Gives Lawmakers Until October 1 To Craft A Long-Term Bill

The omnibus spending bill that will be voted on this week to avoid a government shutdown includes an extension of FAA funding through October 1, giving lawmakers a few more months to try to put together a long-term spending bill for the agency.

The last long-term funding bill for the FAA expired last year, and the agency has been operating on continuing resolution since. The most recent CR was set to expire March 31.

Part of the issue has been an attempt by House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) to remove Air Traffic Control from the auspices of the FAA and place it in the hands of a private, non-profit corporation. That proposal met with strong opposition from most GA and business aviation groups, as well as many members of Congress. Rep. Shuster dropped that proposal from the latest version of the long-term bill. In the Senate, Commerce Committee Chair John Thune (R-SD) had proposed changes in the pilot training bill, which also faced stiff opposition. He has pulled back from that proposal as well.

USA Today reports that the omnibus bill contains $1.2 billion for NextGen, as well as $100 million for the continued development of drone policies.

The overall FAA budget in the bill is $18 billion, an increase of $1.6 billion over last year. The House voted to approve the bill Thursday.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original report