Bolen: 'We Enthusiastically Welcome This Bill'

The NBAA has endorsed a bipartisan Senate bill to authorize funding and programs for the FAA, and which takes a consensus-driven approach to modernizing the nation’s air traffic system.

The legislation, S.2658, was introduced March 9 by Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD), Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL) and other committee leaders. It addresses a number of priorities identified by NBAA and other organizations, including the need to streamline the certification process for aviation technologies, raise the bar on aviation safety, integrate unmanned aircraft systems, accelerate implementation of a Next Generation (“NextGen”) aviation system and provide a plan for the U.S. Department of Transportation to modernize third-class medical requirements for small aircraft pilots.

“We enthusiastically welcome this bill, and we thank Sens. Thune, Nelson and other Commerce Committee leaders for hearing our concerns and moving forward with this legislation,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “This is the right bill at the right time: It brings targeted to solutions to identified issues. It accelerates NextGen, and helps ensure continued U.S. leadership in aviation.”

(Source: NBAA news release)

FMI: www.nbaa.org