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The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a 5 yr FAA Reauthorization Bill. H.R. 3935, “Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act” passed in a bipartisan 351-69 vote.
The Bill passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in June. Several controversial facets of that proposal, including the expansion of flights serviced at Washington D.C.’s Ronald Reagan International Airport, were eliminated before the ultimate vote.
The Act will now pass to the Senate. The Senate is considering their very own version of the bill, S. 1939.
The present FAA Reauthorization will expire September 30. Before that date, Congress must either pass the 2023 Reauthorization, or pass an extension of the present bill, to maintain the FAA operating.
FAA Reauthorization includes many details related to airport and infrastructure modernization, coping with pilot and ATC shortages, cybersecurity, pilot training, drone integration, and more. Historically, FAA Reauthorization has been difficult to pass. Before the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, the FAA worked under a series of extensions. The 2018 Act was the primary passed since 2012; and was the primary 5 yr reauthorization since 1982.
FAA Reauthorization and the Drone Industry
A timely passage of an FAA Reauthorization Bill is very important for the drone industry to maneuver forward. Each House and Senate versions of the Bill contain provisions related to the business drone and AAM industries. Within the immediate future, the FAA Reauthorization packages could drive a rulemaking on BVLOS flight in response to specific timelines and referencing the recommendations of the BVLOS ARC, which were released in March of 2022.
From H.R. 3935:
Along with directly addressing a BVLOS rulemaking, the packages define agency remits that include UAS flights over the arctic, carriage of hazardous materials by drone, funding for Know Before You Fly educational campaigns, integration, Distant ID, tethered drones for public safety, workforce development, and more. The House package, for instance, directs the FAA to rent more people for the usIntegration Office, and implement a UAS Integration strategy.
As FAA Reauthorization moves through Congress, the agency continues to be with out a everlasting leader. The FAA Administrator is appointed by the President with approval of the Senate. Since President Trump-appointed FAA Administrator Steve Dickson left the position mid-way through his 5 yr appointment in March of 2022, the agency has been led first by Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen and currently by Acting FAA Administrator Polly Trottenberg. President Biden’s first FAA Administrator nomination, Denver Airport CEO Phil Washington, withdrew from the method following questions on his depth of experience. Reportedly, President Biden will next nominate former FAA Deputy Mike Whitaker.
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