Congress To Consider Six-month FAA Extension

With just two days left before the FAA’s current authorization expires, congressional leaders are considering approving a six-month extension to hash out an agreement on a more comprehensive multi-year bill. House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) introduced the six-month measure, H.R.3614, on Friday; it would extend the FAA’s authority, the excise taxes and the treatment of fractional operations as non-commercial entities through March 31.

The bill could be passed as early as today and then move to the Senate for passage under unanimous consent, meaning it would be considered by voice vote. Senate leaders are amenable to the six-month extension, attempting last week to include such a measure in an omnibus government-wide stopgap funding bill. However, the senators were forced to drop that effort for procedural reasons.

Lawmakers say they were forced to turn to a temporary extension after other issues, such as highway reauthorization, moved to the forefront, providing little time for T&I leaders to forge consensus on controversial proposals in the longer-term bill, such as separating out the FAA’s ATC functions into an independent, organization funded by user fees. General aviation groups support the six-month extension. NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen noted it would mean “that the FAA can continue its essential work uninterrupted” while debate continues on a longer-term bill.