NATA News

Last week, the U.S. Senate approved a four-bill “minibus” spending package (H.R. 6147), including S. 3023, the Fiscal Year 2019 transportation appropriations bill. The legislation provides $17.7 billion in total budgetary resources for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fund the modernization of our nation’s air transportation system in the next fiscal year. “NATA appreciates the support of the Transportation Appropriations Committee to fund projects and programs important to the general aviation industry, including full funding for the Contract Tower Program and additional support for alternative fuels research,” stated NATA President Marty Hiller in a press release following the bill’s passage. 

Hiller noted NATA requests included in the legislation, such as efforts to improve the quality of Part 135 incident reporting data and the establishment of an electronic guidance library that will eliminate outdated or conflicting policies. “The hard work shown by congressional appropriators in passing this bill validates the importance of continued collaboration between the FAA and the general aviation community," Hiller concluded. 

A House and Senate conference committee will convene in the coming weeks to develop agreed-upon compromise legislation. This legislation, and other appropriations bills, must be signed into law by September 30^th.

Continue to follow NATA’s social media for updates on these important bills to the general aviation community.

As the U.S. Senate prepares to consider legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), AOPA is working to include language that seeks to force airports to use AIP funds to provide through-the-gate ramp access, as well as regulate how fees and prices are communicated at any airport which receives federal funding. Under the proposal, airport operators would be required to provide “a reasonable amount” of public ramp space for transient parking for general aviation aircraft, to be paid for with AIP funds. Additionally, the language is asking for the FAA to regulate how aviation businesses advertise and sell their products and services. 

The general aviation community has many questions with this language and worries that this initiative risks increasing costs for users, will redirect resources from important operational and safety projects at airports, and fails to recognize how airports carry out mandates from TSA and satisfy its rigorous requirements. 

NATA is continually educating the public and Capitol Hill on the detrimental impact this proposed language could have the general aviation community and aviation businesses across the country, if enacted. 

Through NATA’s online and print resources, the public and industry will gain a better understanding of the landscape of general aviation, and what it provides to communities in every state, to avoid potential unintended consequences from AOPA’s campaign.