Van Drew: FAA Tech Center's Future Secured as New Federal Investments Head to Atlantic County

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP — Congressman Jeff Van Drew says the future of the Federal Aviation Administration's William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic County has been strengthened through federal legislation and millions of dollars in new investments aimed at modernizing the nation's aviation system.

Appearing Monday on WOND's The Don Williams Show, Van Drew said one of the most significant accomplishments was ensuring the FAA's premier aviation research facility remains in South Jersey.

"For the first time in American history, statutorily, in the legislation, it had the tech center had to stay in New Jersey," Van Drew said. "The tech center had to stay here in Atlantic County. It could not be split up and moved."

Van Drew said previous plans under the last administration would have relocated portions of the facility to various locations around the country.

"In the last administration, they were going to break it up and move the tech center to various different parts of the country," he said. "Not good. Really bad for South Jersey."

He said the FAA Technical Center will continue to play a major role in the modernization of the nation's aviation infrastructure.

"A tremendous amount of money is going into the Tech Center because of all the upgrades that we're doing," Van Drew said. "We need better control towers for the United States of America. We need better systems. We need upgraded technology and more protection for our country."

Much of that work, he said, will occur in Atlantic County.

"A lot of the work—not all of it—but a lot of the work is going to be done right here in Atlantic County, in South Jersey."

Van Drew said protecting the Tech Center preserves one of the region's most important economic engines while positioning South Jersey to remain a national leader in aviation research and technology for years to come.