WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, voted to advance the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024. The legislation includes several provisions that benefit West Virginia, which Senator Capito fought to include.

The Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024 is a five-year reauthorization of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs that invests in airport infrastructure, promotes safety and American leadership in aviation, and strengthens consumer service.

“While I would have preferred an updated bill that addresses more of the air traffic controller workforce and safety issues we have seen exacerbated in the last eight months, I believe this bill includes many strong elements, including 13 of my priorities that will benefit West Virginia airports and fliers. One of those priorities is a provision to increase the cockpit voice recorder length to ensure we have the needed information if something were to happen. This reauthorization also provides due support for the infrastructure of our airports, creates needed safety improvements, and should help the aviation sector thrive. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House to iron out any differences with their FAA bill and to send it to the president’s desk,” Senator Capito said.

PROVISIONS SENATOR CAPITO ADVOCATED FOR IN THE BILL INCLUDE:

Safety Priorities:

  • 25-hour cockpit voice and flight data recorder: This provision increases the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder length to 25 hours from 2 hours, which will make available needed information in assessing future accidents. While the FAA has moved towards making this a requirement for new aircraft, this provision would make it mandatory for all aircraft.
  • A Remote cockpit voice and flight data recorder: This amendment with Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) ensures that aircraft that fly extended overwater routes have the ability to transmit data to the cloud, so that if an aircraft is lost at sea authorities will still have the data needed from it.
  • Global Aviation Maintenance Safety Improvement Act: Legislation Senator Capito authored to level the playing field for foreign repair stations and hold them to the same standard as American-based counterparts.
  • An encouragement that an opioid overdose reversal medication be included in onboard Emergency Medical Kits on commercial aircraft.
  • High fidelity laboratory testing: This provision puts American safety standards on par with Europe, specifically regarding general aviation manufacturing.
  • Fire protection standards: A safety provision included that will boost standards by investigating differences from U.S. safety standards compared to foreign standards and making recommendations to Congress.

Airport Benefits:

  • 95% federal share for airport projects: This provision increases the federal cost share for airport improvement projects to 95%, and will further support improvements to West Virginia airports.
  • Hangar Construction: Included is a program for general aviation public-private partnerships that will lead to more hangar construction and better infrastructure at airports across the country and West Virginia.
  • Advanced digital construction software included under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP): This provision makes advanced digital construction software allowable under the AIP. This type of technology will save airports time and money when planning new projects.

Workforce Benefits:

  • Aviation Workforce Development and Recruitment Act: Legislation that Senator Capito helped to introduce that will grow the aviation workforce by making educational requirements more attainable.
  • Improvements to pilot medical certificate issuances at FAA: This amendment provides greater accountability for pilots waiting for their medical issuances through the FAA. It will assemble a working group of experts to improve the current system and specifically look at ways to improve medical requirements and make the FAA accountable for unnecessary delays that keep our healthy pilots out of the skies. The group will work to establish an online database for pilots to submit this information.

Other Critical Priorities:

  • Transplant organs to be allowed to be transported in the aircraft cabin: This provision will allow transplant organs to be transported in the aircraft cabin, rather than being flown in the cargo hold. This will ensure that these organs are treated with the upmost care as they are in transit to save lives.
  • Airline weather resiliency GAO report bill: Legislation that Senator Capito authored to commission a report on airline’s capacity to prepare for and respond to extreme weather events and natural disasters. 

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