faa reauthorization comparison

FAA Reauthorization Comparison

As of October 29, 2007

FAA Reauthorization

The following is a side-by-side comparison of key issues in the varying FAA reauthorization bills

The House of Representatives passed its version of the legislation in late September

The U.S. Senate has yet to consider its version on the Senate floor

FAA Reauthorization

FAA programs and the taxes that support them have been temporarily extended through November 16, 2007, although a further extension will most likely be necessary

FAA Reauthorization Comparison

FAA Proposal House Bill (H.R. 2881) Senate Bill (S. 1300

and Finance Committee Proposal)

Fuel Taxes

Would raise the general aviation fuel tax for both jet fuel and aviation gasoline to 70 cents per gallon and the commercial fuel tax to 13.6 cents per gallon

Would raise the general aviation jet fuel tax to 36 cents per gallon, and the tax on aviation gasoline to 24.2 cents per gallon (no change in the commercial fuel tax)

Finance Committee bill would raise the jet fuel tax to 36 cents per gallon, with no additional changes for aviation gasoline or commercial fuel taxes

Excise Taxes

Would eliminate the 7.5 % commercial tax and cargo waybill tax in favor of a user fee system

No changes in existing excise taxes

No changes in commercial ticket taxes – minor increase in international ticket taxes

User Fees

Proposes a vast user fee system, including departure and en route fees, as well as fees for use of congested airspace

No user fees included

Commerce Committee bill includes $25 per flight fee on all jet aircraft operations and most turboprops

Fuel Fraud Not addressed

Fuel tax increase would also eliminate the fuel fraud provision of the 2005 Highway Bill

Fuel tax increase would also eliminate the fuel fraud provision of the 2005 Highway Bill

FAA Reauthorization Side-By-Side

FAA Proposal House Bill (H.R. 2881) Senate Bill (S. 1300 and

Finance Committee Proposal)

Fractional Ownership No changes addressed No changes addressed Finance Committee bill reclassifies fractional ownership programs as a separate entity; fractional programs would pay the 36 cents per gallon fuel tax plus a $58 per flight departure fee

Funding Authorization Levels

Provides cuts to FAA programs across the board, including reduced AIP funding

Provides $37 billion for FAA operations over four years, and $16 billion for AIP

Provides $36 billion for FAA operations over four years, and $16 billion for AIP

Registration Fees Contains a series of fees for registering aircraft, and obtaining and renewing pilots’ licenses

Contains fees similar to that of the FAA’s proposal

Not addressed

Passenger Facility Charge Increases

Raises the cap on PFC collections from $4.50 to $6.00 and expands the number of eligible projects

Raises the PFC cap to $7.00, but does not include the expansion of eligible projects

No PFC increases




Foreign Repair Stations Not addressed Requires the FAA to certify that all Part 145 foreign repair stations are inspected by the FAA at least twice a year – also imposes drug testing requirements similar to those of domestic repair stations

Not addressed

Stage II Aircraft Not addressed Bans most Stage II aircraft weighing less than 75,000 within five years of the bill’s passage

Bans most Stage II aircraft weighing less than 75,000 within five years of the bill’s passage

Teterboro Airport (TEB) Not specifically addressed Committee report expresses support for including TEB as a high-priority airport for installing required navigation performance (RNP) approaches

Prevents the FAA from taking action to block Port Authority of New York/New Jersey action regarding weight restriction, essentially codifying the 100,000 pound weight limit currently in place


FAA Proposal House Bill (H.R. 2881) Senate Bill (S. 1300

and Finance Committee Proposal)

Age 60 Rule Not addressed (the FAA is supporting increasing the retirement age, but plans on doing so through rulemaking)

Raises the commercial pilot retirement age to 65 under certain conditions

Raises the commercial pilot retirement age to 65 under certain conditions

Judicial Review of NTSB Decisions

Not addressed Grants authority to airmen and the FAA to seek judicial review of NTSB decisions involving orders of suspension, revocation, and civil penalties against airmen

Grants authority to airmen and the FAA to seek judicial review of NTSB decisions involving orders of suspension, revocation, and civil penalties against airmen

Flight Crew Fatigue Not addressed Requires a study of pilot fatigue by the National Academy of Sciences

Requires a study of pilot fatigue by the National Academy of Sciences




Helicopter Operations

Not addressed Not addressed Requires several rulemaking initiatives for helicopter emergency medical service providers, including the installation of cockpit voice and data recorders

Air Traffic Controllers Dispute

Not addressed Requires the FAA and the air traffic controllers union to resume negotiations on a collective bargaining agreement imposed by the FAA in 2006, with the potential for making any new agreement retroactive

Amends future collective bargaining procedures to prevent the FAA from unilaterally imposing a contract, but does not mandate re-opening talks on the current contract

Resource Information

For more information, and to stay up to date with the latest news on the FAA reauthorization process, visit NATA’s FAA Reauthorization Resource Page www.nata.aero/reauthorization

Contact Stephen Beaulieu with any questions [email protected]

faa reauthorization comparison

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