Washington, DC, April 27, 2018 – The following is a statement by National Air Transportation Association (NATA) President Martin H. Hiller following today’s passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of H.R. 4 – The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. The legislation will reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through Fiscal Year 2023 and provide long-term funding and stability for the agency:
“The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) welcomes passage of bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the FAA and provide the agency with long-term funding and stability to continue modernizing our nation’s air traffic control system. We applaud House Transportation Committee Chairmen Bill Shuster and Frank LoBiondo and Ranking Members Peter DeFazio and Rick Larsen for leading this bill to passage in the House.”
“The legislation contains many NATA-supported provisions that will improve safety and address the needs of aviation businesses across the country, including efforts to streamline certification and flight standards processes — as well as improve the consistency of FAA regulatory interpretations. We are also pleased by the inclusion of studies to assess the current state of, barriers of entry into, and options to increase the future supply of individuals in the aviation workforce. Additionally, we welcome the inclusion of a provision to alleviate delays in compliance with existing federal regulations to vet prospective pilots through access to the National Driver Register.”
“We appreciate the addition of these pro-aviation provisions and NATA recommendations in the bill and look forward to working with both chambers of Congress to help enact into law a long-term FAA reauthorization bill that provides the FAA with the resources needed to maintain the world’s safest air traffic control system. This bill reflects the engagement and dedication of NATA and its members to help shape the policy that preserves safety for the aviation industry and ensures the continued development and implementation of NextGen and FAA reform,” Hiller concluded.
The Senate will soon vote on S. 1405, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2017, and a conference committee will convene to resolve differences between the House and Senate-passed measures. A comprehensive bill must be signed into law by September 30th, when current authority for the FAA expires.
To learn more about the journey to passage of H.R. 4 and provisions that benefit the general aviation community, listen to NATA's Legislative Affairs podcast
For general press inquiries, contact Shannon Chambers at 703-298-1347 or schambers@nata.aero.
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has been the voice of aviation business for more than 80 years. Representing nearly 3,700 aviation businesses, NATA’s member companies provide a broad range of services to general aviation, the airlines and the military and NATA serves as the public policy group representing the interests of aviation businesses before Congress and the federal agencies.