Government Advocacy
 | Issue Brief |
105th Congress: Final results of legislation affecting general aviation
November 6, 1998
(Open Status = keeping watch on final outcome)
| ISSUE | DESCRIPTION | OUTCOME |
| H.R. 4328 Omnibus Appropriations | Includes 8 appropriations bills, and assorted year-end legislation | Passed House October 20, 1998 Passed Senate October 21, 1998 |
| Division A: DOT Appropriations | � | � |
| Federal Aviation Administration | � | � |
| AIP | House: $1.8B for FY99; Senate: $2.1B for FY99 | $1.95B, but obligations capped at $1B for 6 months |
| FAA Operations | House: $5.579B for FY99; Senate: $5.581B for FY99 | $5.56B (increase of $261M over 1998 enacted) |
| FAA F&E | House: $2.00B for FY99; Senate: $2.044B for FY99 | $1.9B (decrease of $477K over 1998 enacted) |
| FAA RE&D | House: $145M for FY99; Senate: $173M for FY99 | $150M (decrease of $49M over FY98 enacted) |
| Aeronautical chart function transfer from NOAA to FAA or TASC of DOT | House version of Transportation Appropriations Act (H.R. 4328) prevents transfer from NOAA to TASC; more logical to transfer to FAA, and includes funding for it. Senate version (S. 2307) allowed transfer to TASC. | Prevents transfer of charting function to TASC. |
| WAAS | House and Senate restrictions on funding due to "uncertainties in WAAS program" | $85M to continue program through Phase I; FAA to complete alternative analysis of various combinations of ground based and satellite technologies |
| ISSUE | DESCRIPTION | OUTCOME |
| H.R. 4328 Omnibus Appropriations | Includes 8 appropriations bills, and assorted year-end legislation | Passed House October 20, 1998 Passed Senate October 21, 1998 |
| Division A. DOT Appropriations | � | � |
| Federal Aviation Administration | (continued) | � |
| ASOS | House: $9.9M; Senate $21M | $9.9M to commission previously-acquired systems |
| Aviation Weather Research | House: $15.3M; Senate $19.2M | $18.6M for weather research |
| Loran C | House: $5.0M; Senate: $10M | $7M for further development |
| Flight 2000 | House: 168.2M; Senate $222.5M | $39M for datalink applications, including $11M for Alaska Capstone Initiative and $5M for prototype testing and demo systems in Ohio Valley |
| Flight Service Stations | FSS Automation, House: $2M; Senate: $1M. FSS facilities improvement, House: $1.364M; Senate: $1.364M. | $2M for FSS Automation, $1.364 for FSS facilies. |
| OASIS | House: $22.5M; Senate: $16M. | $19.25M |
| � | � | � |
| Division C, Section 110: FAA Reauthorization | � | |
| AIP | House: $2.34B for FY99; Senate: $2.41B for FY99, and $4.88B for FY2000 | $1.2B for 6 months, beginning October 1, 1998 |
| FAA Operations | House: $5.63B for FY99; Senate: $5.63B for FY99, and $5.78B for FY2000 | No Final Action |
| FAA F&E | House: $2.13B for FY99; Senate: $2.13B for FY99, and $2.18B for FY2000 | No Final Action |
| Cost Accounting System | Independent validation by DOT Inspector General. House: $1.6M for audit; Senate: Such funds as might be necessary | No Final Action |
| Centennial Airport (Colorado) | Owner/operator can deny access to Pt. 380 public charter operations | No Final Action � |
| ISSUES | DESCRIPTION | � |
| Division C: Legislative Issues of FAA Reauthorization Act | � | |
| � | � | � |
| Public airports surplus property | Public process required before land purchased with AIP funds sold; GAO review of grant enforcement program | No Final Action (however, GAO will conduct study) � |
| Government land to public agencies (Surplus airport property) | House: No provision; Senate: FAA to waive deed restrictions as long as development supports and complements development of airport and revenues remain in airport | No Final Action |
| State entitlement for G/A relievers | House: 20% (up from 18.5%); Senate: No provision | No Final Action |
| Federal matching share for AIP projects at airports (other than large and medium hubs) | No more than 90% for project funded by grant issued to and administered by State | No Final Action |
| Grant eligibility for private relievers | House: No provision; Senate: If FAA issues revised guidance after 7/1/98 for designation of relievers, then airports receiving AIP before 10/9/96 will be grandfathered | No Final Action � � |
| State highway specifications for airfield pavement construction | House: No provision; Senate: For G/A airports serving aircraft weighing less than 60,000 lbs., if airports take advantage of provision, they would be prohibited for 10 years from subsequently seeking funds to strengthen runway | No Final Action |
| Military Airport Program | House: Increase number of airports in MAP from 12 to 15 (1 must be G/A); Senate: No provision | No Final Action |
| Grant for noise compatibility plan | House: 33%; Senate: 35% | No Final Action |
| Discretionary spending cap | Eliminated | No Final Action |
| G/A and Helicopter Program Office | House: Such funds as necessary; Senate: FAA should support it | No Final Action |
| Chief Information Officer for ATCmodernization effort | House: Consider GAO recommendation to name CIO; Senate: No provision | No Final Action |
| ISSUES | DESCRIPTION | � |
| Division C: Legislative Issues of FAA Reauthorization Act | � | |
| Wildlife hazard mitigation | $450M | No Final Action � � � |
| Runway incursions | House: Prevention systems and devices eligible for AIP funds; Senate: No provision | No Final Action |
| Enhanced vision technologies (runway lighting) | House: Requires study and eligible for AIP funds; Senate: No provision | No Final Action |
| Loran C | House: Maintain and upgrade throughout transition to satellite-based navigation; Senate: No provision | No Final Action |
| ILS | House: Maintain inventory in light of WAAS uncertainties; Senate: $30M/year to purchase equipment | No Final Action � |
| Free Flight | House: Support for modernization and improvements to present ATC system; Senate: No provision | No Final Action � � |
| Aircraft emergency locators | House: No provision; Senate: Required by 2002 except for aerial applicators and design, testing, manufacture, preparation and delivery of aircraft | No Final Action |
| Bogus Parts | House: Rule to mark parts exceeding useful life; Senate: Denial of certificate to those selling, repairing, installing or manufacturing bogus parts (reinstate certificate if acquitted of all charges) | No Final Action |
| Contract Tower Program | House: $6M for airports with legitimate need; Senate: Such funds as might be needed to carry out program | No Final Action � � |
| ISSUES | DESCRIPTION | � |
| Division C: Legislative Issues of FAA Reauthorization Act | � | |
| Park Overflights | House: Commercial operators to conduct tours according to Air Tour Mgmt. Plan; Senate: Same, except ban tours over Rocky Mountain National Park | No Final Action |
| Weather | House: Report by 3/31/99 on plan to buy off shelf ASOS or explain why it’s not appropriate; Senate: Keep human observers until DOT Secretary determines ASOS provides consistent weather reports | No Final Action (however, study will continue) |
| � | � | � |
| OTHER GA LEGISLATION | DESCRIPTION | OUTCOME |
| Hoover Bill | Attempt to attach Senate version to S.2279 (FAA reauthorization) defeated 46-51; no action in House | |
| Proposed Ivanpah Airport (commercial); protection for Jean Airport (G/A) (Nevada) | Contained within Omnibus Parks & Public Lands Act (H.R. 4570) and in Ivanpah Valley Public Lands Act (H.R. 3705). Not in Senate version of Ivanpah Valley Public Lands Act (S. 1964) | No Final Action |
| Allow transient G/A flights over sheep habitat (San Rafael Wilderness, Utah) | Omnibus Parks & Public Lands Act (H.R. 4570) | No Final Action |
| Order to land provision (random force down of aircraft crossing U.S. border) | Contained within Senate version of Coast Guard Reauthorization Act (S.1259); Not in House version (H.R. 2204) | Deleted at insistence of House conferees |
| � | � | � |
| Other Issues | � | � |
| User fees | Fees for ATC services; recommended by the National Civil Aviation Review Commission | No action taken to implement user fees |
| ATC Performance-Based Organization (PBO) | Turn ATC within FAA into a more business-like operation, run by a Chief Operating Officer; recommended by the National Civil Aviation Review Commission | No action taken to implement ATC PBO |
