House Passes FAA Spending Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives on Sept. 20 passed H.R. 2881 by a vote of 257 to 151 that would provide the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with $68 billion over four years for day-to-day operations and airport improvements. Amendments to the legislation would address a number of aviation safety issues. But the U.S. Senate’s spending bill outlines a far different plan for the FAA and the differences will have to be worked out in a conference. The White House is unhappy with a number of provisions in the H.R. 2881 and is already threatening to veto the measure. An amendment would require foreign aircraft repair stations to subject their workers to drug and alcohol tests, as is the case with domestic aircraft mechanics. Another would establish health and safety standards for flight attendants. A third would establish a Passenger Bill of Rights to block excessive stranding of passengers on the tarmac. The bill would also sending U.S. air traffic controllers and the FAA back to the negotiating table to finish work on a contract, nearly 18 months after the FAA declared an impasse. It also includes a provision that directs the National Research Council to assess FAA safety research programs, including those addressing controller workload and runway mishaps. If the House gets its way, the mandatory retirement age for commercial airline pilots would be elevated to 65 (under certain conditions) and civil transports under 75,000 pounds will have to meet tougher noise standards within five years. The House spending bill also increases the number of aviation safety and runway inspectors.