Summary
- Senate passes $105bn FAA reauthorization bill with new provisions to improve aviation safety and training standards.
- Pilot union ALPA praises bill, urges expedited House action.
- Controversial additional slots at DCA remain in bill despite opposing senators’ safety concerns.
The US Senate has passed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill a day before the deadline. Pilots union Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) has praised the move, saying it will improve aviation safety and training standards.
Senate passes FAA reauthorization
The Senate voted 88 to 4 in favor of the $105 billion bill, which had several last-minute amendments, including one to block the addition of slots at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). With some lawmakers calling for an extension to Friday’s deadline, it wasn’t clear if the bill would get over the line – in fact, the FAA said it would have been forced to furlough up to 3,600 workers had it not been sealed in time.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer eventually called for a vote on Thursday evening, with it apparent that the amendments would not be thrashed out in time. Many lawmakers used the opportunity to advance unrelated proposals, holding up the bill’s passing and making an extension look increasingly likely. Schumer said,
“Aviation safety has been front of mind for millions of Americans recently, and this FAA bill is the best thing Congress can do to give Americans the peace of mind they deserve.”
Related
FAA Reauthorization Extension Likely Amid Amendments Including Dispute Over DC Flights
The deadline expires on May 10th with a short-term extension on the table.
Pilots weigh in
Pilot union ALPA has urged the House to expedite the bill’s arrival to President Biden’s desk. Among the provisions include a rejection of raising the pilot retirement age from 65 to 67 and a commitment to maintaining high training standards.
Photo: ALPA PROD | Shutterstock
Captain Jason Ambrosi, president of ALPA, commented,
“Today’s action by the Senate is a major step forward for the safety and security of our nation’s skies, and I urge the House to act expeditiously to enact this groundbreaking bipartisan bill. The world’s safest aviation system will be substantially strengthened under this bill, and passengers and crewmembers owe lawmakers a debt of gratitude.”
Passenger rights will also benefit greatly through new rules on automatic refunds and transparency on ancillary charges following final rules put forward by the US Department of Transportation (USDOT).
Reagan National slots remain
The heavily-contested addition of five daily take-off and landing slots at DCA was ultimately not removed from the bill despite a late push from proponents Ben Cardin, Tim Kaine, Chris Van Hollen, and Mark Warner. These four senators – the only ones to vote against the bill on Thursday – argued that the airport is already overstretched, citing the near-miss last month when two Southwest Airlines and JetBlue aircraft could have collided due to an ATC miscommunication.
Photo: Douglas Litchfield | Shutterstock
Kaine and Warner said in a joint statement,
“The Senate abdicated its responsibility to protect the safety of the 25 million people who fly through DCA every year. They didn’t want to show the American people that they care more about a few lawmakers’ desire for direct flights than they care about the safety and convenience of the traveling public. That is shameful and an embarrassment.”
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