The U.S. House on Tuesday Passed One More Continuing Resolution ...

March 30, 2011
... to keep the aviation system running. Egads, how long can this continue? The extension runs through May 31, and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chair John L. Mica (R-FL) comments, “Today’s extension will ensure that aviation programs continue to operate while Congress continues its work on legislation to set the policies and priorities for this critical leg of our nation’s economy.†H.R. 1079, the “Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011,†was approved by voice vote.  The bill extends FAA funding and programs at current levels for 60 days.  Current FAA funding authority expires at the end of this week. Says Aviation Subcommittee chair Tom Petri (R-WI), “H.R. 1079 is the first, and hopefully last, FAA extension of the 112th Congress.  It is a simple, clean, short-term extension of the FAA’s funding and programs. There is a strong commitment and much needed momentum to finally complete a long-term FAA bill, more than three years after the last reauthorization expired, and I fully believe we will do so.†On Thursday, the full House is scheduled to begin consideration of the four-year FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011 (H.R. 658), which Mica’s office says will save some $4 billion by streamlining and consolidating FAA programs and facilities, and increase the use of cost-effective programs. The bill would reduce spending to fiscal year 2008 levels, and require FAA to identify savings in a manner that does not negatively impact aviation safety. The Senate passed its aviation bill in February, and there are significant differences between the two. Among the issues that need to be resolved in conference committee are the fate of the Essential Air Service program; a possible increase to the passenger facility charge (PFC); and access to DCA for West Coast flights. A report in Monday’s USA Today highlights the fact that the House bill would cut airport funding to $3 billion a year, a 14 percent decrease from the $3.5 billion in place since 2006. The Senate bill would increase Airport Improvement Program funding to $4 billion a year. The newspaper references Greg Principato of ACI-NA, who relates that airports believe that the cuts would reduce their ability to keep up with future capacity demands. Then there’s funding for FAA itself. The House wants to cut FAA spending to 2008 levels. Mica says the agency could absorb the cuts without jeopardizing air safety or infringing on ATC modernization. Yet, industry groups and FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt say the agency is being challenged by the ongoing continuing resolutions … at the very least, certification of new aircraft (jobs) is being affected as FAA doesn’t have the resources to get the job done. Will reduced funding have a further impact? In the grand scheme of things – Libya, the Middle East, Japan, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and a Treasury Department’s printing press that is out of control – aviation may seem a minor blip on the D.C. radar screen. Of course, we in industry know it’s a job creator and global commerce generator. Thanks for reading. jfi