House Cuts AIP Funding

Airlines praise House version of FAA bill

On Friday, House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman John Mica, R-Fla., released the House version of the FAA reauthorization bill. "This is a lean bill that recognizes our current budgetary difficulties and the need to do more with less," Mica said in a statement. "This bill saves $4 billion, requiring FAA to find significant cost savings without negatively impacting safety." The House measure does not include a passenger facility charge increase or labor provision opposed by FedEx and UPS, and it would phase out the Essential Air Service program except for Alaska and Hawaii. Reuters (02/11)AviationWeek.com (02/12) Dallas Morning News, The (free registration) (02/11) Hill, The (02/11)