House Passes FAA Reauthorization Bill

The legislation struck language that would allow simulator time to count toward the 1,500-hour training requirement for aspiring pilots.

Amelia Walsh

Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 02:34 PM ET

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The House bill calls for $4 billion per year for AIP and addresses ATC staffing shortages and the mandatory retirement age of commercial pilots. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. House overwhelmingly passed the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, a comprehensive bill to fund the FAA and its programs for the next five years.
Key provisions include $4 billion annually for airport improvements, addressing air traffic control staffing and technology upgrades, and controversially raising the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age from 65 to 67.
Notably, the bill excluded proposals for air traffic control privatization and counting simulator time towards pilot training, while the increase in pilot retirement age has drawn criticism.
The legislation now moves to the Senate, which is considering its own version, with a September 30 deadline for FAA reauthorization looming.

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In a 351-69 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday overwhelmingly passed the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act—a comprehensive bill to fund the FAA and its programs for the next five years.

Among its priorities, the legislation appropriates $4 billion per year for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), addresses air traffic control staffing shortages and the mandatory retirement age of commercial pilots, and provides funding to upgrade the agency’s outdated technology.