NBAA Lauds Senate Committee’s Passage of Small Aircraft Revitalization Act

Contacts: Dan Hubbard, (202) 783-9360, dhubbard@nbaa.org

Washington, DC, August 2, 2013 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) welcomed the United States Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee’s passage Tuesday of S.1072, The Small Aircraft Revitalization Act, to revamp and enhance Part 23 light aircraft certification standards.

The committee’s voice vote advanced the bill for consideration by the full Senate, and to be reconciled with similar legislation passed July 17 in a vote of 411-0 by the U.S. House of Representatives.

“These swift actions by Congress to overhaul certification standards for small aircraft and avionics demonstrates an impressive understanding by lawmakers of the factors that hinder development of new light aircraft and avionics,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “NBAA joins with other aviation industry groups in support and anticipation of the Senate’s full vote on the legislation.”

Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced S.1072 in late May. The Senate bill establishes a Dec. 31, 2015 target date for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue its Final Rule adopting consensus-based, design-specific performance requirements for Part 23 aircraft certification, in line with recommendations made last year by a joint industry-government Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) focused on the reorganization of Part 23 certification standards for light aircraft.

Current certification standards are based largely upon aircraft weight and propulsion method, with a broad array of requirements that apply equally to what can be a diverse selection of aircraft. The ARC recommended the adoption of aircraft-specific, consensus-based certification standards, stating an enhanced certification process would allow manufacturers to more quickly implement new designs and technologies, markedly reduce production costs, and preserve the safety focus at the center of the certification process.

Bolen commended Sens. Murkowski and Klobuchar for introducing their bill, and thanked the leaders of the Senate Commerce Committee and its Aviation Subcommittee, Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), John Thune (R-SD), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), for their support of S. 1072.

“Removal of unnecessary regulatory burdens from the certification process, in favor of more effective, consensus-based guidelines, is necessary to reinvigorate the country’s general aviation industry,” Bolen concluded. “Swifter adoption of new aircraft designs and vital safety equipment would benefit everyone in general aviation – pilots and their passengers, manufacturers, and a struggling industry.”

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Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The Association represents more than 9,000 companies and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at www.nbaa.org.

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