The RAA is an organization that represents the interests of its members who operate some 13,000 regional flights per day and employ 60,000 people. The importance of regional airlines is significant when you realise that they account for more than half of the country’s commercial flights.
L-R: U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ron Lahood; Mr. John Linn, Director, Embraer Customer Support & Services; Mr. Paulo César de Souza e Silva, Embraer President-Commercial Aviation; Mr. Charlie Hillis, Vice President, Marketing & Sales, Embraer North America.
Embraer’s exhibit highlighted the com- pany’s portfolio of world wide customers who operate the ERJ 145 and E-Jets families of aircraft. Of the 87 commercial airlines flying Embraer jets in 40 countries, there are nine carriers in the USA.
Secretary Ray Lahood, head of the U.S. Department of Transportation, addressed delegates and reiterated the Obama administration’s commitment to aviation safety. Secretary Lahood outlined what the federal government is doing to prepare for an expected 50% increase in passenger volume over the next ten years.
