Washington, DC—The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) today praised U.S. Senate passage of the bipartisan FAA reauthorization bill, which contains critical reforms to the FAA certification process, addresses inconsistent interpretation of FAA regulations, and promotes international harmonization between the FAA and other aviation regulators. The Senate approved the bill—which would authorize FAA programs and policy through September 30, 2017—by a 95 to 3 margin.
The bill’s certification and other reforms will enable general aviation manufacturers and maintenance, repair, and overhaul centers to get innovative, safety-enhancing technologies to market more efficiently, improve safety in U.S. skies, support job growth, facilitate exports, and bolster the health of general aviation companies. The measure also ensures that the FAA can better focus resources and management on key risk-derived safety issues and new technologies.
In addition, the legislation will enable further progress on NextGen, provide Congressional direction on integrating Unmanned Aerial Systems and commercial space transportation safely into the National Airspace System, and provide continued support for a transition to unleaded aviation gasoline.
“We are extremely pleased that the Senate passed this historic FAA authorization bill, which will improve aviation safety, make better use of FAA and industry resources, and bolster manufacturing competitiveness,” GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce said. “We especially appreciate the bipartisan leadership of Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD), Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL), Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) in shepherding this legislation through the Senate.
“Throughout the Congress, there is widespread agreement on the need to advance certification reform, which this bill does,” Bunce continued. “With the current temporary extension of the FAA set to expire in just a few months, it is time for the U.S. House of Representatives to also move forward in a bipartisan way to address certification reform, providing general aviation manufacturers, their customers, and the entire aviation community greater certainty moving forward.”