Should voice calls be allowed on airplanes?

On Wednesday, October 29, 2014, the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections will debate use of cell phones on planes, government taxation of airline travel, and effects of airline mergers on passengers.

The committee meeting will be held at Department of Transportation (DOT), in Washington, DC. For the first time, this advisory committee hearing will be Webcast at http://www.dot.gov/airconsumer/ACACP .

Introductions and a review of DOT actions on previous advisory committee recommendations will take place from 9 am to 9:45 am.

Speakers discussing “Voice Calls on Aircraft” will include representatives from the DOT and the Federal Communication Commission (FCC); Kevin Rogers, CEO of AeroMobile Communications, Inc.; and Julie Frederick from the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (9:45 to 11:25 am).

Discussing the “Impact of Government-Imposed Taxes and Fees” will be Kevin Burke, President and CEO of Airports Council International—North America; Shane Downey of Global Business Travel Association; John Heimlich, VP and Chief Economist of Airlines for America; and Ben Baldanza, President and CEO of Spirit Airlines (11:25 am to 11:55 am).

For the final session, on “The Impact of Mergers and Consolidations on Air Travel Consumers and the Aviation Industry,” economist Richard Golaszewski of GRA, Inc. and William McGee from Consumers Union, will represent consumers. Daniel Kasper from Kasper Lee Aviation/Compass Lexecon; Jay Sorensen of IdeaWorksCompany; and Mr. Heimlich will speak from the airlines’ perspective. And, Deborah McElroy, Executive VP of Airport Council International — North America; and William Swelbar from MIT will discuss consolidation impact on airports (1 to 4 pm).

The Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection was created by the last FAA funding bill. It is composed of four members: a representative from a state consumer protection office, a consumer, an airport representative, and airline representative.

The meeting will be held in the Media Center (located on the lobby level of the West Building) at the US Department of Transportation (DOT) headquarters, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC.

To register to attend the meeting, please contact Amy Przybyla, Research Analyst, Centra Technology, Inc., [email protected] ; 703–894–6910. The advisory committee hearing will be Webcast at http://www.dot.gov/airconsumer/ACACP .