Aviation Industry – Strong Supporters of Aviation Leading Prominent Committees in Congress
As the 114th Congress got underway in January, two veteran aviation policymakers, Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), are the chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I). The T&I Committee, which has jurisdiction over all modes of transportation and provides legislative oversight of the U.S. Department of Transportation and FAA, will be instrumental in crafting legislation to reauthorize the FAA.
DeFazio and Shuster have both been members of the T&I Committee since they entered Congress – Defazio in 1987 and Shuster in 2001. Both have also been loyal supporters of business aviation. The two legislators were members of the House GA Caucus in the 113th Congress, and were among the majority of representatives who signed a letter in 2013 opposing President Obama’s plan to institute aviation user fees.
Shuster was a keynote speaker for the Opening General Session of the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition last year, where he told attendees that his priority was an FAA reauthorization bill that promotes American jobs and competitiveness.
Two other strong supporters of general aviation, Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Bill Nelson (D-FL), now hold the top positions in the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, which among other things, will take up reauthorization of the FAA.
Thune, who takes over as Commerce Committee chairman, also sat on Commerce’s Aviation Operations, Safety and Security subcommittee, and is a member of the General Aviation Caucus, which was first formed in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate in 2009.
Nelson takes over as the ranking Democrat on the Commerce Committee. He also sits on the Aviation Operations, Safety and Security subcommittee. Among the numerous legislative efforts in support of general aviation, last year Nelson authored an amendment during the last FAA reauthorization debate that blocked aviation user fees.
General Aviation (GA) Caucuses were formed in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate in 2009 to inform members and staff about the importance of GA to the nation’s economy and transportation system. Today, the House GA Caucus has nearly 250 members, making it among the largest caucuses in the House of Representatives.
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said, “The continued growth of these caucuses underscores the recognition by Congress that general aviation creates jobs, provides a transportation lifeline to communities across the country, helps businesses succeed and supports people and communities in times of crisis.”
NTSB Releases 2015 “Most Wanted” Safety List
In mid-January, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its “Most Wanted” Safety List of top transportation safety improvements for 2015. The list represents the NTSB’s advocacy priorities; and is designed to increase awareness of, and support for, the most critical changes needed to reduce transportation accidents and save lives.
The 2015 Safety List included six items that were included last year and four new points. Two of the items are directly related to business and general aviation:
■ Strengthen Procedural Compliance – The NTSB says it has investigated more than a dozen airline or commercial charter accidents involving procedural, training or compliance issues.
■ Prevent Loss-of-Control in General Aviation – The Board said that general aviation accidents can be reduced “through ongoing pilot education, flight currency, self-assessment, and vigilant situational awareness in the cockpit.”
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