This conference proceedings document is the latest step in the FAA's continuing iniative to improve the usefulness of its aviation forecasts for decisionmaking and planning by the aviation community. It attempts to capture the commentary from participants at the Third Annual FAA Forecasting Conference (December 1977--Reston, Virginia) and to summarize FAA responses. The document is organized into two parts. Part I, Forecasting Initiative Overview, discusses commentary from the aviation community, followed by the FAA response. Part II, Proceedings, presents remarks by conference participants. In total, this document updates the dialog between the FAA and members of the aviation community and general public in the joint effort to define the most useful and appropriate aviation forecasting system. (Author).

The second annual Federal Aviation Administration Forecast Conference was held on December 2, 1976, at Reston, Virginia. This report of the proceedings includes all the formal presentations and some representative questions and answers. This Conference, like the previous one, was held for the primary purpose of (1) reemphasizing the importance of accurate data and aviation activity forecasts for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) planning and budgetary purposes, and (2) stimulating the interchange of ideas between FAA and the aviation community. Some of the topics discussed included: growth anticipation in the general aviation and air taxi industries, aircraft financing difficulties of the airlines, long-term aviation developments. Highlights of the aviation Forecasts for Fiscal Years 1977-1988, forecasting techniques and industry analyses of completed research were also discussed. This publication includes Conference papers as well as questions and answers raised during the discussion period. (Author).