Senior Director of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Supply Chain Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Published
April 26, 2024
As we approach the start of a busy summer travel season, the aviation industry is working to keep customers safe en route to their destinations. One tool the industry needs is a long-term reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from Congress.
This legislation is critical to providing the agency and the traveling public the support needed to ensure air traffic controllers and other federal safety officials have what they need to focus on the most critical safety issues.
The 30,000-foot view: Flying remains the safest way to travel.America’s excellent aviation safety record is the product of decades of work by aircraft manufacturers, passenger airlines, pilots, crews, mechanics, air traffic controllers, and more — all committed to putting safety first.
Aircraft manufacturers and suppliers continuously innovate and refine their airplane designs to improve safety, and airlines invest time, talent, and resources to prepare pilots, crews, and mechanics to keep passengers safe. Overall, the aviation industry’s culture of safety underpins the sector’s notable safety record.
The FAA’s role: The aviation industry closely partners with the FAA on aviation safety. The FAA is responsible for operating air traffic control facilities, certifying aircraft, enforcing regulations, and funding investments in national aviation infrastructure, among other things.
Currently, Congress is debating comprehensive reauthorization legislation for the FAA, which would update the FAA’s responsibilities to keep the agency modernized for today’s aviation environment. These periodic updates are critical to support flyers by ensuring air traffic controllers and other safety officials focus on the most critical safety issues.
Congressional action: A bipartisan group of members in the House and Senate are working to pass long-term FAA reauthorization by the May 10th deadline.
The bills under consideration in the House (Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, H.R. 3935) and Senate (FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023, S.1939) would provide $20 billion in funding for over 3,300 airports nationwide to address infrastructure and technology upgrades.
These upgrades would include helping to prevent runway incursions and improve safety in bad weather. They would also provide $18.2 billion for key facility upgrades that improve air traffic control radar technology and replace outdated safety equipment built in the 1970s. Additionally, the legislation under consideration in both chambers would allocate $67.5 billion to fund FAA operations, including additional staff to certify and inspect aircraft.
In addition to funding, the FAA reauthorization legislation would provide the agency with key safety reforms and policy guidance and streamline the agency’s organization. These reforms would optimize FAA operations to modernize the operating structure, originally conceived in the 1960s.
The FAA would also be authorized to utilize special hiring authorities to speed up the hiring of safety-critical positions, such as aircraft inspectors.
While the House has passed a bill, the Senate has yet to vote on a measure. Members in both chambers of Congress are working now to resolve the differences between their bills. Once they’re resolved and pass both chambers, the President can sign a bill into law.
Why it matters: Implementing these improvements will provide the private sector with an FAA that is in a much better position to respond to the needs of today’s ever-evolving aviation environment.
- If the FAA’s authorization lapses, the agency will be unable to pay grant funds to airports, non-essential employees will be forced to stay at home, and aircraft certification activities will come to a halt.
Bottom line: The aviation industry remains collectively committed to safety and ensuring travelers can get to where they need to go in a safe and efficient manner. As the country readies for a busy summer travel season, it's essential that Congress pass FAA Reauthorization to further bolster aviation safety and provide passengers confidence.
About the authors
Sterling Wiggins
Sterling Wiggins is Senior Director of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Supply Chain Policy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
