Neil Planzer

Neil Planzer is Vice President Air Traffic Management at Boeing. An internationally recognized expert in air traffic control and the aviation industry, he has been Boeing's principle strategist for air traffic management since 2003. He is responsible for ensuring stakeholder support for the deployment of a next-generation air traffic system. As a Boeing executive he developed and executed concept demonstrations for air traffic control Network Enabled Operations, the cornerstone for any next generation system. He conceived and implemented Boeing's strategy for air traffic global interoperability and established Boeing's strong ties with European and global air navigation service providers. While serving as a senior executive in both the United Stated Air Force and the Department of Defense (DoD) he formulated the DoD civil aviation policy, including use of federal and international airspace to ensure necessary military access with minimal consequences on civilian aircraft. He set the DoD policy on air traffic control infrastructure and international ATC standards. He served as lead negotiator on difficult issues involving access to international airspace. He served on the Federal Aviation Administration Management Advisory Committee, advised the National Security Council on restoration of civil access to the nation's airspace following the 2001 terrorist attacks. After the fall of the Soviet Union he formulated and implemented the DoD Regional Airspace Initiatives, this program was an important element in preparing these nations to join the NATO alliance. Neil also served as a senior executive with the Federal Aviation Administration. From his experience with the FAA he obtained a wide background in air traffic requirements, project management, and built upon his experiences as an air traffic controller. He has a strong and positive relationship with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association which allowed him to establish the Quality through Partnership (QTP) program, QTP fostered the FAA's last period of a cooperative relationship with the air traffic controllers union. Planzer is a certified instrument pilot and owns and operates his own aircraft. He has served in the USAF and the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. He has written many articles and columns on the science of air traffic control and is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University.