The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael P. Huerta, speaking at an Asia-Pacific civil aviation conference in Mongolia today, said that the FAA and its Asia-Pacific counterparts must continue to work together to promote oversight operations and certification systems that will ensure the safety of passengers around the world as demand increases.

The FAA projects that within 20 years, the total number of passengers traveling between the Asia-Pacific region and the U.S. alone will increase by 120 percent.

“By sharing data and best practices with each other, we’ve proven that safety has no borders,” said Huerta. “It is imperative that we work together to meet this increased demand and deliver the level of safety and service consumers and businesses on both sides of the Pacific expect.”

Aviation leaders gathered at the Asia-Pacific Directors General of Civil Aviation Conference to discuss the future of civil aviation in the Asia-Pacific region. The U.S. has collaborated with the region since establishing a civil aviation office in Tokyo in 1947.

In cooperation with forums such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), FAA is working to improve air traffic efficiency in the region. For example, through engagement with ASEAN, FAA is working to emphasize the operational value of cross-border data information sharing between Asian states.

With APEC, the FAA is standardizing and implementing innovative traffic flow management technologies and best practices to allow for separation reductions and smoother traffic flow. The FAA also is supporting regional initiatives to implement more Performance-Based Navigation (PDF) procedures, which shorten flight routes, save time, and reduce emissions.

Leaders of both regions committed to improving the efficiency of each nation’s aviation systems in a time when new technologies continue to reshape traditional aircraft and air traffic operations.