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AIA Applauds House and Senate Conferees On FAA Reauthorization Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. July 29-- Legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration for the next four years was agreed upon by House and Senate conferees last week, creating a number of provisions strongly supported by the aerospace industry.

The Aerospace Industries Association commended the House and Senate Transportation committees for their implementation of a number of recommendations issued last year by the Commission on the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry, most notably the creation of a joint program office for the future development of air traffic management.

AIA President and CEO John W. Douglass said Rep. Don Young (R-AK), House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair, Sen. Trent Lott (R- MS), Aviation Subcommittee Chair, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Commerce Committee Chair, Rep. John Mica (R-FL), House Aviation Subcommittee Chair, should be congratulated for their diligent work. Douglass said, "The aerospace commission laid out a vision for the future of air transportation in a series of recommendations designed to streamline air traffic management, increase capacity and strengthen our air transportation infrastructure overall as a machine for economic growth. The conferees have begun the transformation of our air transportation system in this legislation by making it a national priority, and in doing so, have captured that vision by improving air capacity, safety and security."

Specifically, H.R. 2115 provides for:

• The extension of war risk insurance to aircraft manufacturers, at the discretion of the Transportation Department;
• Taxes and revenues coming into the Aviation Trust Fund from passengers and pilots to be fully spent and that capital programs for airport improvement and air traffic control modernization are fully funded;
• Funding for the FAA's air traffic control facilities and equipment slightly above the administration's request;
• Funding for the Airport Improvement Program at the administration's request--$3.4 billion-in the first year, increasing by $100 million a year for each subsequent year;
• Funding for FAA operations at the administrations request;
• Funding for wake vortex advisory system;
• Streamlining for airport capacity, safety and security projects;
• Scholarships for the aviation and aerospace workforce.

  P.A. Rel 2003-25

  07.29.03

  -AIA-
  
  

  Contact: Matt Grimison, AIA
  (703) 358-1076
  matt.grimison@aia-aerospace.org