Getting tired of reading these yet?
FAA Reauthorization Bill: On Thursday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee reported out H.R. 915, the FAA reauthorization bill, by voice vote. This legislation has been in limbo since October 2007 when the last FAA reauthorization expired. H.R. 915 is a $70 billion bill that will fund the FAA through 2012. It includes significant funds for modernization and NextGen, a Pilot Fatigue Study, and many ALPA priorities such as: Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Wake Turbulence, Weather, and Runway Safety.
Despite protests from the European Union and Committee Republicans, the bill includes strong provisions on inspection and oversight of foreign aircraft repair stations. It also reaffirms the U.S. citizenship requirements for actual control of U.S. air carriers. The bill also reflects ALPA’s priorities related to energy and global climate change policy with provisions for alternative fuel research.
During the Committee's consideration of the bill, a "manager's amendment" - or package of amendments offered by the Chairman - was approved. The manager’s amendment included additional ALPA priorities such as a study to limit access to the flight decks of all-cargo aircraft. The amendment also included ALPA’s suggestion to investigate the impact of wind turbines on radar signals. Furthermore, the Committee's report will include ALPA's suggested language clarifying the pilot fatigue study.
The manager's amendment also included Chairman Oberstar's bill, H.R. 813, related to anti-trust immunity. The provision requires a GAO study of the legal requirements followed by the DOT in deciding whether international alliances may be exempt from anti-trust law. Existing grants of anti-trust immunity related to international alliances are sunset for three years.
CrewPASS: On the security front, the TSA asked ALPA and the CrewPASS contractor, ARINC, to meet this coming week to discuss implementation of biometrics into the system. TSA told us back in November that the agency was “very close” to issuing standards for CrewPASS, but they have yet to do so. We’ll continue to push TSA on this issue, as CrewPASS cannot be expanded to other airports before those standards are approved.
FY 2010 Budget: Last Thursday, the administration released its FY 2010 budget proposal. The President’s transportation budget includes $800 million for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) to modernize the Air Traffic Control System.
The 2010 budget supports moving from a ground-based radar surveillance system to a more accurate satellite-based surveillance system, developing more efficient routes through the airspace, and improvements in aviation weather information. The budget proposal also includes a significant increase for the Essential Air Service program as demand for subsidized commercial air service to small communities’ increases.
Akaka Bill: Many pilots have asked about the Akaka Bill to normalize PBGC benefits for pilots who were forced by regulation to retire at age 60. We have been assured that the bill will be reintroduced shortly. We sent an inquiry to Senator Akaka’s office, and are awaiting an update in the bill’s status.
FAA Reauthorization Bill: On Thursday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee reported out H.R. 915, the FAA reauthorization bill, by voice vote. This legislation has been in limbo since October 2007 when the last FAA reauthorization expired. H.R. 915 is a $70 billion bill that will fund the FAA through 2012. It includes significant funds for modernization and NextGen, a Pilot Fatigue Study, and many ALPA priorities such as: Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Wake Turbulence, Weather, and Runway Safety.
Despite protests from the European Union and Committee Republicans, the bill includes strong provisions on inspection and oversight of foreign aircraft repair stations. It also reaffirms the U.S. citizenship requirements for actual control of U.S. air carriers. The bill also reflects ALPA’s priorities related to energy and global climate change policy with provisions for alternative fuel research.
During the Committee's consideration of the bill, a "manager's amendment" - or package of amendments offered by the Chairman - was approved. The manager’s amendment included additional ALPA priorities such as a study to limit access to the flight decks of all-cargo aircraft. The amendment also included ALPA’s suggestion to investigate the impact of wind turbines on radar signals. Furthermore, the Committee's report will include ALPA's suggested language clarifying the pilot fatigue study.
The manager's amendment also included Chairman Oberstar's bill, H.R. 813, related to anti-trust immunity. The provision requires a GAO study of the legal requirements followed by the DOT in deciding whether international alliances may be exempt from anti-trust law. Existing grants of anti-trust immunity related to international alliances are sunset for three years.
CrewPASS: On the security front, the TSA asked ALPA and the CrewPASS contractor, ARINC, to meet this coming week to discuss implementation of biometrics into the system. TSA told us back in November that the agency was “very close” to issuing standards for CrewPASS, but they have yet to do so. We’ll continue to push TSA on this issue, as CrewPASS cannot be expanded to other airports before those standards are approved.
FY 2010 Budget: Last Thursday, the administration released its FY 2010 budget proposal. The President’s transportation budget includes $800 million for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) to modernize the Air Traffic Control System.
The 2010 budget supports moving from a ground-based radar surveillance system to a more accurate satellite-based surveillance system, developing more efficient routes through the airspace, and improvements in aviation weather information. The budget proposal also includes a significant increase for the Essential Air Service program as demand for subsidized commercial air service to small communities’ increases.
Akaka Bill: Many pilots have asked about the Akaka Bill to normalize PBGC benefits for pilots who were forced by regulation to retire at age 60. We have been assured that the bill will be reintroduced shortly. We sent an inquiry to Senator Akaka’s office, and are awaiting an update in the bill’s status.
