?This program is helping airports around the country make needed technological investments so they can be more environmentally friendly,? said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Since the first VALE grant award in 2005, the FAA has funded 40 projects totaling $83 million dollars. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt announced the grant during a press conference in Seattle where he highlighted environmental efforts under way at Sea-Tac and by the Alaska Air Group (AAG) as examples of the kind of innovative work being done in the aviation community.

?The FAA is encouraging airlines and airports to find creative ways to reduce aviation?s impact on the environment,? said Administrator Babbitt. ?NextGen technology will also help aviation go even greener by significantly reducing the amount of fuel burned during air travel.? 

Administrator Babbitt discussed an innovative program under way in the Sea-Tac area known as the Greener Skies over Seattle project. The project began in early 2009 with the Alaska Air Group (AAG), which includes Alaska Airlines and Horizon Airlines, the Port of Seattle and the Boeing Co. The AAG is seeking to improve efficiency at Sea-Tac through expanded use of NextGen satellite-based technologies to provide more direct and optimized descent paths to landing. 

The program has the potential to provide environmental benefits to the region through reducing fuel burn, emissions, and the number of people impacted by aircraft noise. In addition, lessons and benefits gained from this effort may be transferred to other airports around the nation. In mid-2010 Greener Skies over Seattle became a FAA project and the first phase of Performance Based Navigation instrument flight procedure development is now under way.