... might actually pass long-term FAA reauthorization by next week. No, really. That’s right, Spike, our elected representatives could finally do the right thing. At least that’s the word from Eric Byer, vice president of industry and government affairs for the National Air Transportation Association.
Congress recently passed a one-month continuing resolution to keep FAA operating and the stop/start funding process moving. Even Byer is having trouble remembering what number continuing resolution we are currently on – is it 12, or 13?
Byer says that the impasse was broken this week when Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) agreed to back off the FedEx/UPS provision which ultimately seeks to bring unions to FedEx (the two carriers are regulated by different federal laws due to the fact that UPS began as a ground carrier). Relates Byer, “I think it was the fact that Oberstar was willing to allow the Senate to get off FedEx provision. I’m not sure why he did. That’s pretty much been the major sticking point all along.â€
Other issues still on the table include expanding the DCA perimeter rule to allow flights to the West Coast, and continued “wrangling†over an increase in the passenger facility charge cap, currently set at $4.50. Airport groups want the cap raised to at least $7; Byer says he’s hearing talk of “perhaps a dollar†increase.
Another sticking point has been Rep. Oberstar’s call for more stringent piloting requirements, following last year’s Colgan Air crash in Buffalo. It’s been expected that those heightened requirements would extend to Part 135 charter operators as well. FAA has been reviewing the Part 135 regs for some six years, and an industry aviation rulemaking committee (ARC) made a list of recommendations several years back which, Byer says, FAA incorporated into a proposed rule and then nothing happened.
Comments Byer, “The rewrite, if you will, is what came out of the ARC six years ago. They came out with a list of recommendations which FAA put into rulemaking format but then never issued and listed in the Federal Register; I don’t know what happened.â€
Apparently, Congress plans on adjourning the latest session a week early, so next week is the target. Stay tuned.
Thanks for reading. jfi