FAA Reauthorization Bill Passes Senate

Press Release

Today U.S. Senator Murkowski voted for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act, legislation that enhances security at airports, improves safety measures for airlines, makes travel easier for passengers, and maintains access for rural communities. The bill also contains an amendment Senator Murkowski co-sponsored which reauthorizes the six Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) test sites for five years until 2022, which includes the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The bill passed in a vote of 95-03.

The FAA Reauthorization Act reauthorizes the FAA through 2017, authorizes $3.3 billion this year and $3.7 billion next year to pay for airport infrastructure, such as runways. It also requires a study and recommendations on upgrading and restoring the nation's airport infrastructure.

Prior to the final vote, Senator Murkowski spoke on the Senate floor in support of passage of the bill:

"In my state of Alaska, for some of us going to the airport is almost as common and matter-of-fact as going to the grocery store. It seems as though we are in and out of our small airports so much because it is how we get around. In a state where 80 percent of our communities are not connected by a road, how do you get around? How do you get to Dillingham? How do you get to Fort Yukon? Well, you can take a boat. You can take a snowmachine in the winter. But the fact is, we fly. We are a flying state. A good airport, a reliable flight schedule, this is the equivalent of having a good road and a good car on the road. I look very critically and very carefully at things such as the FAA Reauthorization Act, because some of what we deal with in this measure is effectively a matter of life safety for many of my constituents."

Bill Highlights:

Aviation Safety & Protections:

Includes mental health screening and records retention for commercial pilots.
Includes the Pilot's Bill of Rights 2, allowing certified general aviation pilots to fly if they meet the medical requirements needed to acquire a driver's license.
Includes new requirements on the bulk transfer of lithium batteries.
Increases awareness of human trafficking for airline personnel.
Addresses growing cybersecurity threats facing aviation and air navigation systems.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS): Addresses safety and privacy issues, boosts enforcement, and clarifies federal and local rules regarding drones while creating new opportunities for testing and promoting innovative uses of this technology, subject to FAA Approval.

Includes legislation that Senator Murkowski co-sponsored reauthorizing the six UAS test sites for five years, which includes the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
It also updates FAA authority by clearly directing research priorities, improving coordination with the FAA, and enhancing protections for proprietary information to encourage more engagement with the private sector.
Authorizes FAA to work with NASA to development a research plan and create a pilot program for UAS traffic management.
Streamlines the approval process for safe operations of UAS at higher education institutions.
Rural Service: Reauthorizes the Essential Air Service (EAS) Program and the Small Community Air Service Development Program.

Includes language that Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) included in the Commerce Committee and Senator Murkowski supported which makes Little Diomede, Alaska fully eligible for EAS, bringing it in line with all other Alaska EAS locations.
Cold Weather Construction: Extends the requirement for the FAA to schedule the review of construction projects so that projects carried out in states in which the weather prevents major construction from being carried out before May 1 are reviewed as early as possible.

Consumer Benefits:

Requires a review of how airlines provide information on decisions to delay or cancel a flight due to weather.
Requires airlines to provide families with information about the availability of seats together at booking.
Creates a standards method for airlines to disclose fees. Also requires airlines to return baggage fees when items are lost or stolen.
Requires airlines to return fees for services purchased, but not received.

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