A bill introduced in the House of Representatives in late June provides a mechanism for resolving the longstanding contract dispute between the FAA and the air traffic controllers union. It also provides airline passengers with rights to “fair treatment” when facing significant delays due to weather or other extraordinary circumstances.
The new bill, the “Air Service Improvement Act of 2008,” uses language taken directly from the House-passed FAA reauthorization legislation, which remains stalled in the Senate. Authors Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), chairman of the aviation subcommittee, had hoped the measure could be brought up to the House floor for consideration before the July 4 recess. But action was postponed due to a “leadership scheduling decision.”
The House used a similar tactic late last year to extend the retirement age for Part 121 airline pilots to 65. The retirement age provision was also embedded in the stalled FAA reauthorization legislation (H.R.2881), which the House passed last September. The Senate version of the bill is on hold indefinitely.
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