Airport Alert: House Committee Approves Aviation Bills
July 28, 2021
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today approved two aviation-related bills including one to help promote the development of Advanced Air Mobility and another aimed at curbing foreign air carriers from exploiting "flags of convenience." The Committee cleared both measures by voice vote.
Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act: The Committee approved a bipartisan bill (H.R. 1339) introduced by Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Garret Graves (R-LA) that would require DOT to establish an interagency working group to coordinate efforts related to AAM. The group would be tasked with examining safety requirements, infrastructure needs, and federal programs to help advance AAM, which Graves said will "revolutionize transportation."
Under the Davids-Graves bill, representatives from NASA, the Department of Defense, and other federal agencies would participate in an AAM interagency working group. The measure would require the group to coordinate with airports, air carriers, GA operators, and other aviation stakeholders. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Aviation Subcommittee Chair Krysten Sinema (D-AZ) earlier this year introduced a similar AAAE-backed bill (S. 516) in the Senate.
Fair and Open Skies Act: The Committee approved another bipartisan bill (H.R. 3095) that would require DOT to ensure "that any new foreign air carrier permit issued to a foreign airline that will fly between the United States and Europe under the U.S.-E.U.-Norway-Iceland Air Transport Agreement is consistent with the agreement's requirements regarding fair labor standards and fair competition."
The bill was introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR), who previously led the fight against Norwegian Air. Aviation Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen (D-WA), who cosponsored the bill, said the measure would prevent carriers from "using flags of convenience to circumvent strong labor laws and safety regulations."
Ranking Member Garret Graves voiced his support for the intent behind the legislation. But he cited DOT concerns about potential retaliatory actions from foreign air carriers.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today approved two aviation-related bills including one to help promote the development of Advanced Air Mobility and another aimed at curbing foreign air carriers from exploiting "flags of convenience." The Committee cleared both measures by voice vote.
Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act: The Committee approved a bipartisan bill (H.R. 1339) introduced by Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Garret Graves (R-LA) that would require DOT to establish an interagency working group to coordinate efforts related to AAM. The group would be tasked with examining safety requirements, infrastructure needs, and federal programs to help advance AAM, which Graves said will "revolutionize transportation."
Under the Davids-Graves bill, representatives from NASA, the Department of Defense, and other federal agencies would participate in an AAM interagency working group. The measure would require the group to coordinate with airports, air carriers, GA operators, and other aviation stakeholders. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Aviation Subcommittee Chair Krysten Sinema (D-AZ) earlier this year introduced a similar AAAE-backed bill (S. 516) in the Senate.
Fair and Open Skies Act: The Committee approved another bipartisan bill (H.R. 3095) that would require DOT to ensure "that any new foreign air carrier permit issued to a foreign airline that will fly between the United States and Europe under the U.S.-E.U.-Norway-Iceland Air Transport Agreement is consistent with the agreement's requirements regarding fair labor standards and fair competition."
The bill was introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR), who previously led the fight against Norwegian Air. Aviation Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen (D-WA), who cosponsored the bill, said the measure would prevent carriers from "using flags of convenience to circumvent strong labor laws and safety regulations."
Ranking Member Garret Graves voiced his support for the intent behind the legislation. But he cited DOT concerns about potential retaliatory actions from foreign air carriers.
