EAA Supporting Air Traffic Modernization, Funding

EAA this week joined more than 50 other organizations as part of the Modern Skies Coalition, which is spotlighting the need across the U.S. to hire and retain additional air traffic controllers, upgrade FAA technology and infrastructure, and urge Congress to act with urgency following the unveiling of an air traffic control (ATC) modernization plan announced by Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Thursday.

The coalition supports many of EAA’s longstanding requests to support the air traffic infrastructure that would, in part, support recreational aviation. Some of those topics include:

• Continuation of general fund support of FAA operations and consideration of additional flexibility within the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF) to meet existing obligations and help FAA manage long-term facility and technology upgrades through access to long-term capital funding and multi-year budgeting.
• Exemption of the FAA from government shutdowns to ensure more predictable funding and support for continued safety and air traffic control personnel hiring and training, and other critical FAA activities.
• Robust emergency funding for critical air traffic control technology and infrastructure and controller and technician staffing and training.

Last week, the coalition released a statement in support of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s ATC provisions including in their reconciliation budget proposal.