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Aviation stakeholders continue to warn Congress of the impending problems without the passage of a long-term FAA authorization bill. On Thursday, GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce testified before the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation, conveying the importance of swiftly passing the FAA Reauthorization bill to support the operational and programmatic direction of the agency, as well as the industry's path forward to increase safety and innovation.RELATED STORY:GA groups urge Congress to pass long-term FAA reauthorization bill
Bunce spoke at the hearing entitled "Turbulence Ahead: Consequences of Delaying a Long-Term FAA Bill" to urge officials to pass the long-term bill. The FAA Reauthorization bill was granted a short-term extension, giving the FAA authority through the end of 2023. Agencies like GAMA and the NBAA have been outspoken in the critical need of the bill's passage, reauthorizing the FAA for another five years. A collective of GA organizations submitted a written statement to the subcommittee for the hearing, including the AOPA, EAA, HAI, NASAO, NATA and the NBAA. Both the group statement and Bunce's testimony commended committee leadership and the entire House for passing the bill in the summer, expressing some optimism for U.S. Senate action soon.
In his testimony, Bunce highlighted some key aspects of the bill. These important features included a new assistant administrator for rulemaking and reviews of the current process to reduce inefficiencies and further safety, security and innovation priorities; agency certification expertise through investments into the FAA's digital capabilities and technical expertise, including training to improve safety and reduce unnecessary delays; agency progress in areas like safety management systems, advanced air mobility, unmanned aviation systems and cybersecurity; industry safety and competitiveness; the role of technology to improve safety and enhance the industry.
Other key points Bunce mentioned included the relationships between the industry, FAA and Congress; a pilot program to analyze the use of technology to deliver improved digital clearances to general aviation aircraft; the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions initiative to guarantee a safe and sound transition to unleased fuels in piston-engine aircraft; aviation environmental sustainability goals; advanced air mobility opportunities and related infrastructure; and the industry's maintenance and manufacturing workforce.
GAMA represents over 140 of the world's leading manufacturers of GA airplanes and rotorcraft, engines, avionics, advanced air mobility aircraft, components and related services and technology. A recent economic impact study determined that the GA industry supported $247 billion in economic output and 1.2 million jobs in the U.S. Bunce relayed support for the strong general aviation focus in the bill and applauded the U.S. Senate confirmation of Mike Whitaker to be FAA Administrator. Whitaker was confirmed on Oct. 25 after a 19-month vacancy in the permanent role. Bunce stressed that Congress must not give the admin the tools and support needed to be successful in his new role.
"Enacting a long-term reauthorization by the end of the year will provide a strong foundation for the agency and set a positive trajectory at an important juncture in time," Bunce said.RELATED STORIES:EPA issues grant to help disadvantaged communities in California transition to unleaded avgasSenate unanimously confirms FAA administrator after 19 month vacancyRepresentatives introduce new bill to bolster aviation workforceFAA releases guidelines for vertiports development for AAM aircraft
Bunce said that the agency is facing immense challenges including significant turnover and loss of expertise "compounded by the slow pace of FAA employees returning from remote work and insufficient employee training and mentoring." As well as job shortages and training issues nationwide, the agency is settling in with the first permanent administrator after a 572-day vacancy.
"For GAMA and its members, the stakes are clear: do we want Administrator Whitaker to spend his time managing lapses in authority and appropriations or focus his time on addressing the agency's significant challenges and taking advantage of opportunities?" he said. "As we have seen in the past, if action is not taken now, it will have both near-term and long-term impacts and set the agency back substantially."
He notes that the agency has made progress this year, but the regulatory process continues to face backlogs and needs reforms to better clarify roles and responsibilities. Much of the administrative concerns, workforce shortages and safety issues across the country have hindered the FAA in its efforts to expand its global presence during a new era in aviation, namely the integration of next-generation aircraft like eVTOLs and flying cars.
The bill includes several provisions that Bunce said would strengthen management and operations at the FAA, providing a strong direction for policy and improving aviation leadership. Bunce specifically mentioned that the bill includes the establishment of a Deputy Administrator for Programs and Management, a Deputy Administrator for Safety and Operations and an Associate Administrator for Rulemaking and Regulatory Improvement. These positions will help to better manage delays in confirming new leadership at the agency and facilitate more timely and efficient promulgation of rulemaking, policy and guidance. The House bill directs reviews of the regulatory process to build upon improvements.
Bunce said the bill encourages FAA leadership in civilian aviation on a global scale through engagement with international civil aviation authorities. The House-passed bill included a requirement for the development of a strategic plan for international engagement to measure compliance with international aviation safety agreements, strengthen the FAA's international office activity and improve the delivery of technical assistance.
"These provisions, from our perspective, will improve global civil aviation safety, environmental sustainability, and facilitate U.S. aerospace competitiveness in this dynamic era of rapid technological innovation," Bunce said in his testimony.
GAMA is in support of the committee's direction for AAM vehicles including the mandate for rulemaking to enable initial powered-lift operations by 2025 and a permanent regulatory framework for commercial operations and integration into the national airspace system within five years. The bill also includes directions for the infrastructure required by AAM, including electrification, in order to support electric propulsion and vertical flight through the development of vertiports.
Bunce said that GAMA strongly supports the expansion of critical aviation workforce development programs, initially authorized in 2018, which focus on pilots and maintenance workers and add a focus on manufacturing. Adding the manufacturing element will complement the goal of improving upon operational safety for design, production, operation and maintenance, thus, building a more diverse workforce for the aviation sector. Bunce also noted the increasing importance of introducing an unleaded fuel for piston-engine aircraft by 2030 given the recent release of the EPA's final determination that lead emissions are harming the public. Without FAA authorization, these critical concerns cannot properly be addressed or improved upon.
"GAMA has great hope that FAA Administrator Whitaker, Deputy Administrator Thomson, and the rest of the agency can make great progress in addressing these challenges," Bunce said. "However, it is imperative that Congress use all efforts to enact, in a bipartisan and bicameral fashion, a bill to reauthorize the FAA and fully join them in these critical efforts."