The fiscal year 2024 FAA funding package that was signed into law over the weekend is drawing praise for key provisions that NBAA said will boost business aviation. The U.S. Senate approved the package on Friday by a 75-22 vote as part of the multi-agency Consolidation Appropriation Act of 2024. Senate action followed House approval earlier last week.
Also last week, the U.S. Senate approved by unanimous consent the third extension of the FAA’s authorization, this time until May 10. That approval followed House passage a week earlier, and President Biden signed the measure on Friday before the agency’s authorization was set to lapse.
As for the 2024 funding bill, Congress provided a $20.28 billion budget for the FAA for the current fiscal year, a $1.25 billion increase over FY2023. NBAA commended the bill, saying it contains measures to strengthen the aviation industry, including various funding for research into sustainability efforts such as increasing production of sustainable aviation fuel and reducing aircraft noise.
“This important legislation bolsters our nation’s business aviation community and helps our industry move toward the next generation of safe, efficient, and sustainable mobility,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen.
Other measures NBAA highlighted would codify the FAA’s data privacy program, require the FAA to consider the diversity of business aviation in its forthcoming safety management system mandate, include funding for a Department of Transportation workforce outreach program, fund the hiring of 1,800 air traffic controllers, and provide grants to assist in the development of advanced air mobility infrastructure.
The bill provides $12.73 billion for the agency’s operations budget, including funding for improving the notam system and directives for improved oversight of production and manufacturing, as well as for a study on the future state of type certification. Further, it directs the FAA’s Flight Standards Service to continue to eliminate its backlog of certification applications and calls for a report within 90 days on the staffing allocated to Part 135 applications, size of backlogs, and time for processing. Another measure seeks updates on the agency’s progress on remote digital tower certification.
In addition, the appropriations package includes $3.43 billion for FAA facilities and equipment to accelerate NextGen modernization, $3.85 billion for the Airport Improvement Program, and $280 million for research, engineering, and development.