GAMA Pleased with Introduction of Small Aircraft Revitalization Act in Senate

Bipartisan legislation is companion to House measure; would double safety, halve costs.

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) welcomed the introduction of the Small Aircraft Revitalization Act of 2013 by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). The bipartisan bill is the Senate companion to H.R. 1848, which U.S. Representative Mike Pompeo (R-KS) and a bipartisan group of U.S. House members introduced in May. The bill would establish a date certain for implementing the FAA’s Part 23 Reorganization Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) recommendations, with the aim, as stated by FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, of doubling safety and cutting certification costs in half for light general aviation (GA) airplanes.

“GAMA is very encouraged by the growing momentum in Congress to address this important issue, and we deeply appreciate the leadership of Senators Klobuchar and Murkowski to improve aviation safety and help promote manufacturing growth in general aviation,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce. “The support of other bipartisan sponsors of the bill – including Senators Mark Begich (D-AK), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Jerry Moran (R-KS), James Risch (R-ID), Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Tom Udall (D-NM) – makes it clear that the FAA should move quickly to embrace the ARC’s recommendations. These will improve safety, allow manufacturers to invest in new products and install lifesaving equipment on current airplanes, and bring new energy to the lighter segment of the aircraft market, which has been hurt by the overly prescriptive, outdated and rigid rules in place today.”

The ARC report will recommend setting performance-based design requirements, rather than prescriptive, technology-dependent requirements that rely on assumptions based on weight and propulsion type on light general aviation airplanes. Adopting the new regulations would simplify the current process and give manufacturers needed flexibility by allowing them to achieve compliance by meeting consensus-based standards agreed to by industry and the FAA. The current rules have hindered new safety-enhancing products from coming to market and hurt the lighter segments of the GA market.

The ARC, comprised of 150 government and aviation industry representatives, spent 18 months developing the recommendations, and was co-chaired by Greg Bowles, GAMA’s Director of Engineering & Manufacturing.