The more I hear about this project the more confidence I have.
For those of you worried about the FAA killing this project, I was just looking at the bios for the team at JDA negotiating with the FAA in Washington. Some of these guys know the FAA inside and out because they used to run it or the NTSB.
http://www.4jda.aero/team.html
Joseph Del Balzo is the founder and President of JDA, Mr. Del Balzo previously served as FAA Acting Administrator and Deputy Administrator during his FAA tenure. Other positions included serving as FAA Executive Director of Systems Operation and Executive Director of System Development, as well as directing the FAA Technical Center. Mr. Del Balzo is a Fellow of the America Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Air Traffic Control Association.
The Honorable John J. Goglia, former two-term Member of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, is JDA’s Senior Vice President for aviation operations and safety programs. Mr. Goglia is an internationally recognized expert in aviation maintenance and aircraft operations, and led numerous important investigations and safety initiatives out of his NTSB office. Prior to his Senate confirmation, Mr. Goglia was based with USAir for over thirty years and was the recipient of the prestigious 1994/Industry Aviation Mechanic of the Year Award.
Gregory A. Feith is a former National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Senior Air Safety Investigator with a wide range of aviation investigative and safety experience. He has investigated hundreds of general aviation and air transport aircraft accidents worldwide during his more than 20 years with the Safety Board. Greg has served as the Investigator-in-Charge or U.S. Accredited Representative of a number of high profile aircraft accidents.
William Handel is currently JDA's Vice President for Airport and Airspace. Bill retired from the FAA as Regional Administrator of the Eastern Region. During his tenure at the FAA, Bill held positions such as Eastern Region Deputy Regional Administrator and Airports Division Manager. As VP of Airports and Airspace, Bill primarily focuses on FAA policy issues related to Engineered Materials Arresting Systems (EMAS) for runway safety areas. He also manages JDA's program for obstruction evaluation for planned structures near an airport.
Lou DeRose is currently the Senior Airport Specialist for JDA Aviation Technology Solutions, headquartered in Washington, DC. His work at JDA has focused primarily on application of the new technology Engineered Materials System (EMAS) to civil airports and assisting airport owners in dealing with the relationship of EMAS to FAA safety area standards and policies. Prior to his current work with JDA, he spent over 38 ½ years with the FAA, initially as an engineer involved in the siting, design and installation of air navigational systems but, most of his FAA career was devoted to airport safety, planning, design, environmental protection and grant administration programs. Prior to his retirement from FAA in January 1994, Lou was the Manager of Eastern Region Airports Division where he was responsible for FAA decision-making for the complex airport system.