USCTA Alerts

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today approved two bipartisan aviation safety bills.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today approved a USCTA-backed bill that would require the FAA to equip contract towers with Airborne Position Reference Tools (APRT) unless they already have STARs systems.

In the wake of a report yesterday from the GAO on the FAA’s efforts to modernize the nation’s aging air traffic control system, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford appeared this morning before the House funding subcommittee responsible for writing the agency’s annual budget.

The FAA released a list of $1.1 billion in infrastructure grant awards as part of the FY26 Airport Improvement Program, including $519.8 million in entitlement grants and $590.4 million in discretionary grants.

The Senate early this morning passed a bipartisan continuing resolution that would fund the federal government until December 11.

FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau announced that he will be departing the agency after next week, according to multiple news outlets.

The FAA released a list of nearly $1.1 billion in infrastructure grant awards as part of the FY26 Airport Improvement Program (AIP), including $640.4 million in entitlement grants and $451.2 million in discretionary grants.

During a hearing before the Senate Aviation Subcommittee today that focused on close calls and improving aviation safety across the national airspace system, AAAE President and CEO Todd Hauptli highlighted the need to use SMS to prioritize safety investments, enhance worker training, and modernize air traffic control and airport investments to enhance aviation safety.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Aviation held a hearing titled “Connecting Rural America to the National Airspace System” to examine the value of rural commercial air service and the challenges communities face in maintaining and expanding connectivity.

The House Appropriations Committee early this morning approved its version of the Fiscal Year 2027 transportation spending bill on a party-line vote of 34 to 27.