With September 30th Deadline in the Distance, Lawmakers Bog Down at the Starting Line

The US Senate’s FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023 saw friction out of the gate in Committee, with disagreements over changing PIC requirements for air carriers.

The looming pilot shortage (long prophesied but probably real this time) has spurred renewed debate as to exactly how much experience pilots should be required to have. Currently, both the House and Senate have their own versions of a possible FAA Reauthorization bill, which will ultimately morph into a relatively bipartisan combination of both as the details are hammered out in their respective houses. The bill in Congress tends to add more for general aviation, with specific considerations for bolstering the professional pipeline into maintenance and flight careers. The Senate’s bill differs with a section for consumer protections in case of flight delays, AAM development, Helicopter safety, and mental health for pilots, among others. 

News on the Senate Committee combing through the bill wasn’t so positive on June 15th, when the bill’s scheduled markup was postponed over the pilot requirements included in the House bill. Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA)  said there was “a lot of concern” about the House bill’s training changes. Pilot requirements after the 1,500 TT change have remained a sticking point for many, adding considerable cost and time to pilot qualification in a time when pilots are increasingly in short supply. The House bill would allow for 150 more hours of that ATP total time to be completed in an approved flight simulator, overall a minor change, but understandable given the difficulty and cost in obtaining twin-turbine time for low-time pilots.

A very active lobbying group has managed to hold their ground so far, however. The Families of Flight 3407 group has managed to make any reduction in pilot requirements a daunting order for legislators, particularly when the average passenger can’t see the effects of a hypothetical pilot shortage.

There are other debates waiting to be had in the Senate Committee's chambers, too, like one possible amendment to increase the number of international flights from the Ronald Regan Washington National Airport. That is a brouhaha all its own, given the considerable level of congestion in the DC region. Currently, the trio of major airports in the area have reached a sort of equilibrium, which would be easily upset with the addition of 4 more high-demand slots.

FMI: www.lexology.com