization efforts.

Now, let me be clear about something: Making the FAA a better partner to the aviation industry doesnt mean were cutting corners on safety.

Our commitment to being the gold standard is not going to change. In fact, were setting the bar even higher. Were just not going to tell you how to clear it. We know this industry is going to solve some of the challenges were facing more quickly and more creatively than the FAA ever could alone.

We need our partners in the international community, as well.

The challenges facing the FAA arent unique. Civil aviation authorities around the world are grappling with the same issues. And the United States doesnt have a monopoly on good ideas.

Working together, we can and do get things done. We already have an impressive record of achievement from reducing aviations environmental impact, and harmonizing our air traffic control systems to sharing safety data, and streamlining our certification processes.

Theres so much we can learn from each other that can help us reach the next level of safety.

I come from a military background. My father was a Marine, and I was in the Air Force. Growing up as the son of a Marine, and later, as an officer myself, I learned that leadership isnt a fixed point.

You cant just declare yourself a leader one day, then say: Im done. Instead, you must keep asking yourself: How can I do more? How can I be better?

Our industry has always been like that. Aviation certainly didnt start out as the safest mode of travel on the planet far from it. But it is today.

No one handed us our current safety record. We did the work. You did the work. Together, we earned it.

But that doesnt mean our job is done. And we cant become complacent. The last few weeks have been a tough reminder one fatality in our system is one too many.

How can we do more? How can we be better?

We ask ourselves those questions every day at the FAA. But we cant answer them alone. Aviation doesnt have borders, or boundaries. Were a global community. We dont compete on safety. And theres no limit to what we can achieve when we work together.

So the United States stands ready to lead, and ready to partner with anyone who shares our vision for the future of aviation.

A future that is safe. A future that is innovative. A future that is limitless.

Oh I almost forgot The answer I gave to the question of whether I would ever consider riding in an autonomous aerial taxi? It was the same answer most of you would have given: In a heartbeat. Sign me up.

Thank you for the invitation to be here today.