Let's talk politics and policy—why aren't more young people signing up for those jobs? Greg Principato weighs in. Plus, so many aircraft near-misses—what's going on?

Uplink

This week on Uplink, we talk about an “uptick” of aircraft runway incursions and close calls. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there have been 381 runway incursions reported so far in 2023. We ask the question: are we noticing more airline incursions now due to social media, or has it always been there and not reported on? Furthermore, we talk about the FAA Safety Summit that was hosted to address the increase in aircraft incursions.

Our guest this week is Greg Principato, who joins us to discuss the intersection between aviation and policy. Greg shares his thoughts on how the industry can attract talented young people to pursue careers in aviation politics and policy over lucrative tech jobs. We ask Principato if he believes aviation should be more or less regulated, and finally, Greg shares what the DC natives are talking about it.

Principato became the 32nd President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Aeronautic Association on October 20, 2016. Prior to arriving at NAA, Principato served as President and CEO of the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) from 2014 to 2016. He also served as President of Airports Council International, North America (ACI-NA) from 2005 until 2013. He oversaw the leading association of airports and airport-related businesses in North America and the largest of the five worldwide regions of Airports Council International. He has worked on aviation and transportation policy issues for more than 30 years, beginning on the staffs of U.S. Senators J. Bennett Johnson and Joseph R. Biden, Jr. After leaving the Senate, he worked for Virginia Governor Gerald L. Baliles, who was nationally known for a commitment to transportation infrastructure and who spearheaded the creation of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

In 1993, he was the Executive Director of the 15-member National Commission to Ensure a Competitive Airline Industry, a commission set up by the Clinton Administration to examine ways to revive the aviation industry. The Commission tackled issues such as air traffic control reform, capacity enhancement, federal funding, international air service rights, and foreign investment. He also served on the Secure Borders and Open Doors Advisory Commission during the George W. Bush Administration.

Read more about Greg and the NAA here: https://naa.aero.

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