NBAA Applauds Bill to Bolster Aviation Certification, Supporting American Competitiveness
/The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) welcomed a bipartisan bill, introduced in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, which would enhance transparency, predictability and accountability in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) aircraft type certification process.
The “Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act” would require the FAA to provide more predictability in type certification timelines and equip the agency with additional resources to meet those timelines, including clearer delegation of routine tasks. This includes certification of advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft.
Today, aircraft manufacturers often face unpredictable and inconsistent aircraft type certification processes with limited FAA resources assigned to type certification projects. The act proposes several improvements:
Bring transparency to certification timelines: The bill establishes transparent, reliable time ranges for the issue-paper process, so that type certification applicants know how long reviews are expected to take, reducing uncertainty and delays.
Simplify paperwork requirements: The legislation defines when an issue paper is required in the certification process, ensuring that only novel or complex issues trigger additional review steps, rather than routine matters.
Standardize and streamline delegation of routine tasks: The proposal clarifies when the FAA can delegate routine compliance findings to qualified personnel, allowing agency experts to focus on complex, safety-critical issues.
Ensure Congressional oversight: The bill directs the FAA to report to the relevant congressional committees on the FAA’s progress in implementing certification process improvements and managing workload.
The Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act results in part from advocacy efforts from NBAA, led by the NBAA AAM Roundtable, a group established for high-level sector leaders to chart a course for integrating AAM technologies into the nation’s airspace and infrastructure, with the support of a broader group of aviation stakeholders.
The Senate legislation is co-sponsored by Sens. Peter Welch (D-VT), Ted Budd (R-NC), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), John Curtis (R-UT) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), who note that supporting the growth of AAM in the U.S. is “essential to national security, aerospace exports and economic growth in communities nationwide.”
The companion bill in the House of Representatives is co-sponsored by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Troy Nehls (R-22-TX) and Ranking Member Andre Carson (D-7-IN) and AAM Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-8-CA) and Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-20-CA).
“We thank congressional leaders for their leadership and support in providing U.S. aircraft manufacturers with transparency, consistency and federal resources in connection with the type certification process,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “The market for AAM in the U.S. is expected to reach $115 billion annually by 2035, potentially creating almost 300,000 jobs, and this legislation is critical to ensuring the U.S. aerospace industry remains a global leader.”