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The U.S. Congress has passed the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 to avert a government shutdown and fund the federal government through November 17, 2023. Included was a measure to increase FAA Authorization – set to run out 9/30 – through December 31, 2023.
The House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Rating Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), issued the next statement on the FAA Extension:
“Reauthorizing the FAA is significant to making sure the secure and efficient operation of America’s aviation system. Though the House overwhelmingly passed a bill in July to reauthorize the FAA for five years, the Senate needs additional time to think about and reach final agreement on a multi-year FAA bill, thus, passing a short-term extension so as to ensure all FAA programs proceed to operate while negotiations proceed is essential. But make no mistake, enacting a long-term bill as soon as possible is a top priority, as a series of short-term extensions will likely be detrimental to the FAA, airport infrastructure improvements, and the aviation industry.”
The moves averted the potential of major disruption within the aviation sector: if the federal government shutdown had occurred together with the expiration of the FAA Reauthorization Bill of 2018, the compounding effect might have been dire as 1000’s of employees were furloughed and essential staff required to work without pay. While the extension solves the immediate problem of funding, it doesn’t provide the roadmap of priorities and deadlines for the agency that a full 5-year FAA Reauthorization package offers.
While the House has passed a package, the Senate has struggled to get agreement on quite a lot of issues. As other priorities crowd the schedule, stakeholders fear that a protracted term FAA Reauthorization may get pushed to the back burner. (The 2012 FAA Reauthorization took 5 years: there have been 18 extensions before the 2018 FAA Reauthorization was passed.)
As well as, the Senate must confirm President Biden’s pick for FAA Administrator, Mike Whitaker, before he can take the position. The present Acting FAA Administrator, Polly Trottenberg, must by law vacate the seat on October 25, 2023.
With out a long run funding package, which comes with clear priorities and deadlines, and a protracted term leader, the FAA is handicapped in moving forward on the long-term work that have to be done to make sure that advanced unmanned aircraft could be safely integrated into the NAS.
Michael Robbins, Chief Advocacy Officer of leading drone advocacy organization AUVSI, made the next statement:
“AUVSI calls on Congress to interrupt the present stalemate holding up the advancement of the five-year FAA Reauthorization and are available together to finalize a multi-year bill that enhances safety and access for all users of the national airspace system.
Advanced aviation holds immense promise to offer safety, economic, workforce, and environmental advantages — but U.S. firms within the drone and Advanced Air Mobility industries need more regulatory progress and clarity. Short-term FAA extensions create burdens for each the FAA and the industry. Congress must provide stability to emerging industries and retain global aviation leadership by swiftly passing a multi-year FAA reauthorization.”