NBAA and NATA Welcome House Passage of Landmark Bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Measure

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and National Air Transportation Association (NATA) have applauded the U.S. House of Representatives’ approval of H.R. 3935, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, by a vote of 351-69. The bill reauthorizes Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs for the next five years while significantly improving the Agency’s operational efficiency, oversight of aviation safety, commitment to innovation, investment in the aviation workforce, and more. 

H.R.3935, also known as the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, contains several NBAA-supported provisions, including a first-ever general aviation title recognizing the sector’s important role in attracting new talent to the U.S. aviation industry, as well as targeted and meaningful improvements to the organization and protocols of the FAA, to increase the efficiency and the services of the agency.

H.R. 3935 contains extensive improvements to the FAA’s organizational structure and regulatory processes, addressing inefficiencies while providing increased opportunity for Agency/industry collaboration. NATA welcomes the bill’s review of rulemaking processes and creation of an ombudsman to provide impartial dispute mediation, as well as several NATA-proposed provisions to improve certification and continued regulatory oversight of part 135 charter operations. In addition, H.R. 3935 recognizes the general aviation (GA) sector’s vital national role by including the first-ever GA title, which makes critical reforms to FAA services for the GA sector including aircraft registration and designated pilot examiners. 

Ahead of floor consideration, the Rules Committee halted NATA-opposed amendments to erode federal preemption over the NAS as solidified by the Airport Noise and Capacity Act (ANCA), limit service to diverse communities provided by public charter operations, and prevent safe access to aviation fuels during the national transition to unleaded fuel. In addition, the House Rules Committee rejected the Obernolte-Cartwright amendment, which—in contrast to the discretion airports have today to provide public ramps—would have created a national mandate that all public-use airports provide subsidized parking for transient private aircraft and required fixed based operators (FBOs) to allow free access in many cases. 

With House passage of H.R. 3935 complete, attention will shift to the Senate’s FAA reauthorization bill, S.1939, which remains under consideration by the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. Both House and Senate measures must be passed, reconciled and signed into law ahead of the expiration of the current FAA authorization on Sept. 30, 2023.