S. 1300 would amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration for fiscal years 2008 through 2011, it would improve aviation safety and capacity, and it would modernize the air traffic control system.
Detailed Summary
Aviation Investment and Modernization Act of 2007 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2011 for: (1) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations; (2) FAA air navigation facilities and equipment; (3) civil aviation research and development (R&D); (4) airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning programs; (5) certain other aviation programs; and (6) administrative expenses for certain airport programs.
Directs the FAA to impose a surcharge of per flight on owners or operators of passenger aircraft for air traffic control costs.
Revises passenger facility charge (PFC) provisions granting an eligible agency (a public agency that controls a commercial service airport) the authority to impose a PFC on passengers boarding an aircraft, including requiring such agency to submit annually to air carriers and foreign air carriers operating at the airport, and make available to the public, a status report on the agency's PFC program. Establishes an alternative PFC collection pilot program.
Authorizes the FAA Administrator to carry out a pilot program for certain airports to takeover operational responsibility for airport terminal area air navigation equipment.
Revises the federal share of costs for certain airport improvement projects.
Establishes an Air Traffic Control Modernization Oversight Board.
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to carry out a pilot program for non-federal acquisition of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast ground stations.
Requires: (1) the FAA Administrator to make recommendations for the realignment of FAA services and facilities to assist in the transition to next generation facilities; and (2) the head of a participating department or federal agency to establish an office to coordinate its Next Generation Air Transportation System activities with other departments or federal agencies.
Requires each air carrier: (1) to provide passengers with adequate food, potable water, and restroom facilities in cases of a substantially delayed flight departure; and (2) in the absence of a plan providing a clear timeframe for passengers to deplane a delayed aircraft, to provide such passengers an option to deplane, with exceptions, if more than three hours have elapsed, and during any subsequent three-hour periods of delay.
Increases additional funding for each fiscal year for the essential air service program.<br>
Extends the small community air service development program through FY2011.
Sets forth requirements with respect to: (1) installation of systems to alert controllers and flight crews to potential runway incursions; (2) the reduction of aircraft fuel tank flammability; and (3) research grant programs to reduce civilian aircraft noise and emissions and to develop jet fuel from clean coal.
Extends the Secretary of Transportation's authority to provide insurance and reinsurance against loss or damage arising out of any risk from the operation of a domestic or foreign aircraft.
Allows a pilot who has attained 60 years of age to serve as a passenger airline pilot until the age of 65 years old if certain conditions are met.
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Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 8/3/2007: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 329.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Stephen Reading
Our government seems not to have the competence, imagination, or motivation to find solutions to service problems except by means of additional taxes. The S.3000 bill will just drive GA further underground - just like the tax structure did for GA in Europe.
We still have the best damn country in the world, but our government is driven by special interest groups - and the route of least resistence.
If we had more accountability and less corruption in our government we would be able to provide more services, do more GOOD and all for less money.
Mr Hill
This legislation is a complete joke. It will destroy General Aviation and merely take money from the pockets of General Aviation Pilots so the Airlines can be more profitable
Pat Bradley
Airline management is generally incompetent and
S.3000 is just a way for them to pull money from
GA to help their bottom line.
JetJock
Anyone beside me notice that Age 60 becomes Age 65 if this bill passes? Funny,...seems like the proponents of change can't argue the merits of their case so they're piggy-backing (slipping thru the back door)Age 65 on a 4 year $65 Billion FAA Budget reauthorization bill. Careful what you ask for, you just might get it. Here's to Age 70!
Jim Moscardini
As ludicrous as it sounds, there should be no reason against AGE 70. If a pilot is capable of flying to that age, he should have the option. Anything else is age discrimination. Period. The antagonists of AGE 65 are the ones who can't support their position. Why? Because their only interest in the issue is the selfish and self serving desire to get the more senior pilots out of the way. ALPA's history on the issue makes this blatantly clear.
I support ANY legislative that will end the decades of discrimination that was AGE 60.
Free State
This bill is crazy. It will push GA into the ground, through the taxing of pilots with "User Fees". Hopefully this bill wont come to a vote. The House bill is much better.
CJW
The house bill fixes the problems fairly! The senate bill will create more problems and be devastating to the aviation industry. S.1300 is a prime example of corruption in our governemnt and the airlines in the hip pocket of Blakey and the rest of the presidents puppets.
God Bless NATCA Members
No I am not a controller and I don't even play one on TV, but I do fly frequently!
What a mess the FAA has made of the whole agency! Thank God we still have(a few)dedicated, under appreciated people working long hours under horrible conditions to guide the growing number of planes safely across the skies. S.1300 makes no sense and creates a more hoistile work place for the people who are responsible for so many lives everyday!! Thanks ATCs
David T. Condra
Yes, folks this will means higher taxation but the bottom line is that we have come to rely on air travel. We cannot stick our heads in the sand any longer on this issue. The investment in infrastructure is long overdue. It will pay off in improved productivity.
Greg McMichael
It seems ludicrous to me to write a bill which will under-fund the existing FAA budget from its current funding level and open the door for the demise of GA through higher taxes and fees, which will only get higher and higher and higher...........
SMF
Passing this tax along to General Aviation is just a bail out for the airlines... again. It will signal the death of GA.
Greg R
This bill has been sitting since Aug. What is the Senate doing except sitting on the ASSES? The Senate needs to consider their country and not their time off. They are off more then they are on.
ATC_OZ
From my understanding, S.1300 has come about largly due to the imposed working conditions the FAA has forced on our Nation's ATCs. If the air traffic continues to grow as it has recently and the number of CPCs continues to decline due to these imposed working conditions, where will our NAS be then??? As a controller, I'm all for S.1300!
Matt E
If vetren controller's continue to early retirements because of Gov't imposed wages and work conditions, how will we as a nation deal with the growing air traffic in the years to come? I urge everyone to support S. 1300!
QuietRockland
This bill needs to be amended as follows:
1) Any funding for the disastrous NY/NJ/PHL Airspace Redesign needs to be pulled. It is a $50mm waste of money and Very Unsafe, per NATCA and the Pilots (all for an illusory 3 minutes savings per flight)
2) Funding should only be provided when Robert Sturgell steps down as Acting FAA Administrator.
3) The FAA publicly apologizes to the Air Traffic Controllers for the past 5 years of mis-treatment.
If you are flying in or out of any of the NY or PHL Airports, this is a big Safety concern! Can you trust the same FAA Administration to Redesign the Airspace, when they can’t even get the Airlines to properly inspect of fuel their planes?
When you weigh the Danger/$$ against the marginal benefits – the Airspace Redesign does not make any sense. Curbing bad Airline behavior – like Airline over-scheduling – is the only way to solve this problem.
Flight Delays should be the least of your worries!
atcguy
Lets get this bill passed! it will help the whole air traffic system. Everyone worries about the GA stuff but people should be more worried about the air traffic system that moves hundreds of thousands of people daily and it going down the drain unless this bill is passed!