Regulations and Government
FAA authorization remains in holding pattern
As the holidays approached, the likelihood of any action on the FAA budget dimmed considerably when lawmakers carved a provision to increase the mandatory

As the holidays approached, the likelihood of any action on the FAA budget dimmed considerably when lawmakers carved a provision to increase the mandatory retirement age for commercial pilots out of both FAA reauthorization bills and overwhelmingly approved raising the limit from 60 to 65. President Bush signed the measure into law within hours.

Many veteran Washington observers now speculate that agreement on a new FAA reauthorization package won’t be reached until this spring, at the earliest. Some think the impasse could carry over until after the presidential election in November.