In an overwhelming vote Thursday evening the Senate approved the reauthorization of a major Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) bill, passing it over to the House just before a kay deadline.
With a vote of 88 to 4 lawmakers pushed through the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act which would renew authority to both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for five years, seeking to “strengthen aviation safety standards, grow air traffic controller & safety inspector workforce, implement safety technology on runways & in cockpits,” a U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation press release stated. (RELATED: FAA Probes Boeing Over Potential Lapse In 787 Dreamliner Inspections)
“The American people expect and deserve the safest, most reliable and modern aerospace system in the world and this landmark bill is intended to deliver just that. Our bipartisan legislation sets clear priorities to strengthen aviation safety standards, implement new safety technology, hire more Air Traffic Controllers and safety inspectors, give passengers a guaranteed right to a refund, advance innovation and modernize our air travel infrastructure nationwide. With tonight’s overwhelming vote, we are one step closer to getting this bill onto the president’s desk,” Democratic Washington Sen. and chair leader Maria Cantwell stated.
The Senate passing the FAA bill:
Preserves critical funding for airport security, training more air traffic controllers, and safety inspectors at manufacturing plants
Avoids costly delays to airport infrastructure projects
Avoids the furloughing of over 3,000 federal employees
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) May 10, 2024
Through the legislation over $105 billion in funds would be given to the FAA, along with the NTSB receiving $738 million within the fiscal years of 2024 through 2028. Among the provisions the bill is seeking to address within the industry, aviation safety such as enhancing aircraft certification reforms, ensuring response from FAA to service difficulty reports, and reducing runway “close calls” come after the industry has faced major issues.
“It was a privilege to lead this significant piece of bipartisan legislation. It included hundreds of key priorities from across the political spectrum and touching every state in the nation. It ultimately gives the FAA the stability it needs to fulfill its primary mission—advancing aviation safety—while also making travel more convenient and accessible. America’s aviation sector is the most innovative in the world, and this bill takes it to the next level by integrating the technologies of the future into our nation’s aerospace system,” Republican Texas Sen. and ranking member Ted Cruz stated.
“My bipartisan legislation will greatly benefit Texas’s thriving aviation industry by enabling testing for various cutting-edge technologies, improving critical infrastructure at airports across the Lone Star State, and making possible a direct flight from San Antonio International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.”
For months Boeing has been caught in the media’s attention as the company’s aircrafts have had a slew of problems. The most notable issue began at the beginning of the year when an American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9’s door plug ejected shortly after take off. The incident, along with various others, triggered an investigation by the FAA into Boeing, which found that there were a number of issues with Boeing’s safety operations.
Additionally an incident in mid-April at D.C.’s Reagan Airport (DCA) circulated online as air traffic controllers could be heard approving two planes for take off, however, they nearly collided.
With the Senate’s approval of the bill, the push would have pressed the House to take a vote on the legislation in a short turn around, but the lawmakers also passed a weeklong extension via unanimous consent Thursday after already being voted on by the House just a day prior, according to CNN. The House’s new deadline is set for May 17.