FAA bill nears approval
February 9, 2012, 01:28 pm
After four years of negotiating various components of the Federal Aviation Administration funding bill, lawmakers finally reached an agreement.
The new bill will provide long-term funding for airport construction and expansion, as well as the modernization of air traffic control systems and further deployment of GPS satellite technology in the industry. The bill has also tackled issues regarding aviation unionization, landing slots and rural subsidies that caused disputes between lawmakers for many years, NPR reported.
According to Science Insider, the FAA bill will provide $168 million per year for FAA research in engineering and development programs. The bill calls for the funding to be used for a new air traffic control system, lighter aircraft materials, new fuels and other innovations in the field.
The aviation industry is conducting research into the improved air quality in aircraft cabins. The bill is setting aside money to determine where sensors and air filters should be installed in planes to best improve air quality without imposing a significant cost to carriers. The legislation also encourages the industry to work with NASA to develop a research plan that assesses the environmental impact aviation has on the environment to determine what measures should be taken to reduce carbon emissions and develop alternative fuel sources, the source reported.
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