Future of House-passed aviation bill uncertain

FAA funding legislation passed by the House last week includes some provisions that would affect passengers, but the measure faces an uncertain future in the Senate -- which is still working on its version of the bill -- and the threat of a veto from the White House. The FAA’s current funding authorization runs out at the end of September, and the Bush Administration has proposed new funding mechanisms that would help pay for deployment of a new GPS-satellite-based air traffic control system. The Air Transport Association, the major airlines’ trade organization, blasted the House-passed bill for not doing enough to shift more of the cost burden onto business jets and other small-plane operators. ATA also criticized the House bill for a provision that would let airports increase their so-called “passenger facility charges” from the current limit of $4.50 per passenger to $7. The organization said this would amount to “a $2.2 billion tax increase on passengers.” The bill would also hike fuel taxes on airlines by about 25 percent.

Another provision in the House-passed bill would require airlines to develop contingency plans to protect passengers trapped in long tarmac delays – guaranteeing they would get food, water and other basic services – and procedures to let passengers deplane after unreasonably long delays. The House-passed bill would also allow pilots at commercial airlines to stay on the job until age 65; the current mandatory retirement age is 60.