WASHINGTON, DC–The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) today praised the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee’s passage of S. 1072, the Small Airplane Revitalization Act, by voice vote. S. 1072 would require the FAA to implement the recommendations of the FAA’s Part 23 Reorganization Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) by December 31, 2015. Adopting the ARC’s recommendations would help the FAA meet its stated goal of doubling the safety levels and cutting certification costs in half for the lighter end of the general aviation (GA) marketplace. The companion House bill, H.R. 1848, passed the U.S. House earlier this month on a 411-0 vote.

"This legislation will help industry and the FAA develop and adopt more effective regulations and standards that will spur manufacturers’ investment in new aircraft designs; it will also help put critical lifesaving equipment into the existing fleet of airplanes," GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce said. "These changes represent a ‘win-win’ by enhancing safety and relaxing unnecessary regulatory cost burdens on industry and the FAA, which will help revitalize the lighter end of general aviation."

Bunce continued, "The incredible speed with which this bill passed the House and is now moving through the Senate is attributable to the widespread bipartisan support it is receiving and demonstrates the need for the FAA to address the ARC’s recommendations as soon as possible. We appreciate Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) championing this bill and for their skill and hard work in pushing it forward in the Senate. We are also very grateful for the strong support of the Senate Commerce Committee and the Aviation Subcommittee leadership — Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), John Thune (R-SD), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH). We look forward to the Senate’s passage of this very important legislation soon and to seeing this bill become law in the near future."