Page 14 - Volume 10 Number 7

Recent Activity Regarding Aviation
Aviation groups are becoming increasingly concerned that the U.S. Congress is headed for another extension of the FAA’s operating authority. The FAA is already functioning under its second extension, and Congress has until July 15 to pass a comprehensive FAA reauthorization bill or opt for a third extension.
General Aviation Manufacturers Association’s (GAMA) President and CEO Pete Bunce shared his concern that if the FAA bill gets pushed into next year, it would mean that bipartisan provisions in both the Senate-passed and House Committee- passed FAA bills that would improve aviation safety, reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies and help support aviation manufacturing jobs would not be enacted.
12 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
In February, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee passed its version of comprehensive FAA reauthorization legislation, but that bill has stalled over opposition to a measure to create a separate not-for-profit air traffic control (ATC) organization. The Senate passed its version of the FAA bill, minus the controversial ATC measure, in April.
A letter sent by Senate Commerce Committee chairman John Thune (R-S.D.) and Democrat Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), urged their House counterparts to take up the Senate bill. The senators warned that the House ATC measure likely would not win full Senate support at this time.
The coalition formed to oppose the ATC measure, the Americans Against Air Traffic Privatization (AAATP), noted that more than 10,000 letters have been sent to Congress in opposition of the ATC reorganization effort.
by Kim Blonigen
Concern Over Another Extension on FAA Bill
JULY 2016
AVIATION ISSUES