Funding For The FAA Expires On September 30th

GAMA on Wednesday applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing legislation authorizing the programs of the FAA for five years and advancing key priorities for the general aviation manufacturing and maintenance industry.

“We are thrilled to see a long-term FAA reauthorization bill that will strengthen the general aviation industry, mandate needed reforms, and provide certainty for the entire aviation sector,” said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce (pictured). “We thank the House of Representatives and the bipartisan leadership of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, including Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), for their work on this important legislation. We encourage the U.S. Senate to pass the measure expeditiously.”

H.R. 302, which authorizes the FAA through September 30, 2023, includes numerous provisions that will improve aviation safety, streamline regulatory burdens, strengthen job creation, encourage competitiveness and innovation, and stimulate exports.

Specifically, the bill:

• Requires the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary establish a Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory Committee that includes representatives of commercial and general aviation, including aircraft, engine, and avionics manufacturers, and maintenance, repair and overhaul organizations. The Committee’s work will focus on certification and regulatory process reform, safety management systems, rulemaking improvements and enhancing global competitiveness;
• Strengthens the effectiveness of the Organizational Designation Authorization (ODA) process and oversight to enhance the predictability and efficiency of the certification process for new products and technology;
• Sends a clear message to the FAA to improve safety cooperation with international partners, facilitate improvements and end delays in the validation and acceptance of aviation products;
• Requires the FAA establish a comprehensive regulatory database and a Regulatory Communications Consistency Board to reduce regulatory inconsistency at the agency;
• Calls for the FAA to establish a Task Force on Flight Standards Reform to help drive needed improvements in the FAA Flight Standards Office. The Task Force includes manufacturers and will look at how the certification, operational evaluation and entry into service of newly manufactured aircraft can be improved;
• Asks the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a review of the FAA’s Part 23 rulemaking implementation to ensure the agency is working with industry to maximize the rulemaking’s effectiveness;  
• Mandates the FAA Aircraft Registry Office in Oklahoma City remain open in the event of a government shutdown or emergency furlough; and
• Addresses the aviation workforce shortage by establishing a ‘Youth Access to American Jobs in Aviation Task Force’ and a ‘Women in Aviation Advisory Board’; directs the GAO to initiate a study on the current and future supply of aviation and aerospace workforce; and establishes a pilot grant program to train pilots and maintenance and technical workers.

"The legislation contains many provisions that support the needs of the aviation business community, including regulatory consistency, safety provisions that improve the quality of Part 135 incident reporting data and call for a review of permissible flight sharing, and programs to promote the aviation workforce by supporting the next generation of aviation maintenance technicians. NATA is especially grateful for the inclusion of language that calls for a review and report of the Illegal Charter Hotline and recommendations for improving the Department of Transportation’s efforts to combat the issue," said NATA president Gary Dempsey.

“While the journey to consideration and passage has been long, the collaboration and hard work between Capitol Hill and industry is reflected in this comprehensive bill. NATA looks forward to its consideration and passage in the Senate, and enactment into law.”

There are several provisions in the bill that deal with the integration of drones into the NAS as well, which are being welcomed by the Consumer Technology Association. "The UAS title in this bill helps clear the way for the FAA to implement beyond-line-of-sight, flight-over-people and nighttime drone operations, which our nation needs to fully realize the benefits of drone technology," said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Technology Association (CTA). "The UAS title also outlines ways consumers may fly their drones responsibly without being grounded by unreasonable rules. The drone portion of this bill provides a boost of clarity and confidence to this growing sector of the tech industry, and we look forward to swift passage by the House and Senate."

(Source: GAMA, NATA, CTA news releases news release. Image from file)

FMI: www.gama.aero, www.nata.aero, www.cta.tech