The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) scored a victory this week following the House Appropriations Committee’s approval of a $16.6 billion budget for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The committee did so by advancing the Fiscal Year 2018 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funding bill, which covers the period from October 1 onward. Additionally, the approved legislation also contains a number of provisions sought by NATA for the greater aviation business community, including directing the FAA to collaborate with academic and industry partners to develop standards for certifying additive manufacturing components for aerospace use.
“NATA thanks the House Appropriations Committee for rejecting the Trump Administration’s proposal to short-fund the agency,” NATA President Martin Hiller said of the decision. “The Committee-approved legislation provides an additional $434 million above President Trump’s request, continuing the trend by Congress of providing additional FAA funding, averaging 103% of the agency’s request over the last ten years alone. This demonstrates yet again the congressional budget process is not a legitimate justification for privatizing the nation’s air traffic control system.”
The legislation also stresses several issues raised by NATA. It specifically requests the FAA consider streamlining the certificate process for maintenance, repair and operations with multiple locations, update an impact study of the Part 135 community and to come up with ways to speed along the certificate process for small business pilots.