House Panel Highlights Measures in Upcoming FAA Bill

Improved certification processes, strengthened pilot protections in voluntary reporting programs and increased cybersecurity are a few of numerous issues that the House version of comprehensive FAA reauthorization legislation is expected to address. While the bill is not anticipated until September, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released an outline of measures to expect in what with be called the Aviation Innovation, Reform and Reauthorization Act (AIRR). 

As expected, the outline specified plans to establish an independent, not-for-profit corporation that would be funded by a user fee structure that is “insulated from the federal budget process.” Air traffic controllers would move to the corporation. But the outline provides few additional details about the fee structure or governance. The outline, however, does include eight bullet points dedicated to improvements to FAA certification processes and efforts to become more consistent with regulatory interpretation. Additionally, the bill will call for streamlined approval processes for installation of safety equipment on general aviation aircraft.

The outline touches on nearly two-dozen other issues from removal of “unnecessary restrictions on the passenger facility charge” and consumer rights protections to better methods of aircraft tracking and FAA workforce training.  The bill also will focus on facilitating the entry of unmanned aircraft systems into the market. The outline, however, does not specifically address third-class medical or other Pilot’s Bill of Rights II pilot protections.