At the same time, experience tells me that diverse interests, motivations and agendas won’t simply go away. It may be more productive to acknowledge them and strive to address them, perhaps in the vein of interest-based negotiations. By working together creatively, we may be better able to satisfy the needs and interests of all stakeholders, at least to a point where each can live with and support the way forward.

Processes to develop concepts and systems, and the procedures and regulations that go along with such changes, need to be streamlined. We have examples of novel approaches that have helped us move toward more streamlined approval processes. We should be leveraging these experiences too as we work to introduce NextGen changes.

Thanks for the response and the promise of future blogging comments on specific benefits from your perspective. I believe your comments will help mitigate the fragile nature of the issue.

Acknowledging the difficulty in the translation of a few hundred text characters in response to a blog, I want to make sure you understand that I am a big supporter of NextGen. And, I am an enormous backer of bringing operational improvements to flight ops in the NAS. My entire industrial life has been spent in our air transportation industry. When someone with authority begins the initiative to improve operations, I want to be one of the first in line to cheer and do what I reasonably can to help make a difference.

When I say that benefits are elusive, it means that everyone must pull their share of the load to insure success manifests itself in being real and attainable. This should be a common understanding among all stakeholders. This also means there is no room for separate agendas allowing achievements to escape into the ether. It is imperative that we all focus on the goal. It might be our last chance to make meaningful contributions.

The industry is desperate for improvement. We all have a responsibility to make our industry successful. Our collective support is vital.

Thanks,

Bud Bensel

Although your above comments were posted about a month back, I have just completed a review of the RTCA Task Force 5 report on NextGen implementation. You raise a valid question as to what honest and reliable agent will lead this effort. It would be very enlightening, in my view however, to read your opinion on an equally central issue. Through the eyes of the individual who developed the initial SOIA procedures and PRM operations, I have a question about which an answer continues to be allusive relation to NextGen. Where do you believe definitive, quantifiable and verifiable improvements in capacity and flight operational efficiencies will be realized in NextGen?

Collegially,

Bud Bensel
Retired Captain