FAA Funding

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Advocacy

| February 19, 2025

Aviation groups seek FAA stability, modernization

A coalition of 34 aviation organizations (including AOPA) called on leaders of Congress to support long-deferred air traffic control modernization and continue hiring and training controllers and other key staff.

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Advocacy

| February 12, 2025

Make your flying count

The FAA has emailed invitations (to be mailed February 14) to individual aircraft owners to respond online to the forty-seventh annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey and provide data that informs a range of policy decisions. AOPA encourages members to participate.

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Advocacy

| July 18, 2024

Aviation industry coalition united to modernize FAA’s ATC system

On July 16, a coalition of aviation industry stakeholders submitted a letter to aviation leaders in Congress requesting a strengthened investment in modernizing the FAA’s air traffic control system.

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Advocacy

| May 15, 2024

Congress passes FAA reauthorization

AOPA and the aviation industry celebrate the long-awaited passage of the five-year FAA bill, which authorizes an increase in funding for general aviation airports, expands BasicMed, modernizes FAA systems, and much more.

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Advocacy

| February 8, 2024

Senate commerce committee moves FAA reauthorization bill

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, led by Chair Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Ranking Member Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), passed the FAA reauthorization with a host of amendments that address operations across the entire aviation system, from commercial air travel to general aviation.

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Article

| February 8, 2024

2024 FAA GA activity survey underway

Government agencies and the general aviation industry use data from an annual survey to measure safety, make decisions on funding allocation, and assess the impact of GA on the U.S. economy.

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Advocacy

| February 7, 2024

AOPA mobilizes members, pilot organizations to fight egregious FBO fees

AOPA sent a call to action to its 300,000 members on February 7, urging them to support an amendment that would ensure pilots have access to fair, reasonable, and transparent fees at public-use airports.

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Advocacy

| December 20, 2023

Congress passes short-term FAA extension

A second short-term extension passed by Congress will push the FAA reauthorization deadline to March 8.

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Advocacy

| July 21, 2023

FAA reauthorization overwhelmingly passes in House

The 2023 House FAA reauthorization bill (H.R.3935) passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a 351–69 vote on July 20 with promising provisions for general aviation pilots.

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Advocacy

| June 15, 2023

FAA bill earns unanimous House committee approval

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure unanimously passed its FAA reauthorization bill (H.R.3935) on June 14 by a 63-0 vote.

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Advocacy

| June 13, 2023

Senate begins consideration of FAA reauthorization bill

Markups for the 2023 FAA reauthorization bills begin this week, and language from both the House and the Senate is pointing to the most forward-thinking FAA legislation in history in support of general aviation.

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Article

| April 4, 2023

How was your flying last year?

The FAA’s forty-fifth annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey is open and collecting information on the GA fleet, hours flown, and the ways people used GA aircraft in 2022.

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Advocacy

| October 27, 2022

Airfield of dreams: If you build it, they will come

Despite decades of neglect, Detroit's Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport is getting its happy ending following the approval of an FAA layout plan—making it eligible for an estimated $100 million in federal grants over the next 10 years.

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Advocacy

| June 23, 2021

Groups urge Congress to protect FAA in case of shutdowns

Recognizing the importance of FAA operations to the safety of all aviation, key members of the House leadership introduced legislation on June 22 to keep the agency running even in the face of any future lapse in government funding, a measure supported by AOPA and other aviation groups.

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Advocacy

| June 3, 2021

Biden’s proposed budget includes increase for FAA, aviation programs

President Joe Biden sent his first budget request to Congress on May 28, totaling more than $6 trillion and marking what is considered the largest sustained spending plan since World War II. The budget request includes a 2.7-percent increase for the FAA and aviation programs. It does not include any proposal to privatize our nation’s air traffic control system or impose user fees on general aviation.

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Advocacy

| April 29, 2021

Pilots clash with airport officials over runway closure

The Orleans Levee District’s decision to close the crosswind runway at New Orleans’ Lakefront Airport is drawing backlash from local pilots who say they were left in the dark during discussions.

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Advocacy

| December 23, 2020

President signs COVID-19 relief bill, provides support to aviation

President Donald Trump signed a $2.3 trillion package of bills December 27 that includes $1.4 trillion to fund the government through September and a $900 billion stimulus package to provide relief from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Advocacy

| September 10, 2020

FAA to open two workforce development grant programs

The FAA announced that it will soon accept electronic applications for two Aviation Workforce Development Grant programs that AOPA considers critical to general aviation’s future.

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Advocacy

| April 29, 2020

FAA provides resources for airports seeking CARES Act grants

General aviation airport administrators have a variety of resources available to answer questions about how to secure their announced shares of the $100 million in funding of $10 billion allocated to airports under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

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Advocacy

| April 23, 2020

Hawaii DOT to force tenants to vacate Dillingham Airfield by 2021

The Hawaii Department of Transportation announced it will terminate its lease with the U.S. Army and force tenants including flight schools and tour operators to vacate Dillingham Airfield on Oahu by 2021.

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Advocacy

| April 16, 2020

Emergency funds allocated for GA airports

General aviation airports will receive $100 million in federal relief funding, FAA officials announced April 14, and airports will have flexibility to use the money to offset lost revenue, pay debts, or upgrade facilities. AOPA has been among the most vocal advocates fighting to ensure GA benefits from the ongoing relief efforts.

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Advocacy

| April 10, 2020

AOPA warns Congress of risks to FAA funding

AOPA has taken a central role in calling on the leaders of the U.S. House and Senate to protect the aviation industry from unintended consequences of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (commonly referred to as the CARES Act).

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Stimulus package includes $100 million for GA airports

A $2 trillion stimulus package to support the economy during the coronavirus pandemic includes $100 million to protect general aviation airports and maintain small and rural communities’ access to aviation services.

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Advocacy

| March 23, 2020

AOPA backs emergency airport funding to fight coronavirus impact

AOPA and six other aviation groups are urging Congress to support needed funding for airports across the country while ensuring that small and general aviation airports also receive a portion of any funds made available to help cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

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Advocacy

| December 19, 2019

Congress averts shutdown, sends spending package to president

Congress has passed and sent to President Donald Trump fiscal-year 2020 appropriations legislation that provides $17.6 billion for the FAA, including $3.35 billion for the airport improvement program and $10 million for workforce grant programs strongly supported by AOPA.

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Advocacy

| October 23, 2019

FAA would defend California's Reid-Hillview Airport against closure

The FAA has notified a California county’s governing board that it would vigorously oppose any renewed effort to close an important regional airport that some local officials want to replace with housing units.

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Advocacy

| May 2, 2019

Montana airport funding bill passes

As the last days of the 2019 legislative session came to a close, Montana legislators voted overwhelmingly to support an aviation bill that helps the state generate matching funds for federal grants that were formerly left on the table.

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Advocacy

| March 28, 2019

Committee approves bill to fund FAA during a government shutdown

At least one government agency might have to clock in should another shutdown occur. A bill (H.R.1108) that would provide funding to the FAA during a government shutdown passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on March 27.

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Advocacy

| March 19, 2019

Former Delta executive nominated to head FAA

Former longtime Delta Air Lines executive Steve Dickson was announced as the White House’s nominee to lead the FAA as administrator on March 19.

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Advocacy

| March 11, 2019

White House unveils 2020 budget

The unveiling of the White House’s $4.75 trillion budget on March 11 included $8.6 billion for a border wall, reductions in several domestic programs, and a significant boost for the U.S. military. But noticeably absent from this year’s budget? Air traffic control privatization.

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