ACC Legislative News
An e-mail supplement to AirportConsulting,
ACC's quarterly magazine
Prepared by T.J. Schulz, ACC Vice President
FAA Administrator & Reauthorization Updates
1) Randy Babbitt Nominated for FAA Administrator
2) FAA Reauthorization Update
- Congress Passes FAA Extension through Sept. 30,
2009
- ACC Meets with House and Senate Committees During Fly
In
3) FAA Issues Preliminary List of Projects for Economic Recovery
Grant Funding
1. Obama Taps Randy Babbitt for FAA Administrator
On Friday President Barack Obama announced his selection of J.
Randolph Babbitt as his nominee for FAA Administrator. Below is a bio
for Mr. Babbitt released by the White House:
J. Randolph Babbitt, known as Randy, is a partner in
the worldwide aviation consultancy of Oliver Wyman. He was the former
Chairman and CEO of Eclat Consulting until they were acquired by Oliver
Wyman in 2007. Babbitt is internationally recognized as a leader
in the field of aviation safety and policy, and labor relations with
almost 40 years of experience in the industry. Babbitt began his
aviation career as a pilot for Eastern Airlines and flew for more than
25 years. He served as President and CEO for US Air Line Pilots
Association, the world's largest professional organization of airline
pilots. In 1993 he served as a Presidential appointee on the National
Commission to Ensure a Strong Competitive Airline Industry. In 2008
Babbitt was named by the Secretary of Transportation to an independent
review team of aviation and safety experts tasked with evaluating and
crafting recommendations to improve the FAA's implementation of the
aviation safety system and its culture of safety. Babbitt attended both
the University of Georgia and the University of Miami.
His nomination will need to be cleared by the Senate and a
confirmation hearing may be held by the Senate Commerce Committee.
2. FAA Reauthorization Update
President Obama has signed into law an FAA extension bill that
provides authority for the agency to issue grants through Sept. 30,
2009. With the extension in place the FAA can issue the remaining FY
2009 AIP program that was provided under the omnibus appropriations bill
that was passed on March 11 (see LN-09-04).
Meanwhile, ACC held a fly in on March 19 and met with House and
Senate aviation committee staff to discuss the FAA reauthorization bill.
Participating in the fly in were Dale Wilde, Hoyle, Tanner &
Associates and Chair of ACC's Legislative Committee; Carlos Maeda with
PBS&J and Vice Chair of ACC's Legislative Committee; and Todd
Knuckey with Hanson Professional Services, Inc.
During the meetings ACC stressed the importance of completing an FAA
reauthorization bill this fiscal year and expressed support for applying
QBS to projects funded with Passenger Facility Charges.
Fly in participants also learned that the House plans to consider its
bill (H.R. 915) in April or early May. The Senate Commerce Committee
staff is currently reviewing last year's reauthorization proposal and
plans to introduce a new bill in April. The Commerce Committee may hold
a markup on the bill in May. It is unclear when the full Senate may
consider the bill, but it may not take place until September. It is also
apparent the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will want most of
the issues settled on the bill before he allows it to come to the Senate
floor.
3. FAA Posts Economic Recovery Grants Issued to Date
The FAA has posted the grants that have been awarded under the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act from March 16 - March 27, 2009.
Click here to view a list of the projects.
FY 2009 Cumulative Approved ARRA Grants 3-16-09 through
3-27-09
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