The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today announced that U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Rep. Sam Graves (R-6-MO) and Ranking Member Rep. Rick Larsen (D-2-WA) will be part of a special Media Kickoff Breakfast discussion just before the start of the 2024 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) on Oct. 22.
At the event, the two congressional aviation leaders will join NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen and General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) President and CEO Pete Bunce to celebrate the landmark, bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill, which was signed into law earlier this year.
Graves and Larsen were instrumental in securing congressional passage of the legislation, which includes a first-ever general aviation (GA) title underscoring the sector’s importance as an essential American industry.
The bill reflects several NBAA priorities, including language focused on enhancing safety, streamlining regulations and improving certification processes for general aviation aircraft, supporting certification for advanced air mobility powered-lift aircraft and other technologies and protecting flight privacy.
Other welcome aspects of the FAA reauthorization measure include numerous process and protocol improvements for the FAA office of aerospace medicine, including pilot mental health, and removal of barriers for those seeking aviation careers while expanding the aviation workforce pipeline and improving training standards.
“Reps. Graves and Larsen are tireless, effective advocates for general aviation, and we look forward to hearing their perspectives on how the FAA reauthorization bill supports the industry and ensures the agency is able to meet the agency’s needs in a rapidly changing landscape,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen.
During his time in Congress, Graves has supported a number of measures aimed at fostering the growth of GA. A longtime aviator who grew up next to a small airport and was first elected to Congress in 2000, Graves represents a rural district that relies on GA for economic development, health care and other vital services.
Larsen’s district in northern Washington state includes more than 160 aerospace manufacturers and suppliers. He has supported numerous initiatives to advance the nation’s aviation industry and frequently emphasizes the importance of building its next generation workforce.
NBAA-BACE, taking place Oct. 22-24 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Henderson Executive Airport (HND), is the world’s most powerful business aviation event of the year. Learn more about NBAA-BACE.
