News Archive

Senate approves transportation appropriations; bill to be signed by President

By AOPA Communications staff

The Senate has approved transportation appropriations legislation (H.R.2299), by a vote of 97-2, which will provide some $13.3 billion to the FAA for the 2002 fiscal year. The bill, passed by the House of Representatives on November 30, will now go to the President for signature. The legislation includes many provisions that AOPA pushed for, including funding for improving the notam distribution system and flight service station computers.

The $13.3 billion budget, which would be 5.7 percent above this year's budget, includes FAA funding consistent with the levels established under the AIR-21 legislation signed into law of April 2000 to unlock the aviation trust fund. AOPA worked with conferees on the transportation appropriations bill to include a number of GA-related provisions, such as the requirement that the FAA disseminate the database of airport diagrams to manufacturers at no cost as a first step in reducing runway incursions and enhancing aviation safety; an increase in funding for research on general aviation unleaded fuels; and modernization of the notams platform. View the provisions requested by AOPA included in the agreed-upon legislation. A provision stating that area reliever and general aviation airports like Meigs Field must be preserved and utilized as part of a plan to solve congestion at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport was dropped during conference, fallout from the inability of Illinois governor's office and the Chicago mayor's office to come to a resolution on airports in the Chicago area.

Details of the conference report:

01-4-191x

December 4, 2001