The FAA may soon have a new position designed just for general aviation.
U.S. Representative Sam Graves (R-Missouri) said that he will “seek creation of an FAA position that is specific to addressing GA issues and fostering that segment of the industry.”
“We also must do a better job of getting young folks involved in aviation,” he added. “Whether it’s to be a pilot, mechanic or technician, training takes commitment and it takes money. I know the industry is looking at some very innovative ways of bringing workforce in and helping to foster that but we really do need to be thinking outside the box.”
Graves made the announcement during the No Plane, No Gain Breakfast during the 2022 National Business Aviation Association Convention in Orlando, Florida.
Graves, an avid general aviation pilot and aircraft owner, is the ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and co-chair of the House General Aviation (GA) Caucus.
During the breakfast, another lawmaker, Representative Rick Larsen (D-Washington), noted that the committee is spooling up for the upcoming debate over FAA reauthorization in 2023.
“We have opportunities to make sure we take care of the ‘classic hits’ — safety, certification, air service, and other issues — as well as the next ‘Top 40,’” he said. “Those are the things on the horizon, including new entrants to the airspace, commercial space, and looking at the aviation workforce.”
Larsen, who chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, noted that “includes not only fostering a new and diverse field of aircraft pilots, maintainers and others, but also ensuring the FAA’s own workforce is up to the task of fulfilling its mandates to ensure aviation safety and certify new aircraft.”
I guess we have to choose between the lesser of two evils. We pay for impenetrable government bureaucracies in our taxes, and quite frankly, if you ever had to deal with EASA in euroland, you’d consider the FAA a visit from Santa Claus. The FAA is at least slightly responsive to your congressman. Sometimes. There are also people in the FAA who are aviation enthusiasts, so we do have some people on our side. The mission statement of EASA, on the other hand, seems to be to eliminate anything with fewer than 400 seats as a complete nuisance.
Consider privatization – it has to “make a profit” (the more the better), and that means costs are going to go WAY up and “customer service” will nosedive. “Thank you for calling us at the Private Aviation Regulatory Company, a division of your local cable TV company and phone company, and we don’t have to care because we’re owned by the phone company. Your estimated wait time is nine years. Have a nice day, and send money. Not happy with our service? Take the bus.” It will make going to the DMV seem like a vacation in heaven.
Aviation is considered a “public good”, like the interstate highway system, and should properly be considered as a function of government. Privatizing it doesn’t guarantee better results or lower costs. It can be improved (almost anything can be), but a private, for profit company isn’t going to listen to you at all unless you bring lawyers, and probably not even then.
Be careful what you wish for, you may get it.
Why don’t you go after the Insurance industry that indiscriminately uses one variable, age, to drum pilots out of aviation. Air traffic controllers similarly. I thought that’s why we have flight proficiency standards and required medical exams.
Where is AFS 800 when we need them to protect our rights and fight against age discrimination
Go do something with the apparatus that exists to keep all those who are able still flying.
We already have a very strong GA Advocate in the Federal Air Surgeon. Dr Northrup is the first FAS in my memory to be a Private Pilot, and owner with her husband of a T-6 and a Stearman. When I was a Senior AME in the Southern Region, she was always trying to help me get Special Issuances for local pilots.
Uh…they already have that……
It’s called AFS-800, the General Aviation and Commercial Division.
How about addressing Missouri’s puppy mill issue instead of wasting taxpayer dollars on creating a position for which an entire division of positions already exists.
Look at what he is proposing. “We also must do a better job of getting young folks involved in aviation,”
The this proposal is SOFT, Non Measurable, and is the job of private industry, not a Govt Employee. We do not need more government employees. Privatize, Downsize, whatever, but adding more people to an already bulging Govt. organization is not the answer.
Whoever is voting on this suggestion, please vote NO. Thank you. Steve Shields. CMEL, Instrument, CFI.
Can we get away from the term “diversity” and embrace the words “best”, “talented” and even, “capable”? We don’t need diversity in aviation, we need quality.
I’ve been to flight schools all over the country, and have yet to see a “White Males Only” sign. If someone wants it badly enough, it’s there for the taking. .
Aviation scholarships are open to all who apply. Finance options are open to all, as well.
Yes, it is expensive….have you checked put the cost of grad school, med school, law school, lately?
You’re absolutely right. The defense of “diversity” is only a political position.
What will happen when you privatize the FAA? Will you have it be a stock based entity?
And who will end up owning the shares? The airlines?
Just how will this new FAA Corp get funding? By charging for each landing? How about ATC, charging for the filing of an IFR plan, opening that plan, closing it, etc.?
Will fuel taxes be sent to this FAA Corp to fund it? And will they decide that the airlines need a rebate on their fuel taxes, then who makes up the shortfall?
You think your medical costs are a bit pricey now? What will the FAA medical group have to charge for you to get your medical? And this will be on top of your AME’s charges.
I agree that the FAA needs to be overhauled. But privatizing it will put us in the position of Europe (and others that set up their ATC to be pay as you go) and their costs. Is this why we have so many foreign students that come here to learn to fly so they can get a job with the airline(s) in their country?
TEL has become a big issue. This started in 1973. And here we are 49 years later and we still have to have TEL in the fuel. Wasn’t one of the missions of the FAA to promote aviation? And they have done that by making things how expensive?
Privatization isn’t the answer. You wouldn’t want your local police department privatized. Besides, look at most big corporations, they have their own bureaucracies, just like government.
The reason it now is 31Trillion is the wasteful spending going on. FAA was always airlines first. GA was always a second thought. The FAA budget is 18+ billion and anyone that worked for them knows it is pure politics and who you know.
Yes it should be privatized or at least the NTSB should be increased and my approach the problems from there?
Yet another government employee in a nation with $31T debt. Not a good idea. How about privatizing the FAA. Let the industry police itself without bureaucrats-for-life telling them what to do.