Congress Passes Second Short-Term FAA Authorization Bill

The Senate passed a short-term bill on Dec. 19, extending authorization of FAA operations until March 8, 2024, under the terms of the five-year FAA reauthorization bill passed by Congress in 2018.

It is the second three-month extension passed by Congress since Sept. 30 in place of a long-term FAA reauthorization bill. Passage averted a lapse in the FAA’s authority before senators leave for the holidays.

The extension passed by unanimous consent follows Sen. Michael Benet’s (D-Colo.) lift of a hold on the bill. The House of Representatives approved the bill on Dec. 11.

A long-term measure has been held up since June. Aviation trade groups praise the extension but call for passage of long-term reauthorization for the FAA.

“We thank lawmakers for extending FAA authorization into 2024,” says Ed Bolen, National Business Aviation Association president and CEO. “However, an ongoing series of extensions creates the potential for disruptions to long-term planning for the FAA, and to the operational, safety and other agency services needed by the aviation sector, which is among the nation’s most highly regulated industries. We will continue working with Congress to pass a multi-year authorization bill as soon as feasible.”

Besides funding the FAA’s long-term operation, the long-term measure by the House includes priorities of NBAA and business and general aviation, such as removal of barriers to the pursuit of aviation careers, expanding the aviation workforce pipeline, improving training standards and renewed funding for airport infrastructure, with a focus on investments for small and general aviation airports.

Passage of a short-term bill does not go far enough, says Eric Fanning, Aerospace Industries Association president and CEO.

“Allowing the FAA’s authorization to expire is a non-starter, but an extension through March only delays the inevitable: Congress must reauthorize the FAA to strengthen our global leadership in aviation, maintain the gold standard for safety and certification and unleash innovation that will fundamentally transform the way Americans travel,” Fanning says. “Safety is the industry’s top priority, and we cannot allow a pattern of short-term extensions to continue. We are grateful to Congress for their work to ensure the FAA will remain open—especially through the busy holiday season—but there is more work to be done.”