FAA Set to Boost Staffing as Biden Approves New $105 Billion Aviation Bill

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is poised for a significant staffing increase following the passage of a $105 billion reauthorization bill, which President Biden is expected to sign into law shortly. This legislative move aims to address persistent issues of flight delays, employee fatigue, and safety concerns at airports by enabling the FAA to hire thousands of new air traffic controllers and other essential personnel.

The House of Representatives gave its approval to the bill on Wednesday, shortly after the Senate’s endorsement last week, following a series of bipartisan negotiations and temporary extensions of the FAA’s authority. The urgency to pass the bill was fueled by the need to address severe staffing shortages within the agency, with Biden’s signature required before the FAA’s authority expires on Friday.

Key provisions of the bill include a mandate for the FAA to maximize its hiring capabilities at its air traffic controller training academy for the next five years. This directive is a substantial victory for the National Association of Air Traffic Controllers, which has been advocating for increased staffing to reverse the trend of diminishing controller numbers since 2012.

FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker praised the passage of the bill, highlighting its importance for the future of U.S. aviation. “It gives us the stability to ensure we carry out our mission to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world, even as we facilitate the aviation system of the future,” Whitaker commented.

A significant aspect of the bill tasks a third party with determining the appropriate staffing model for the FAA to adopt going forward. Until that model is established, the FAA is instructed to adopt a more aggressive staffing approach, aiming for a total of 14,000 air traffic controllers, up from the current target of 12,000 and an actual staff count of around 11,000.

Senator Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., chair of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and a key architect of the bill, referred to it as the “first major upgrade” to controller hiring in decades. She emphasized that these efforts will set “the gold standard in safety” for the nation.

The bill also requires the FAA to expand the capacity at its existing training academy rather than building a second one, as was initially proposed. It mandates the creation of a workforce and recruitment plan not only for instructors at the academy but also for roles related to aircraft certification and aviation safety. This expansion is critical as expressed by the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) President David Spero, who stressed the urgent need for full staffing to maintain aviation safety, especially in light of recent issues with Boeing aircraft.

Moreover, the bill allows the FAA to factor in employees’ telework status when setting pay rates, addressing modern work environment dynamics.

As FAA officials, the White House, and lawmakers continue to prioritize growing the FAA’s workforce, this new bill is seen as a crucial step in enhancing the safety and efficiency of U.S. airspace, reducing the operational strains that have led to increased near misses and operational inefficiencies.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, govexec.com