More than 80 members of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) recently sent a letter to Congressional members asking them to push for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reform.
“U.S. aircraft manufacturers and suppliers need a stable and well-understood regulatory environment if we are to plan, hire and invest effectively – and with confidence – for the future,” the letter said. “We strongly urge Congress to enact FAA certification streamlining reforms before the end of 2017.”
The FAA’s Section 312 Aviation Rulemaking Committee submitted its recommendations for streamlining in 2012, and many of the recommendations have been used in FAA reauthorization bills.
The letter was sent to Sen. John Thune (R-SD), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee and sponsor of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2017, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), ranking member of the committee and cosponsor of the bill, Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee, and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), ranking member of the committee.
The act provides $41.2 billion in funding over four years. For fiscal year 2018, $10.1 billion was authorized.
The act also reforms many FAA procedures.
In the United States, the aerospace and defense industry employs 2.4 million people and represents 13 percent of the country’s manufacturing base.