Pursuing the FAA’s Betterment

On Tuesday, 07 February 2023, General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) president and CEO Pete Bunce testified before the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in a hearing titled: FAA Reauthorization: Maintaining America’s Gold Standard in Aviation Safety.

The hearing marked the official commencement of the committee’s work on the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) budget, and the refocusing of the agency’s objectives.

In his testimony, Mr. Bunce voiced his conviction that aviation stakeholders must work together to ensure the industry remains resolutely focused on safety and innovation. He also suggested action be taken to reverse current trends ostensibly tarnishing the U.S.’s reputation as the global gold standard in aviation safety. The upcoming FAA reauthorization bill ought facilitate a robust FAA oversight process that delivers safety and technology improvements in the most effective manner possible, Bunce opined.

Additionally, Mr. Bunce commended Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (Republican, Missouri) for prioritizing the input and work requisite the passage of a comprehensive and attainable FAA reauthorization bill at the outset of the 118th Congress.

During the hearing, Bunce addressed a 90-day review of FAA’s regulatory processes to reduce inefficiencies and enhance safety and innovation; investments in FAA’s technical capabilities, to include training; increased agency focus on aviation safety bilateral agreements and validation delays; business aviation’s commitment to net-zero carbon emissions and the support required to advance the industry’s sustainability goals; the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative, which seeks to facilitate the United States’ safe and orderly transition to unleaded fuels; improvements to the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) system; and efforts to strengthen the industry’s workforce.

FMI: www.gama.aero, https://gama.aero/wp-content/uploads/Testimony-Of-Pete-Bunce-GAMA-February-7-2023-Hearing.pdf