Senate passes FAA reauthorization

Charles Spence | Capital Comments | March 23, 2010

To the surprise of some and the pleasure of many, the Senate passed a reauthorization bill for the FAA Monday evening, March 22. With the House having passed its reauthorization bill last year, the two can go directly to conference for reconciliation and give the FAA a stable base after 11 three-month temporary extensions. The bill reauthorizes the FAA for a two-year period.

Both the Senate and House bills were passed without user fees, but the Senate version raises the fuel tax from 22 to 38 cents per gallon to help fund modernization of the aviation system. The Senate bill passed by a vote of 93 to 0.

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TSA nominee sails through confirmation hearing

Charles Spence | Capital Comments | March 23, 2010

Major General Robert A. Harding (ret.) recently appeared before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation for a confirmation hearing to be administrator of the Transportation Security Administration and assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. He sailed through with high praise.

Sen. John “Jay” Rockefeller (D-WVa), committee chairman, declared a highly qualified, strong administrator is needed to lead the TSA and its workforce. He said Harding’s career in both government and the private sector “makes him a good fit for this mission.” Harding had been director of operations for the Defense Intelligence Agency and director of intelligence for the Army’s U.S. Southern Command, among several other positions.

Rockefeller told Harding he was especially concerned about the security of general aviation and would want to talk with him about it if confirmed. Rockefeller declared he was not talking about “crop dusters and other small aircraft, but jets on up.” He added that general aviation was an issue rarely discussed, but one that need discussing.

Harding is expected to be confirmed by the Senate.

FAA reauthorization extended yet again

Charles Spence | Capital Comments | March 17, 2010

When the Senate decided to put the FAA long-term reauthorization on the floor for discussion this week after it finally passed out of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, it was hoped by many that this would be the time to give the agency some stability, but it was not to be.

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Senate starts FAA reauthorization debate

Charles Spence | Capital Comments, Web Exclusive | March 11, 2010

After two years and 11 temporary extensions, the Senate has begun debating reauthorization of the FAA, calling for improvements in the air traffic management system.

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Security takes center stage

Charles Spence | Capital Comments | March 11, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Many pilots and aircraft owners breathed a huge sigh of relief when President Obama’s budget for 2011 did not contain user fees, but none of the groups working Washington have let their guards down. Not only do user fees remain an issue, but security has raised its ugly head in the wake of the Austin IRS crash.

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Former AOPA President John Baker dies

Charles Spence | Capital Comments | March 11, 2010

John Baker, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association after long-time head “Doc” Hartranft, died Thursday morning in Angier, N.C,. where he lived with his wife Kathy. Baker was president of AOPA from 1977 to 1991, just the second person to fill that position. Before taking over the top leadership post at AOPA, he was director of general aviation at the FAA. He was a jet pilot in the U.S. Air Force.

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General nominated to head TSA

Charles Spence | Capital Comments | March 8, 2010

A retired major general with 35 years experience in the intelligence community has been nominated by President Obama to head the Transportation Security Administration. He is Gen. Robert Harding, who retired in 2001 and, in 2003, founded Harding Security Associates, a company of more than 400 professionals providing security solutions to U.S. government agencies.

At his retirement he was the army’s Deputy G-2 (Intelligence) officer. From 1996 to 2000 he was director of operations at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). There he directed more than $1 billion in intelligence collection programs and supervised and provided security to the department’s defense attaches in more than 200 embassies and offices around the world.

Announcement of his nomination was greeted warmly by the chairman of the Senate committee that must approve him. Sen. John (Jay) Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) called the nomination “great news for America’s national security.” He added the general’s experience should prove to be invaluable experience for this crucial post. Rockefeller said he would move the nomination “as expeditiously as possible.”

Errol Southers, Obama’s previous nominee, withdrew his name from consideration in January after some were concerned that his labor union background could cause him to give collective bargaining rights to Department of Homeland Security employees, including TSA employees who are responsible for airport security.

House committee approves NTSB reauthorization

Charles Spence | Capital Comments | March 4, 2010

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has approved reauthorization of the National Transportation Safety Board, increasing funding each year over the next four, the reauthorization period. The bill now goes to the full House for approval.

Funding starts at $117.4 million in fiscal year 2011 and increases to $124.2 million in 2014. These levels will permit the board to hire an additional 66 full-time employees, increasing the staffing to 477 full-time employees. This added staffing will permit the board to take on more investigations and accomplish detailed examinations on safety issues, NTSB officials say. The bill also contains explicit authorization for the NTSB to investigate incidents as well as accidents.

For more information: NTSB.gov

Charles Spence is GAN’s Washington, D.C., correspondent.

GA to lose strong supporter in Congress

Charles Spence | Capital Comments | February 23, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Vern Ehlers, Republican Congressman from Michigan’s third district and a strong supporter of general aviation, will not run for reelection this fall. He has served 16 years in the House of Representatives and often been in the forefront of supporting general aviation.

Ehlers has expressed openly in Congressional hearings that he had taken flying lessons but never had enough time from his duties to fly as much as he would like.

Charles Spence is GAN’s Washington, D.C., correspondent.

Austin crash stirs up GA’s critics

Charles Spence | Capital Comments | February 22, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. — After several years of making forward steps in building public and government support for general aviation, a single act by a disturbed individual saw the industry lose some ground and, again, bring the alphabet groups into an all-hands-on-deck mode of damage control.

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