Buttigieg Urges Congress to Go FAA Reauthorization 2023

December 11, 2023

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The earlier FAA Authorization expired on September 30. At the moment, President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan Persevering with Decision (CR) to fund the federal authorities by way of Nov. 17, 2023 and prolong Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization by way of December. Because the clock ticks in direction of the top of the 12 months, what’s taking place with FAA Reauthorization 2023?

In a current interview with New York’s Spectrum Information, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg urged Congerssd to maneuver past political “video games” and move FAA Reauthorization earlier than 12 months finish.

“It’s necessary for there to be secure funding, predictable funding, and actually attempt to defend our aviation system from among the political video games which are enjoying out on Capitol Hill proper now,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg mentioned.

Buttigieg was commenting on the necessity for extra air site visitors controllers and supporting employees, to allow protected and environment friendly air journey.

“The U.S. aviation system accounts for about 5% of the complete American economic system,” he defined. “Ensuring that air journey is protected, ensuring that the expansion in air journey is supported, these are all issues which are at stake in FAA reauthorization. It could even have an enormous impact on the passenger expertise.”

Manned plane journey isn’t the one concern at stake in FAA Reauthorization. For the drone business, ahead motion on important regulation together with flight past visible line of sight (BVLOS) is tied to the bundle, which in its present type would require the FAA to concern a Discover of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on BVLOS flight inside 4 months of the invoice’s enactment.

What Occurs if FAA Reauthorization is Not Handed Earlier than the Extension Runs Out?

If the FAA Reauthorization Act isn’t handed by the point the present extension expires, it may result in a sequence of serious penalties. One of many instant impacts could be a partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This suggests that sure providers and operations could also be suspended till the Act – or one more extension – is handed.

The repercussions of such a state of affairs prolong to the workers of the FAA as nicely. Important staff, together with air site visitors controllers, could be required to proceed their work with out pay. Alternatively, non-essential employees on the FAA would face furloughs. This might probably put a big pressure on an already confused system.

Furthermore, the FAA’s skill to gather aviation belief fund (ATF) revenues could be compromised. These revenues embody varied taxes together with the ticket tax, gasoline tax, and worldwide journey tax. The drone business may additionally face setbacks because the staff that grants waivers, authorizations, and advances advanced operations will not be out there. Lastly, the lapse within the Act may halt airport enhancements. It’s necessary to notice that these are potential penalties and the precise influence could differ relying on the precise circumstances on the time of the lapse – however a lapse in funding is clearly not a fascinating end result for the FAA, the drone business, or the US shopper.

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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, knowledgeable drone providers market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone business and the regulatory atmosphere for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles targeted on the industrial drone house and is a world speaker and acknowledged determine within the business. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising and marketing for brand spanking new applied sciences.
For drone business consulting or writing, E mail Miriam.

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