JetBlue Airways CEO receives White House honor

JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ: JBLU) said that its president and CEO Dave Barger was honoured July 31 by the White House as a Transportation Innovator in the "Champions of Change" series for his leadership in the joint Federal Aviation Administration-industry effort to implement the Next-Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) airspace modernization program.

U.S. Transportation secretary Ray LaHood kicked off the day's events and recognized Barger, among other Champions, as leaders that exemplify extraordinary leadership successes in the growth and expansion of the transportation industry at the local, state or regional level. To further advance its active role in upgrading the nation's air traffic control system, JetBlue partnered with the FAA to provide data and conduct real-time operational evaluations for NextGen. Through FAA-funding, the airline will equip up to 35 of its A320 planes with Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) Out avionics that will provide air traffic controllers with precise positioning of the aircraft using GPS satellite signals, enabling the aircraft to fly more direct routes off the East Coast. JetBlue became the first Federal Aviation Administration -certified carrier in the United States to utilize new satellite-based Special (Non-Public) Required Navigation Performance Authorization Required (RNP AR) approaches to Runways 13L and 13R at its home base at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport with its fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft in June of this year. The airline said it is the first and remains the only Airbus A320 operator in the country to receive FAA authorization for RNP AR approaches, followed by RNP AR certification for its entire fleet of Embraer E190 aircraft. JetBlue's entire cadre of more than 2,300 pilots are trained and certified to fly RNP AR procedures across the National Airspace System. The White House Champions of Change program highlights the stories and examples of citizens across the country who are "Building an America to Last" with projects and initiatives that move their communities forward. Each week, the White House Office of Public Engagement hosts an event to honor those who are working to empower and inspire other members of their communities.

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