LaHood 'very hopeful' Congress will pass FAA bill

US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood expressed optimism that a "long-term" FAA reauthorization bill is finally nearing completion and passage in Congress after years of stops and starts in legislative talks.

"We have our fingers and toes crossed," he said during luncheon remarks Tuesday at the Aero Club of Washington. "We are very hopeful that Congress will soon pass … a long-term FAA bill." Congress last week extended FAA funding through Feb. 17 by passing the 23rd temporary measure to keep the agency running since its authorization lapsed Sept. 30, 2007 (ATW Daily News, Jan. 25).

Members of the Republican-led House of Representatives and Democratic-led Senate convened a conference committee Tuesday that will attempt to negotiate a compromise bill that can be cleared by both chambers before the latest temporary extension expires. LaHood said passing a bill that contains funding for the transition to the satellite-based NextGen ATC system is "step one" in modernizing the US's aviation infrastructure and should not be controversial.

"There simply is not a Democratic or a Republican airport," said the former Republican congressman who now works in a Democratic administration. "Transportation and the FAA were always bipartisan."

LaHood also vigorously defended new consumer protection regulations imposed on US airlines (ATW Daily News, Aug. 24, 2011) that Spirit Airlines and other carriers say will lead to "unintended consequences," namely higher costs for carriers and higher fares for passengers. "The consumer rules we've implemented have gotten rave reviews from people that fly," LaHood insisted, acknowledging that the requirements are "a little source of aggravation" for many in the Aero Club audience. "We want to make sure people are respected when they get on a plane."

Finally, LaHood called the recently announced changes to pilot flight time, duty and rest regulations "a very good rule" that will decrease pilot fatigue and enhance safety (ATW Daily News, Dec. 23, 2011). He reiterated that cargo carriers, exempted from the new regulations, should voluntarily opt in.

"I have invited our friends from the cargo airlines to come to my office and talk about the rule and [hopefully they will decide to] implement it," he said. "I'm going to ask them directly to be a part of [the rule]. If everyone cares about safety … then I don't see a reason [for cargo carriers] not to do it."