AIAA Statement on FAA Extension Written 1 October 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: JOHN BLACKSTEN
703.264.7532
johnb@aiaa.org

AIAA President Calls for a Long-Term Authorization for the Agency

October 1, 2017 – Reston, Va. – As the world’s largest aerospace technical society, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) urges lawmakers to come to a consensus and pass a long-term FAA authorization bill.  

“We are encouraged to see lawmakers work toward reauthorizing the FAA; however, the passage of short-term extensions makes it difficult for the agency to manage large-scale, long-term programs,” said AIAA President Jim Maser. “This ultimately provides uncertainty and instability for the aerospace marketplace and workforce. It is imperative for Congress to quickly pass and for the President to sign legislation that ensures the agency’s long-term funding and policy direction. Adequate funding and sound policy direction will go a long way in successfully implementing NextGen, integrating unmanned aerial vehicles into the National Airspace System, advancing commercial space transportation operations, and streamlining the certification process of new aircraft, among other things.”

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is nearly 30,000 engineers and scientists, and 95 corporate members, from 85 countries who are dedicated to advancing the global aerospace profession. The world’s largest aerospace technical society, the Institute convenes five yearly forums; publishes books, technical journals, and Aerospace America; hosts a collection of 160,000 technical papers; develops and maintains standards; honors and celebrates achievement; and advocates on policy issues. AIAA serves aerospace professionals around the world—who are shaping the future of aerospace—by providing the tools, insights, and collaborative exchanges to advance the state of the art in engineering and science for aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit  www.aiaa.org, or follow us on Twitter @AIAA.