The National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) recently issued its support for the House of Representatives’ passage last week of the $97 billion Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2018.
The House approved 107 amendments to the bill with most being offered and considered as a group and had bipartisan support for many issues NASAO considered important.
These issues included the creation of a remote air traffic control tower pilot program, the continuation and reform to the Federal Contract Tower Program, the reauthorization of the Essential Air Service program, an increase to airport construction funding, and the expansion of the state block grant program from 10 to 20 states.
NASAO also supported the defeat of air traffic control system privatization and language in the bill that will expand commercial drone operations.
“NASAO was pleased to report that an amendment, sponsored by U.S. Rep. (Chuck) Fleischmann (R-TN), to reduce the cost of and construction time for critical pavement projects while maintaining the highest level of safety, was adopted. NASAO worked with Rep. Fleischmann’s office to draft the legislation and navigate the amendment through the approval process,” the organization said.
NASAO hopes the Senate will consider the bill before the August recess. Current FAA reauthorization expires in September.