|
Regional Aviation News
House Transportation Sends FAA Reauthorization To Floor
May 22, 2003
The House Transportation Committee yesterday sent an amended version of the Flight 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2115) to the full House with an amendment that further reduces the number of new slots for Washington National Airport to 12 outside and eight inside perimeter slots, down from 24 and 12 respectively. Several jurisdictional issues remain unresolved, according to sources, and members want to move the measure through the full House before the August recess.
Transportation leadership late yesterday reached an agreement to further reduce the added slots. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) introduced — and then withdrew — an amendment to remove all added slots. She said, “The Senate has zero [added to its FAA reauthorization bill], which I believe is the right number.” Committee Chair Rep. Don Young (RAlaska) promised to continue working with Norton to ensure the current number of added slots remains in place.
H.R. 2115 reauthorizes FAA for four years and continues the protections of AIR-21. It ensures taxes and revenues in the aviation trust fund are spent on capital programs, such as airport improvements and air traffic control modernization. The bill funds the Airport Improvement Program at $3.4 billion in the first year, adding $200 million in each subsequent year. It increases AIP entitlement for cargo airports from 3% to 5%, funds the contract tower program, makes war risk insurance permanent for international service and extends it to 2007 for domestic service. It also allows DOT to extend war risk insurance to manufacturers and airline vendors. The measure authorizes $100 million to pay back general aviation hurt by security restrictions and allows for flight attendant certification. It also prohibits FAA from privatizing the ATC system. Rep. John Mica’s (R-Fla.) manager’s amendment authorizes funding for the Aviation Safety Reporting System, and an amendment championed by Rep. William Lipinski (D-Ill.) urges DOT treat fifth freedom and seventh freedom flights consistently. It includes a provision sponsored by Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.) prohibiting FAA from forcing airports to provide rent-free space and a mandate to study perimeter rules except those imposed by federal law.
The bill gives U.S. pilots the right to appeal if their licenses are revoked for security reasons and says Congress believes DCA should be opened to general aviation as soon as possible. The amendment mandates that the DOT secretary, no later than nine months after the bill is enacted, study the feasibility of the U.S. hosting a world-class international air show, a provision Mica inserted to put the Paris Air Show out of business (DAILY, May 21). An amendment sponsored by Rep. Steve Pearce (RN. M.) to permit small aircraft to provide small-community charter service was approved after some debate over whether it would open the way for small aircraft to increase congestion at hub airports. Young and ranking member James Oberstar (D-Minn.) wanted assurances the amendment would not allow charter operators to transform into scheduled service after Rep. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) said he was concerned it would add excess capacity to already crowded hubs. -DM
Source: Aviation Daily, May 22, 2003
|
|
|
www.RegionalAviationPartners.org |
|