U.S. House and Senate leaders detailed their agreement yesterday for an extension of the FAA’s operating authority through September 30 next year. The agreement, which could reach the House floor this week followed by the Senate early next week, includes other aviation provisions, among them the much sought-after third-class aeromedical exemption. The agreement also addresses certain safety, security and consumer protection issues. 

The bill does not include the controversial House proposal for a user-funded, independent air traffic organization. But neither does it include measures to further reform the FAA’s certification process and ensure regulatory consistency. Those measures could come up again as the leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Senate Commerce Committee resume work on a more comprehensive FAA bill next year.

“Recognizing that this is a year-long extension, we are also committed to working together on a longer-term reauthorization that includes other important reforms benefiting all passengers and Americans who depend on a safe aviation system,” the committee leaders said in a joint statement.

The agreement was reached with little more than a week left before the FAA’s operating authority would have expired on July 15. “While not a perfect solution, this authorized extension provides stability to the agency and takes action on a number of high-priority safety and security issues,” said NATA president and CEO Tom Hendricks.

“This extension is also important because of what it includes, and what it leaves out,” added NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen, pointing to third-class aeromedical reform. “Equally important, the bill does not include risky proposals for creating a privatized air traffic control system, funded through new user fees. Clearly, our community’s tremendous mobilization against ATC privatization funded by user fees has made a difference.”

AOPA and EAA also issued a joint statement praising the inclusion of the third-class medical reform. "This is a vital issue for the general aviation community…Medical reform is long overdue,” said AOPA president Mark Baker.

But not all general aviation leaders were as enthusiastic about the extension. “The decision to introduce a short-term extension of FAA programs into 2017, while necessary to keep the agency operating, is a missed opportunity for significant certification and regulatory reform,” said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce. “There is no excuse for this inaction, particularly when parties in both chambers agree on the importance of these reforms. The result will be the continued inefficient use of industry and FAA resources, and ensure that general aviation manufacturers continue to face unnecessary obstacles to creating jobs and selling their products.”