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Washington, DC – U.S.
Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Commerce, Science, and
Transportation Committee, today applauded Senate passage of the
Aviation Investment and Revitalization Vision Act (AIR-V), S. 824,
which would authorize $43.5 billion for Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) programs over the next three years.
“We must
continue to ensure the safety and efficiency of our aviation system
and the modernization of our air traffic control system. We must
continue to move towards more efficient operation of the FAA. And,
most importantly, strive to promote the security of our traveling
public,” McCain said.
This bill
would reauthorize FAA programs for three years and continue the
investments in the aviation system that began under AIR 21.
Specifically, it would authorize funding for:
· FAA
Operations at $7.6 billion for fiscal year (FY) 2004; $7.7 billion
for FY 2005; and $7.9 billion for FY 2006;
· The
Airport Improvement Program at $3.4 billion for FY 2004; $3.5
billion for FY 2005; and $3.6 billion for FY 2006; and
· The
Airway Facilities Improvement Program at $2.9 billion for FY 2004;
$2.97 billion for FY 2005; and $3.0 billion for FY 2006.
The
funding levels in this bill do not require any new or increased
taxes or user fees. The bill would create a process to enhance
airport capacity at certain large hub airports that significantly
add to delays in the national aviation system by ensuring that these
airports= needs are continually reviewed. It also attempts to
streamline the environmental review process by coordinating the
reviews by different agencies.
The
legislation makes several improvements and reforms to services to
small communities and the essential air service program by
continuing programs created in AIR-21 to incentivize communities to
take a greater ownership role in their service. It also allows the
communities flexibility to opt out of the program in return for
payment or to look at alternate services for the community.
The bill
extends the small community air service development pilot program,
established in AIR-21, until 2006, and provides funding of $27.5
million per year during the 3-year extension. It also clarifies that
40 communities per year may participate in the program and that no
community may participate twice.
Regarding
competition, the bill instructs the Secretary of Transportation to
study competition and airline access problems at hub airports.
Specifically, the Department of Transportation (DOT) is to look at
gate usage and availability, and the effects of pricing of gates and
other facilities on competition and access. Within 6 months, the
Secretary=s findings, conclusions, and recommendations are to be
submitted to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and
Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure.
In
addition, the bill requires that airports which deny applications by
an air carrier for access to gates or other facilities submit to the
Secretary notification of the denial and a report explaining the
reasons for the denial and a time line, if any, for when the request
will be accommodated.
For
security, the bill establishes the Aviation Security Capital Fund,
which is authorized with $500 million annually in security service
fees, which are already collected by the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA). The fund will be administered by the TSA and
the TSA will make grants to airports to assist with capital security
costs. The fund will allocate 40 percent to hub airports; 20 percent
to medium hub airports; 15 percent to small hub airports; and 25
percent is to be distributed at the Secretary=s discretion to
address security risks. At the same time, the bill protects the AIP
funding from continued raids on what was created for capital
improvement funding, but which in recent years has been used for
security funding.
The bill
also directs the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to
study the effectiveness of the aviation security system. Within 6
months, the Secretary=s findings, conclusions, and recommendations
are to be submitted to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure. The Secretary is directed to
redeploy the department=s resources based on the results of the
study.
For
aviation modernization, the bill establishes a new Office of
Aerospace and Aviation Liaison within the DOT. This office will be
charged with coordinating aviation and aeronautics research
programs, activities, goals, and priorities within the Federal
Government. Areas of responsibility include air traffic control,
technology transfer from government programs to private sector,
noise, emissions, fuel consumption, and safety.
The bill
also establishes a National Air Traffic Management System
Development Office within the FAA with the mission of developing a
next generation air traffic management system plan for the U.S. This
plan is required to focus on transforming the national airspace
system to meet air transportation mobility, efficiency, and capacity
needs beyond those currently included in the FAA=s Operational
Evolution Plan (OEP) in an effort to build on existing capabilities
while improving the security, safety, quality, and affordability of
the system.
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