Summary
- The new FAA Reauthorization Bill has granted over $105.7 billion granted to the FAA and NTSB.
- Multiple stakeholders, including airline associations and pilots unions, have praised the bill.
- The bill still needs to be signed by the current and US President, Joe Biden.
Multiple aviation industry stakeholders, including pilot unions, airlines, and airline associations, have praised the new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Bill 2024, which will keep the FAA, as well as the National Transportation Board (NTSB) fully funded through the financial year 2028.
More than $105.7 billion to the FAA and NTSB
According to a statement released by the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the bill has granted over $105.7 billion to the FAA and NTSB, enabling both agencies to continue their activities through 2028.
The $105 billion granted to the FAA will be dedicated to at least four different initiatives, with the largest slice, $66.7 billion, being dedicated to funding critical safety programs, including the aircraft certification reform to air carrier oversight. The funds will enable the hiring, training, and retention of safety-critical staff like air traffic controllers (ATC) and engineers.
Photo : Chad Robertson Media | Shutterstock
Up to $19.35 billion in funding will be provided to airports across the US, improving the FAA’s infrastructure at more than 3,300 airports. The goal is to meet increasing demand and integrate emerging technologies, the statement noted.
$17.8 billion will be used to improve the regulator’s facilities and equipment, modernizing key technologies and systems that should ensure the resilience and further development of the US National Airspace System (NAS).
Lastly, the FAA will have $1.59 billion to research, engineer, and develop technologies to keep the US “competitive in the global race for innovative and sustainable aerospace technology.” The NTSB has received $738 million in appropriations, covering additional workforce training, additional investigative authorities, and ensuring access to data after safety events.
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No reregulation
In a statement issued shortly after the bill had passed the US legislative chambers, Nicholas Calio, the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Airlines 4 America (A4A), stated that he was grateful for the leadership displayed by the members of the US House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
“This bill makes crucial investments in our national airspace infrastructure so that we can continue to operate the safest and most efficient airspace in the world.”
Photo: NYC Russ | Shutterstock
However, Calio noted that the most important development was that the bill did not include provisions to “reregulate the airline industry,” whose deregulation in 1978 has allowed air travel to flourish within the US. The A4A CEO added that before deregulation, flying was reserved for the wealthy, while now, 90% of US citizens have boarded an aircraft in their lifetime. To note, on May 13, two days before the FAA Reauthorization Bill of 2024 passed both the US House and Senate, major US airlines joined A4A, which sued the Department of Transportation (DOT) over a rule to disclose fees to passengers.
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Safety improvements
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), citing its president Jason Amborsi, read that the union praised the bill as being overwhelmingly supported by both parties in both chambers. ALPA also thanked its members for working tirelessly to ensure the bill maintained its world-leading pilot-training standards, rejecting any attempts to raise the pilot retirement age from 65 to 67 arbitrarily.
“ALPA strongly advocated for key provisions that were included in the final bill, including measures to break down barriers, open up opportunities to ensure a robust and qualified pipeline of aviators, and provide air-service support for those living in rural and small communities without lowering the bar on safety.”
Photo: Embraer
While the bill now has to be signed by the incumbent US president, Joe Biden, the White House’s statement on May 8 read that while it supported the substitute amendments made to the bill, some of the Administration’s proposed provisions were not included in the bill. This includes the implementation of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) global market-based measures developed with the support of the US aviation industry.
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