Spearheaded Bipartisan Bill Containing First-Ever GA Provision

The EAA announced at AirVenture its formal recognition of Rep. Sam Graves (R-Missouri) for his outstanding work in bringing together members of both parties in the House and Senate to pass the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which President Biden signed into law this past May.

The Reauthorization Act includes a first-ever titled section specific to general aviation that involves a number of provisions benefiting GA growth and was supported by EAA and other aviation groups. It also expands Basic Med by increasing the size of covered aircraft to 12,500 pounds, and increases the number of passengers permitted to 6 and seats to 7. Other provisions include: setting a deadline of 24 months for completion of the MOSAIC rule; maintaining the availability of avgas; reviewing the process of reserving aircraft registration numbers, and advancing the development of a position reporting system in non-rule airspace. An important provision for pilots prohibits the use of ADS-B Out data to initiate an enforcement investigation.

Rep. Graves is a long-time pilot and has risen to become another outspoken proponent of aviation in Congress. He is a member of the board of directors of the EAA Warbirds of America and is very active at aviation events around the country.

Jack J. Pelton, EAA CEO and Chairman of the Board said of Graves, “In his role as Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Sam Graves conveyed to Congress the necessity of giving the FAA its roadmap for the next five years, so the agency can plan and execute its important mission of keeping the American aviation system the safest and most active in the world. It is especially gratifying to see general aviation represented as an essential, stand-alone title within FAA reauthorization, a provision that exists because of the direction and support of Chairman Graves.”

FMI:  www.eaa.org