July 6, 2015
Congressional leaders announced July 1 that they have delayed the anticipated introduction of a proposed House FAA reauthorization bill. Industry stakeholders, including NBAA, expected the measure to be released last week. The bill would reportedly have outlined plans for creating a privatized air traffic control (ATC) system funded with user fees.
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen emphasized the delay wouldn’t alter the Association’s strong concern over proposals for ATC privatization and user fees.
“We have clearly communicated our opposition to a privatized ATC system funded with user fees in the weeks since our industry was first made aware that such provisions might be included in an FAA reauthorization bill,” he added. “This latest development provides additional time for NBAA, its Members and other general aviation (GA) stakeholders to continue making Congress aware of our concern over such proposals.”
On June 24, Bolen issued a Call to Action for NBAA Members to make their voices heard about ATC privatization and user fees with lawmakers, utilizing advocacy tools such as NBAA’s Contact Congress resource. Read NBAA’s Call to Action. Within hours after Bolen sounded the Call to Action, thousands of people had sent e-mails to Congress using the resource.
That message has also been front-and-center at recent industry events, including NBAA’s June 25 Regional Forum at New Jersey’s Teterboro Airport (TEB) and during a panel discussion of aviation leaders held during the National Air Transportation Association’s (NATA’s) 2015 Aviation Business Conference, held in Washington, DC on June 18. Review Bolen’s comments from the NATA conference.
Bolen offered similar warnings during the fifth annual JETNET iQ Global Business Aviation Summit in New York City, and in a special edition of NBAA’s Flight Plan podcast. Review Bolen’s comments at the JETNET event, and listen to the June 25 edition of NBAA’s Flight Plan.
Current FAA funding will expire on Sept. 30. Once a House bill is introduced, the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee is expected to review the draft before it moves forward for consideration by the full House of Representatives.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.