Failing a brute force attack, lobbyists' minions attempt a subtler tactical
"camel nose in the tent" maneuver.
The bill <http://1.usa.gov/1U46USl> is ~300 pages, so it's going to require
some time to critique. Fortunately, the United States General Accounting
Office has provided a condensed summary:
<http://www.gao.gov/assets/110/107668.pdf>.
See also:
<http://www.law360.com/articles/758276/5-things-to-know-about-the-faa-reauthorization-bill>
<https://www.agc.org/news/2016/02/12/house-committee-approves-faa-reauthorization-increases-airport-funding>
<http://techcrunch.com/2016/02/03/faa-reauthorization-bill-still-leaves-much-to-be-desired-for-commercial-drone-operators/>
-------------------
<http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Senates-FAA-Reauthorization-Bill-Gains-Early-GA-Support-225825-1.html>
Senate's FAA Reauthorization Bill Gains Early GA Support
By Elaine Kauh
The U.S Senate's version of FAA reauthorization legislation, introduced this
week, includes measures supported by general aviation such as medical reform
and streamlining for aircraft certification. Spinning off air traffic control
services from the FAA, however, is no longer part of the picture after the
House shelved its version of the bill. U.S. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., chairman
of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, introduced
the bill (PDF
<http://www.commerce.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/992cabb4-bd39-474e-b8a7-8056ddd11ca9/DC007B30B900E86BC8D72E87BA555A73.faa-bill-text.pdf>)
along with fellow committee leaders. The legislation, which would reauthorize
the FAA until Sept. 30, 2017, will undergo discussion at a committee meeting on
March 16. In the meantime, congressional leaders expect to pass interim
legislation for the FAA as its current authorization expires this month. The
legislation includes eliminating current third-class medical requirements for
light aircraft, a top priority for GA advocates that had weathered
congressional debate since it was originally proposed as part of the Pilot's
Bill of Rights 2. It also rolls in the FAA's recently announced proposal to
reform Part 23 certification
<http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/FAA-Proposes-GA-Revitalization-Rule-225820-1.html>
rules and shorten the approval process for new aircraft.
The reauthorization bill also seeks to have the FAA complete the finalization
of rules to govern commercial operations of unmanned aircraft, which have been
in the works since the agency's original proposal
<http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Proposed-Drone-Rules-Draw-Wide-Reaction-223573-1.html>
came out in February 2015. It calls for working with industry and other
agencies to hash out safety and accountability issues. NASA would be tapped for
a research plan on traffic management, while industry stakeholders would work
with the FAA on ways of identifying and classifying drones, along with aspects
such as "the feasibility of the development and operation of a publicly
searchable online database" of registered unmanned aircraft.
Airspace modernization would undergo continued examination under the bill,
which acknowledges industry concerns over the readiness of the ADS-B system and
the task of equipping aircraft to comply with the FAA's ADS-B Out mandate by
Jan. 1, 2020. The FAA would have to provide regular updates to Congress on its
readiness plan, justify its benefits to safety and efficiency, and update its
contingency and security plans. The absence of a privatized ATC as well as user
fees to fund such an entity makes the bill as it stands more likely to survive
the committee process and make it to the Senate floor. "Many of the good things
that appeared in the House version of FAA reauthorization legislation remain
here, without the unacceptable language of ATC privatization," said Jack J.
Pelton, EAA CEO and chairman. AOPA President Mark Baker said the aeromedical
changes and Part 23 rewrite will receive continued support. "We hope the Senate
will move quickly to pass this legislation which could save general aviation
pilots hundreds of millions of dollars, improve general aviation safety, and
strengthen the GA industry."
------------------------------------------------
<http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/FAA-Proposes-GA-Revitalization-Rule-225820-1.html>
FAA Proposes GA Revitalization Rule
By Mary Grady | March 9, 2016
The FAA today proposed a new rule (see link below for full text) that aims to
fundamentally change the way small general aviation airplanes are certified,
potentially reducing the time required to bring new technology to the market
and also cutting costs. The new rule replaces the current prescriptive design
requirements in Part 23 with performance-based standards that maintain the same
level of safety. The changes aim to "leverage innovation to ensure the highest
level of safety is designed and built into small airplanes," said U.S.
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "This proposal would benefit
manufacturers, pilots, and the general aviation community as a whole." GA
advocates have been lobbying for the rule change for years
<http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/New-Airplane-Certification-Rule-Overdue-225369-1.html>.
The proposal establishes performance- and risk-based divisions for airplanes
with a maximum seating capacity of 19 passengers and a maximum takeoff weight
of 19,000 pounds.
"This proposal would streamline how we approve new technologies for small
piston-powered airplanes all the way to complex high-performance executive
jets," said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. "The FAA's collaboration with
industry and international partners reflects a performance-based, flexible
approach which would accommodate today's rapidly changing aviation industry and
technological advances now and in the future." GAMA President Pete Bunce said
he was glad to see the proposal issued, after nearly a decade and "countless
hours" of work by GA advocates and FAA officials. "Going forward, it will be
critical that the public and key aviation stakeholders respond quickly with
meaningful comments and for the FAA to engage with other global aviation
authorities, so a well-harmonized and effective final rule can be issued by the
current administration," Bunce said. "If they do so, the FAA, through its
leadership, can put in place a lasting legacy that will benefit general
aviation safety and the vitality of the general aviation industry for decades
to come."
A comment period will be open for 60 days after the proposal is published in
the Federal Register. The FAA has released a video
<http://www.faa.gov/tv/?mediaId=1258> to help explain the new rule.
Proposed Revision of Airworthiness Standards (PDF
<http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Revision-Airworthiness-Standards-NPRM.php>).