National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen recently applauded a bipartisan Senate bill that aims to authorize funding and programs for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2017, introduced by Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD), Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL) and other committee leaders, takes a consensus-driven approach to addressing the modernization of the nation’s air traffic control (ATC) system. The bill includes provisions for targeting support toward implementation of a Next Generation aviation system, streamlining aviation technologies certifications, enhancing aviation safety, and integrating unmanned aircraft systems into the National Airspace System.
“This bipartisan legislation is the right bill at the right time, helping strengthen and provide stability for the nation’s aviation system, so that it remains the world’s best five, 10 and 25 years from now,” Bolen said. “It takes into account the perspectives of all stakeholders, bringing specific, consensus-based solutions to challenges. On behalf of our more than 11,000 member companies, I thank Sens. Thune, Nelson and other Commerce Committee leaders for moving forward with this legislation.”
Additionally, the Senate bill lacks controversial language to privatize ATC oversight, with which the NBAA has had long-standing concerns. Privatization of ATC would turn over control of the ATC system – a natural monopoly that is overseen by the public’s elected representatives in Congress – to a new entity governed by private interests.