The U.S aerospace and defense industry directly employed 1.05 million workers in 2010 who received $84.2 billion in wages and who paid $15.4 billion in U.S. federal income taxes and $1.9 billion in state individual income taxes, according to a study commissioned by the Aerospace Industries Association. The industry has an estimated indirect and induced […]
Capital Comments
195 members of House tell president: No $100 fee
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The president’s 2013 budget plan to charge $100 per flight to aircraft using controlled airspace was never expected to be adopted and it got another major setback when 195 bipartisan members of the House of Representatives sent Obama a letter opposing the fee. “The letter is another clear example that user fees […]
GAO: NextGen over budget and behind schedule
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After causing the FAA to limp along on 23 temporary funding extensions, Congress finally passed a four-year authorization last month. A question now facing FAA watchers is: Will this steadier funding mean a smoothing of the turbulence the agency has seen in developing the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen)? A report […]
Death knell for LightSquared?
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After long and detailed — and often contentious — efforts to work out a safe way for LightSquared to build a network of about 40,000 land-based towers in the U.S. for high-speed wireless transmissions without interfering with GPS, the battle seems to be nearing a satisfactory conclusion for general aviation and others […]
100 mayors denounce Obama’s attacks on GA
WASHINGTON, D.C. — General aviation is a vital part of our economy and national infrastructure, and we are concerned about the repercussions of your statements about it. That, in essence was what the mayors of 100 communities in 48 states recently sent in a letter to President Obama. The letter was coordinated by the Alliance […]
Next step for Pilot’s Bill of Rights
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Pilot’s Bill of Rights is moving along through Congress after Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) recently introduced a companion bill to one introduced last year in the Senate by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), which now has more than 60 co-sponsors. The two bills are meant to improve the relationship between general aviation […]
Congress passes four-year FAA bill
After 23 short-term extensions, both chambers of Congress passed the four-year funding bill for the FAA. It now goes to the President, who is expected to sign it. This gives the FAA long-term planning after more than four years of delays. The House passed the bill last week and the Senate did so Monday, Feb. […]
Senate and House committees approve FAA funding
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Leaders in the Senate and House Tuesday reached agreement on long-term FAA legislation providing a four-year funding authorization, ending a series of 23 short-term extensions. Committees from both chambers met to vote whether or not to accept the report of the conference committee. Acceptance means the bill will be given to both […]
Senate passes FAA extension; schedules hearing on long-term authorization
Passage by the Senate of the 23rd extension of funding for the FAA keeps programs going until Feb. 17. The House had passed its short extension Jan. 24. Both Houses will now get busy on a full-term authorization. A short extension time was given after conferences resolved the primary issue that had prevented the two […]