(WASHINGTON) – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Jim Webb (D-VA) today worked to promote airline safety by modernizing the Federal Aviation Administration’s outdated, radar-based air traffic control system. The Senators also blocked efforts to make large-scale changes that could have significantly overburdened flight operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Northern Virginia.

With each reauthorization of the FAA bill, lawmakers from Western states typically attempt to add significant traffic at National Airport, which can result in congestion and delays at National while disrupting the balance of traffic at Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport. A carefully crafted compromise will provide a total of five additional round-trip flights from Reagan National to West Coast destinations while also allowing for seven “swaps,” in which airlines redirect their existing flight destinations to other cities without adding to the overall number of flights.

The Senate compromise also authorizes a U.S. Department of Transportation study to examine the effects of these changes at Reagan National, including whether additional air traffic overburdens the passenger or flight facilities at National. The study will examine the impact of these changes on the business plan of the Metro Washington Airports Authority, which operates both National and Dulles.

“We reached a suitable compromise that will allow for greater access to Western states while not overburdening this region’s airport system,” said Senator Warner. “I am pleased we were able to protect the Airports Authority’s ability to effectively manage its two airports while it makes the infrastructure investments necessary for the future.”

“By preventing attempts to significantly increase long-haul flights at Reagan National Airport, this compromise preserves the careful balance among the area’s airports and serves the broader economic interests of the region,” said Senator Webb. “This should come as welcome news to the citizens of Northern Virginia and surrounding communities, as well as the airports located within Maryland and Northern Virginia.”

“The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is very grateful for the extensive and dedicated effort put forth by Senators Warner and Webb and the entire local Congressional delegation, working with their Senate colleagues, to advance this important aviation legislation while also addressing the needs of Reagan National and Washington Dulles International Airports and the Metropolitan Washington Region,” said Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board Chairman Charles D. Snelling.

In addition to the “slots” compromise, the bill will improve the FAA’s air traffic control modernization efforts by accelerating implementation of the NextGen, system, new GPS-based air traffic control technology that will replace the current outdated radar based system. NextGen implementation will lead to gains in airline safety, increased flight pattern efficiency, cost savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The FAA estimates that NextGen will reduce total flight delays by about 21 percent while providing $22 billion in cumulative benefits to the traveling public, aircraft operators and the FAA by the end of the decade.