Congress has passed another short-term extension of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FFA’s) policy and tax authority today. This measure will only last until 30 September 2017, but enables the FAA to keep functioning during the busy summer travel season. The previous authorisation expired on Friday and lawmakers approved a 14-month extension before that deadline.
The funding level of the Airport Improvement Programme (AIP) will remain at US$3.35 billion in fiscal 2017, a level that has not changed in six years.
“It is important to keep the FAA authorisation stable, and this is a welcome step from Congress. But jobs will not be created and aggregates producers will not increase tonnage for much-needed airport and runway improvements without additional AIP funding,” said Michele Stanley, NSSGA director of government affairs.
The extension includes some policy changes that are related to safety and security and provisions for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The bill will increase funding for bomb-sniffing teams, direct FAA to detect and mitigate UAS operation near airports. The bill also requires airlines to refund baggage fees if luggage is delayed or lost. Several aviation security provisions, like expanding TSA Precheck, are also included in the bull in the wake of recent airline disasters around the world.
Adapted from press release by Rebecca Bowden