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The deadline for the second extension for FAA authorization is approaching and 23 aviation groups have sent a letter urging the U.S. Senate to pass the bill. The FAA Reauthorization bill was due to expire just after midnight on Oct. 1, 2023 but as officials continue to debate the bill and other government funding, two extensions have passed, extending the authority of the FAA. Groups like the NBAA, EAA, HAI, GAMA and AOPA joined in sending the letter, and are asking for members to also reach out.
The aviation sector is responsible for about five percent of the U.S. gross domestic product and brings with it more than 10 million jobs. The second extension will expire on March 8, 2024 and the coalition calls for the swift passage of the bill.
"Our air transportation system is complex and we need to ensure that our airspace continues to be the safest aviation system in the world," the letter said. "To maintain this global gold standard in safety, the FAA must have the stability and direction provided for by a multi-year reauthorization bill."RELATED STORIES:NTSB letter to Senate says lapse in funding could impact ongoing investigationsSecond short-term extension for FAA authorization introducedGAMA President warns Congress of dangers without FAA reauthorizationGA groups urge Congress to pass long-term FAA reauthorization billShort-term funding bill extends FAA authorization
Other agencies, like the NTSB, have also voiced concern over the potential impact on the industry without the bill's passage. The NTSB sent a letter to the Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, voicing concerns that a shutdown would inhibit the over 1,200 open investigations and the response to future incidents. Without an agreement, critical workers like air traffic controllers and Transportation Safety Officers would be required to work without pay until an agreement is reached, performing crucial tasks without a paycheck until the bill is passed and they can be reimbursed. Many employees cannot afford to work without a paycheck, even temporarily, making this setback a serious detriment to many important members of the industry.
"If the FAA is not promptly reauthorized, the national airspace system will not have the proper staffing and infrastructure to keep aviation moving," the letter said. "Today's service disruptions and capacity reductions will be further exacerbated. We simply can't afford our national air system to continue to be stretched so thin. With passage of this bill, we can move forward on safety, not backward."
The letter stresses how critical it is that the Commerce Committee advances the bill so the House and Senate can complete the necessary work before the nearing deadline.Read the full letter here and submit your thoughts to your senator here
"Additional extensions create further delays in the system," the letter said. "We need a long-term authorization to provide the stability, investment, and planning for aviation to meet its mission of safe and efficient transportation."
The bill was introduced on June 13, 2023 and is still stalled in the Commerce Committee. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the FAA Reauthorization bill in July with an overwhelming 351-69 vote but without consensus in the Senate. Congress has since issued two short-term extensions of the previous 2018 FAA Reauthorization to maintain steady operations, the first was set to expire on Dec. 31, 2023 and the second, issued before the end-of-2023 deadline, extended authorization through March 8. The groups are asking members to reach out to Senate leaders and urge them to pass the bill.