LaHood and Babbitt: Pass long-term FAA bill

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Aviation Administration chief Randy Babbitt said Thursday that Congress should bridge its differences and pass a reauthorization bill for the beleaguered FAA.

In an op-ed, LaHood and Babbitt argued the short-term extension passed last month was not enough. That measure, the 18th short-term FAA bill, funds the organization through May.

"The United States is facing a pivotal time in aviation history," LaHood and Babbitt wrote in Politico. "We are charting the transformation of our air traffic control system — from the ground-based radar system of the past century to the satellite-based system of tomorrow.

"We want to make certain our aviation system remains the safest in the world," they continued. "But to accomplish our goals, the Federal Aviation Administration needs a multiyear reauthorization bill. It’s difficult to manage large-scale, long-term programs when there’s only enough money to pour 50 feet of concrete at a time. And it costs a lot more that way — meaning we get less bang for the buck."

LaHood and Babbitt acknowledged the rough press the FAA has gotten recently for a spate of air traffic controllers falling asleep on the job. But they said that should not stop Congress from giving them multi-year funding.

"While the FAA has, unfortunately, made headlines recently because of a few air traffic controllers who behaved unprofessionally, we have tens of thousands of dedicated employees who work tirelessly to improve our air traffic system," they said. "We are making the necessary safety changes so that we give the best performance day in and day out. We are moving forward, and we need support."  

LaHood and Babbitt noted that it has been three-and-a-half years since the FAA has had a long-term appropriation bill passed.