A year after Congress passed its massive 1,300-page FAA reauthorization bill, the agency has checked off numerous key requirements—from shortening the aircraft registration time and stepping up hiring of controllers to updating airport guidance. However, implementation of the bill has become even more urgent, lawmakers maintain, as the FAA faces continuing and growing issues stemming from workforce constraints, ATC and communications outages, and safety concerns surrounding the series of recent high-profile fatal accidents.
“While the FAA is making some progress in implementing the law, recent tragic aviation accidents and close calls make clear that the administration must prioritize the critical safety reforms included in the reauthorization,” said Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Washington), the ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, during a hearing on FAA reauthorization implementation. “The immense loss that occurred from the tragic mid-air collision at Washington National Airport (KDCA) highlights the need for the FAA and Congress to recommit to enhancing the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS) and restoring the flying public’s confidence in that system.”
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