FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 Strengthens Aviation Safety and Fully Funds NTSB
President Joe Biden has signed into law the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which secures funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the next five years and introduces critical safety regulations aimed at enhancing aviation safety. The act also ensures full funding for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the agency responsible for investigating transportation accidents and recommending improvements.
The new legislation allocates a significant $738 million to the NTSB through fiscal year 2028, alongside an impressive $105 billion for the FAA. This funding boost is set to support various facets of air travel including consumer protections, air traffic control staffing, and more.
A key feature of the reauthorization act is the expansion of safety measures, many of which have been advocated by the NTSB for years. Notably, the act mandates that all new and existing aircraft be equipped with cockpit voice recorders (CVRs) capable of retaining 25 hours of audio, a substantial increase from the current two-hour requirement. This change addresses the issue of critical audio data being overwritten by extending the recording duration, ensuring more comprehensive data is available for accident investigations.
This legislative update comes in response to several incidents, including a 2017 near miss at San Francisco International Airport, where an Air Canada flight almost landed on a taxiway occupied by four other aircraft. The investigation was hampered when the crucial CVR data was overwritten.
Furthermore, the law mandates that aircraft flying over oceans be equipped with technology capable of broadcasting CVR and flight data recorder information remotely in case of an accident, pinpointing the location of wreckage. This follows recommendations from the NTSB in the wake of the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 in 2014.
The FAA is also tasked with reviewing and implementing various NTSB safety recommendations related to turbulence and airline operations oversight. NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy expressed gratitude for the inclusion of these provisions in the bill, highlighting the enhanced resources which will enable the NTSB to maintain its stature as a leading safety agency globally.
“The new measures will solidify the United States’ position as having a ‘gold standard’ of aviation safety,” said Homendy. She also noted the role of the NTSB’s increased visibility following several recent safety concerns in air travel, such as runway incursions and other near misses, and a notable incident involving an Alaska Airlines flight where a door plug fell off, causing cabin decompression.
The passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 represents a significant advancement in the commitment to aviation safety, addressing long-standing NTSB recommendations and ensuring the agency is equipped to uphold its critical role in investigating and preventing future accidents.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, thepointsguy.com