General Aviation Groups Urge Congressional Transportation Leaders to Focus on a Consensus Driven, Bipartisan FAA Bill

Washington, DC – The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) yesterday joined five other general aviation groups in sending letters to transportation leaders in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, urging them to enact an extension of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs for at least six months and using that time to pass bipartisan, consensus driven FAA Reauthorization legislation that would address many critical aviation issues.

“There is a lack of consensus in the aviation community for Title II of H.R. 2997, the 21st Century AIRR Act, which seeks to effectively hand over control of our nation’s air traffic system to the airlines and special interests,” the letters state. “Removing Title II would ensure consensus and allow for our aviation system to continue to serve the traveling public and the aviation industry.”

The general aviation association leaders also emphasized the need for an FAA extension to ensure focus remains on the important progress being made on NextGen and needed airport projects. The groups cite a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report concluding the U.S. air traffic modernization program is on schedule.

The heads of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Experimental Aircraft Association, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Helicopter Association International, National Air Transportation Association and the National Business Aviation Association signed the letters.

The letters were sent to House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chair Bill Shuster (R-9-PA) and Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-4-OR), as well as Senate Commerce Committee Chair John Thune (R-SD) and Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL).

View the letter sent to the House, and the letter sent to the Senate.

For additional information, please contact Sarah McCann, GAMA Director of Communications, at +1 (202) 393-1500 or smccann@gama.aero.

GAMA is an international trade association representing over 100 of the world’s leading manufacturers of general aviation airplanes and rotorcraft, engines, avionics, components and related services. GAMA’s members also operate repair stations, fixed based operations, pilot and maintenance training facilities and manage fleets of aircraft. For more information, visit GAMA’s website at www.GAMA.aero.