FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024

Became Public Law No: 118-63.

May 16, 2024

The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 extends funding and authorization for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board programs through fiscal year 2028, including airport planning, facilities, operations, and aviation weather programs. The act establishes FAA organizational structures, including a new Assistant Administrator for Rulemaking and Regulatory Improvement, and imposes financial interest restrictions on the FAA Administrator and Deputy Administrator. The act directs the FAA to complete NextGen modernization programs by December 31, 2025, and sunset the NextGen office, while transferring advanced air mobility functions to the Office of Aviation Safety. The act also requires process reviews and action plans to improve regulatory development timelines and transparency, with oversight by the Department of Transportation Inspector General.

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FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 This act reauthorizes through FY2028 and revises Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) programs and activities. TITLE I--AUTHORIZATIONS (Sec. 101) This section reauthorizes through FY2028 the FAA's airport planning and development and airport noise compatibility planning and programs. (Sec. 102) This section reauthorizes through FY2028 the FAA's facilities and equipment. (Sec. 103) This section reauthorizes through FY2028 the FAA's operations. (Sec. 104) This section reauthorizes through FY2028 (1) an extension of the non-premium war risk insurance program; (2) Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau discretionary funds; (3) aviation weather reporting programs; (4) Midway Island Airport funding; and (5) the Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory Committee. TITLE II--FAA OVERSIGHT AND ORGANIZATIONAL REFORM (Sec. 201) This section establishes the leadership structure of the FAA, which includes the Administrator and the Deputy Administrator. (Sec. 202) This section establishes a new FAA Assistant Administrator for Rulemaking and Regulatory Improvement and specifies various duties for the assistant administrator. (Sec. 203) This section prohibits the FAA Administrator and Deputy Administrator from holding a financial interest (e.g., ownership, equity, or security interest) in an aeronautical enterprise or engaging in another business, vocation, or employment. This section also specifies that the prohibition against holding a financial interest in aeronautical enterprises does not apply to index funds. Further, the Deputy Administrator must receive prior approval from the Administrator to receive compensation for teaching. (Sec. 204) This section establishes the authorities of the FAA relating to those of the Department of Transportation (DOT). This includes the final authority for carrying out all functions, powers, and duties for the acquisition, establishment, improvement, operation, maintenance, security (including cybersecurity), and disposal of FAA property, facilities, services, and equipment, including all elements of FAA-owned air traffic control systems. This section also specifies the FAA's rulemaking approval procedures. (Sec. 205) This section directs the FAA to establish a regulatory process review team to develop recommendations to improve the timeliness, performance, and accountability of the development and promulgation of regulatory materials. The review team must submit a report to the FAA, and the FAA must develop an action plan to implement the review team’s recommendations. Further, the DOT Office of Inspector General (OIG) must review the coordination and approval processes for FAA-produced non-regulatory materials in order to improve the timeliness, transparency, development, and issuance of such materials. The DOT OIG must submit a report to the FAA. The FAA must develop an action plan based on the DOT OIG recommendations. The FAA must also brief Congress on the action plan. (Sec. 206) This section directs the FAA to operationalize all of the key programs under the NextGen program by December 31, 2025, and sunset the FAA Office of NextGen on that date. Further, management of the NextGen Advisory Committee must be transferred to the Chief Operating Officer of the air traffic control system. (NextGen is a multifaceted program to modernize and improve the efficiency of the national airspace system, primarily by migrating from a system using ground-based navigation infrastructure and radar tracking of flights to satellite-based navigation and aircraft tracking.) The section also requires the incorporation of any advanced air mobility relevant functions, duties, and responsibilities of the FAA's NAS Systems Engineering and Integration Office into the FAA’s Office of Aviation Safety. Further, this section expands and renames the William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace (formerly the William J. Hughes Technical Ce