SW Georgia News

The United States House of Representatives has passed H.R. 3935, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, following nearly a year of negotiations with the Senate. The legislation is now awaiting President Biden's signature.

Representative Mike Collins, a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation, expressed his support for the bill, stating: "America leads, and the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 will ensure it stays that way. By improving safety, modernizing the FAA, expanding the aviation workforce, investing in our nation's airports, bolstering our general aviation community, and so much more, this bill will keep us on the cutting edge of innovation while maintaining the world's safest skies."

Collins also acknowledged his role in crafting this legislation as a member of the Transportation Committee and highlighted that his amendment to clear the runway for commercial hypersonic travel in the future was included in the final version of the bill.

He extended his gratitude to Chairman Sam Graves, Ranking Member Rick Larsen, Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Garret Graves, and Ranking Member Steve Cohen for their leadership throughout this process. He noted that this bill is a significant win for the aviation community, traveling public and country as a whole.

The FAA reauthorization will extend Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs for five years. It aims to provide long-term stability across the aviation system; improve efficiency and operations at the FAA; bolster General Aviation (GA); encourage growth in aviation workforce with an emphasis on pilots and mechanics; invest in critical airport infrastructure across America; maintain U.S. leadership in safety; and improve passenger travel experience.

One key component of this legislation is Rep. Collins' Hypersonic Amendment. The United States is currently competing against countries like China and Russia to lead in hypersonic aviation. However, there are concerns that without an established policy framework from FAA for incorporating hypersonic aircraft into national airspace system, it may not be prepared to certify and regulate hypersonic aircraft when the technology is ready for deployment.

Rep. Collins' amendment mandates the FAA to study and create this framework, and to coordinate with NASA to determine at what altitude sonic booms caused by hypersonic aircraft are inaudible on the ground, then authorize flights at or above that level.