Although the world economy is putting a squeeze on air travel, over the long term, airline passenger numbers will always trend up despite periodic downturns. As more and more passengers strain our existing infrastructure, airports nationwide must prepare to accommodate projected growth. The industry’s main policy focus at the moment, therefore, is on improving air-traffi c management. The U.S. air traffi c control system is still dependent on groundbased radar technology that is threatening the safety and effi ciency of our airports while also stifl ing the economy of our region. One of the princicpal ways that major stakeholders are looking to address these issues is by pushing to move the Federal Aviation Administration’s Next Generation Air Transportation System, known as NextGen. NextGen incorporates an advanced GPS system to help air traffi c controllers move more aircraft more effi ciently, and is a key component of the administration’s plans to vastly upgrade the nation’s commercial air space. Improving the performance of this country’s aviation is essential for providing a better travel experience to air travelers, as well as aiding the local economy: Air traffi c congestion is costing our region about $2.6 billion a year. It follows that the aviation industry should call for increased communication between all parties to bring Next- Gen technology to the nation’s airports. Of particular interest is a push to advance the use of the technology in our region, which operates the busiest airport system in the country. The Port Authority recently spearheaded the formation of a coalition of business, tourism and airline offi cials to lobby Congress to pass an FAA Reauthorization Bill that includes NextGen initiatives. This month we’re running an update on the new coalition, The National Alliance to Advance NextGen, as well as information about its symposium, NextGen: The Future of Aviation, which was held on February 25 in New York City. Meanwhile, the FAA recently formed the Task Force on NextGen Midterm Implementation to help strengthen collaboration among industry stakeholders. The task force’s participants are charged with addressing the challenges of implementing communications, navigation and surveillance, and air traffi c management of NextGen in the nearand mid-term timeframe. This month, we’re including an overview of the goals of this newly formed task force. There’s a clear payoff for all this collaboration, as everyone in our industry will benefi t from the implementation of NextGen. First and foremost, by using new technology to redesign the nation’s airspace and better manage aircraft that are still on the ground, we will help satisfy customer demand for greater effi ciency in air travel. Further, the plan will aid the functions of airports and airlines, and getting aircraft moving more effi ciently will greatly benefi t the local economy. In sum, NextGen’s far-reaching benefi ts will stem from a remarkably wellbalanced plan. Finally, I’d like to extend my thanks to all of you who read this page every month. We continue to rely on your support for and contributions to the initiatives we put forth. They are greatly appreciated.