Washington, DC

NBAA lauds House passage of appropriations bill reflecting industry priorities

The National Business Aviation Association has welcomed passage in the US House of Representatives of a comprehensive appropriations package for the Department of Transportation (DOT) that contains several industry-supported provisions.

The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD) bill passed by the House provides $22.2bn in budgetary resources for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), including a $235m increase for the Air Traffic Organization, an $824m increase for FAA facilities and equipment and resources to hire 2,500 new air traffic controllers.

Importantly, the bill also includes NBAA-championed language to block funds from being used to “plan, design or implement” the privatization or separation of the FAA’s air traffic control operations, maintaining congressional oversight of these vital agency functions.

“We commend the House for passing this vital legislation and we encourage President Trump to swiftly sign it into law,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen.

“This comprehensive measure provides necessary appropriations to preserve the safety and integrity of our national airspace system, and takes additional steps to bolster America’s global leadership in aviation and aerospace.”

Other NBAA-supported priorities in the THUD bill include recommendations for increased funding for FAA airport improvement grants and the hiring of new air traffic controllers, agency safety inspectors and engineers; expansion of alternative fuels research and production of sustainable aviation fuel and the safe implementation of expanded unmanned aircraft system (UAS) and commercial advanced air mobility (AAM) operations.