The House of Representatives has approved H.R. 6503, an extension of the FAA’s authority through March 8, 2024, in the absence of Congress enacting a long-term FAA reauthorization bill by Dec. 31, 2023.
The House’s long-term FAA reauthorization bill, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (H.R. 3935), was approved by the House on July 20, 2023, by a vote of 351 to 69.
But the Senate has yet to act on the House bill or introduce one of its own, leaving the agency in limbo.
“We remain committed to enacting a comprehensive, long-term FAA reauthorization bill as soon as possible,” noted leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, including Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Garret Graves (R-LA), and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Steve Cohen (D-TN). “Such a bill is vital to ensuring the United States continues its global leadership in aviation and remains the gold standard in aviation safety.”
“Our long-term bipartisan bill, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, passed the House by a wide margin nearly five months ago, but the Senate has yet to act on our bill or a bill of their own. Because of the Senate’s inaction, today’s extension is necessary to ensure the continued safe operation of our aviation system,” the statement continued.
“But make no mistake — the Senate must promptly act on a long-term bill, as a series of short-term extensions hamstrings FAA operations, maintains outdated policies, and fails to provide critical policy updates for aviation safety, efficiency, innovation, and more.”
Nice fantasy land idea.
Why must we always assume we need the FAA at all? Aircraft certification can easily be handled by industry itself as in many other sectors. Homebuilding is already well supervised by kit makers and the EAA. Private, for-profit companies do a great job of weather forecasting these days. Most airports could and should be privatized. The unprofitable would close, but many would thrive once freed from crushing government regulation and the crony businesses that feed off fat government contracts. Towers can be operated by for-profit companies and funded by their users. Don’t need controlled airspace? Don’t pay for it. Taxpayers would save a fortune and airports would once again focus on pilots and aircraft owners, and not on maintaining bloated bureaucrat-for-life jobs.
I take it you are not a pilot. General aviation is already struggling. Privatization will kill it.