July 27, 2026
Air traffic control modernization, the FAA’s recent approval of digital departure clearances, emerging technology to improve safety and preserving access to airspace and airports were all on the agenda at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 Congressional Town Hall.
But it was the upcoming retirement of Rep. Sam Graves (R-06-MO), chair of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I), which sparked the most conversation – and gratitude for all he has done during his more than two decades in Congress to advance general aviation.
“He should be on Mount Rushmore of general aviation,” said NBAA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Kristie Greco Johnson. “He has been our champion. He has built a reputation in Congress as a workhorse, not a show horse. We are forever thankful for his work.”
Other panelists – who included Jim Coon, from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association; Theresa Marr, from Vertical Aviation International; Jack Pelton, from the Experimental Aircraft Association; and Jim Viola, from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association – echoed Johnson’s sentiment toward Graves.
Top on the list of accomplishments was the inclusion of the first-ever general aviation (GA) title in the 2024 FAA reauthorization bill, which focused on enhancing safety, streamlining regulations and improving certification processes for general aviation aircraft, and other technologies, and protecting flight privacy.
“He’s left GA better than he found it,” said Coon.
Graves said he would continue to advocate for general aviation when he is out of office. “It’s been in my blood. It’s always been in my blood,” he said.
He also noted that he would not have been able to accomplish what he did as committee chair without House T&I Committee Ranking Member Rep. Rick Larsen (D-02-WA).
“The majority of us want to meet in the middle,” Graves continued. “You only hear about the two extremes. The majority of Congress are just good people who want to work for their constituents and get work done. That’s my proudest legacy.”
Looking Ahead
Many panelists noted that the work being done to modernize the nation’s air traffic control system is among the chief priorities to everyone in aviation. Already, $12.5 billion has been allocated as a downpayment for that work, and Graves said Congress is working to find another $20 billion to finish the process.
“We’re in a unique time where the aviation industry is unified across every segment for the first time in modern history,” added Johnson, referring to the Modern Skies Coalition, which includes more than 60 aviation stakeholders all supporting modernization efforts. “We’re all working in unison to fight for this modernization project.”
Safety is always at the forefront of the industry’s policy agenda, as demonstrated by the Graves’s shared regarding the ALERT Act (Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency Act of 2026), a bipartisan aviation safety reform bill, which passed the House of Representatives in April and is awaiting next steps in the Senate.
The ALERT Act also includes a provision that would not allow airports to charge for landing feeds based on ADS-B data. However, Graves said, that portion of the bill is not in the Senate version.
Many applauded the FAA’s AirVenture-week announcement about Mobile Clearance, a new digital tool that will allow GA pilots to request departure clearances through approved flight applications instead of over the radio.
Panelists also emphasized the importance of keeping safety the No. 1 priority when the FAA’s new beyond visual line of sight rule for unmanned aircraft system operations is released. Specifically, Johnson said, the FAA needs to develop a framework for electronic conspicuity to approve new, affordable technologies that ensure every aircraft can be seen to reduce incursions and near misses.
When each panelist was asked about their organizations’ upcoming priorities, Johnson stressed the need to maintain airspace and airport access for business aviation. General aviation, she noted, accounts for 1.3 million jobs and $340 billion in economic output.
“We need to tell our story,” she said, referencing the industry’s CLIMBING. FAST. advocacy campaign. “We need to talk about our societal benefits and our impact.”
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.