GAMA calls on Obama administration to issue small airplane certification rule

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Officials with the General Aviation Manufacturers Association are calling on the Obama administration to issue the final rule to implement the Small Airplane Revitalization Act, noting that the deadline set for the final rule is today, Dec. 15.

“Today marks the deadline set by the U.S. Congress more than two years ago for the FAA to issue a final rule to help get new innovative general aviation airplanes and safety technologies to market,” said GAMA President Pete Bunce. “Signed into law by President Obama on Nov. 27, 2013, the Small Airplane Revitalization Act — which passed both chambers of Congress unanimously — was hailed by proponents as dramatically enhancing safety while simultaneously being a pro-jobs and pro-export initiative. The FAA administrator cited on many occasions that this new rule will reduce regulatory costs while improving safety.

“What’s happened to this important initiative over the past two years? While the rule is highly technical, and we believe the FAA has worked diligently to develop a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for public consideration, they and other federal departments and offices have failed to get this NPRM through the bureaucratic process. This will, in turn, delay issuance of a final rule.

“It is very disappointing that they have not found ways to comply with the law of the land, despite repeated requests by, and assistance from, industry to do so,” he continued. “By comparison, European regulators have found a collaborative way to work with industry on moving a rule forward, and now stand ready to issue their rule before the U.S. — despite the fact that the vast majority of the world’s general aviation aircraft fly in U.S. airspace.

“At a time when Americans are increasingly frustrated by their government and its lack of responsiveness and accountability, the absence of action on the Small Airplane Revitalization Act serves as yet another example of bureaucratic paralysis. In the interests of general aviation safety and innovation, it is the strong desire of the entire general aviation community for the administration to rapidly place priority on an effort to publish the NPRM by the end of this year.”