United States-China Aviation Cooperation

Rapid growth in China’s aviation sector – now estimated at 8.8 percent per year – increases the challenge of providing effective safety and system capacity. James Filippatos, the Federal Aviation Administration’s assistant administrator for international aviation, discussed Sino-American cooperation in the aviation field. One highlight is the U.S.-China Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP), jointly organized by FAA and the U.S. Trade Development Agency, which has become a channel for U.S. public and private entities to provide training and technical cooperation in areas that China’s aviation authorities have identified as priorities. It builds on more than 20 years of FAA cooperation with Chinese aviation organizations on airport development, safety programs, aircraft manufacturing and air traffic control operations.

James Filippatos was appointed assistant administrator for international aviation in March 2007. He is responsible for all aspects of the FAA’s international work, including advancing U.S. leadership in aviation around the world. He previously has served at the U.S. State Department as special assistant to the legal advisor to the Secretary of State. Mr. Filippatos also has been an attorney in private practice at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen and Hamilton. He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.A. from Georgetown University.

Politics & Foreign Relations