AOPA President Darren Pleasance testifies on status of implementation of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024
Pleasance, through verbal and written testimony, congratulated the Committee on the historic legislation, with the first ever title dedicated to general aviation. In the past year, the legislation has resulted in an expansion of BasicMed, the reduction of the aircraft registration backlog to 10 business days or less, and the implementation of the Civil Aviation Registry Electronic Services (CARES) system to help address privacy concerns for aircraft owners.
However, Pleasance said there is more work to be done for key provisions of the FAA Reauthorization Act to be fully implemented.
Pilot and aircraft privacy is an important issue. “AOPA fully supported the 2020 ADS-B mandate as we were assured ADS-B data would only be used to improve air traffic safety and airspace efficiency,” said Pleasance. “Unfortunately, we are now seeing ADS-B data being used for many other non-safety related areas,” including the assessment of landing fees. Pleasance strongly encouraged the Committee to act in developing a national policy that ensures ADS-B data is not used for fee collection but used for its intended purpose.
The Reauthorization Act requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on the efforts of Fixed Based Operators (FBOs) to meet their voluntary commitment to improve the online transparency of prices and fees for all aircraft. The GAO report is due to Congress later this year. “We understand airports have financial needs, but we also believe they should be held accountable to FAA grant assurances that require any fees collected, either by an airport or a FBO, to be fair and reasonable,” said Pleasance.
The Committee included a provision requiring the FAA to stand up an Aviation Medical Working Group to develop recommendations intended to modernize the agency’s medical certification processes and systems for pilots. “This is an area that needs significant attention, especially the need to address extensive delays many pilots are experiencing with their medical applications,” said Pleasance. “I am pleased, however, to report that the FAA has stood up this Working Group, as outlined in the FAA Reauthorization, and I commend the leadership of Federal Air Surgeon, Susan Northrup, for tackling this issue head on.”
As a member of the Modern Skies Coalition, AOPA strongly supports air traffic control modernization, but not privatization. “The leadership this Committee has shown in this area of air traffic control modernization is commendable, appreciated, and needed,” said Pleasance. “Developing and deploying a new air traffic control system will require constant leadership, vigilance, accountability, milestones, benchmarking, incentives, and penalties if necessary. We cannot fail in getting this done.”
The full hearing can be viewed here.
