Attention to airline safety and investment is long overdue (Rep. Russ Carnahan)

As a Representative from St. Louis – a major transportation hub – and a member of the Aviation Subcommittee, a long-term reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is long overdue.

While we work to get our economy back on track it is time the U.S. modernize an aging air traffic control system and strengthen airport infrastructure to reduce delays and improve safety.  It is essential to our economy that passengers are able to board a plane to travel on business or leisure without second-guessing themselves.

Legislation passed yesterday authorizes nearly $70 billion in needed investments in FAA programs over the next four years to help meet the growing demand on our system.  The FAA estimates over the next seven to twelve years our airlines will carry more than one billion passengers.  Without expanded capacity airports will not be able to serve the increases in passengers.

I am pleased to see a significant increase in the Airport Improvement Program (AIP).  Over the four-year life of the bill’s authorization this amounts to an additional $1 billion in authorized funds for AIP.  This increase in funding would be especially helpful to airports, like Lambert St. Louis International Airport, spur economic development.

This legislation also would require airlines and airports to develop plans to take care of passengers involved in long flight and tarmac delays, including plans for deplaning.  Being stuck in a plane for hours on end without an explanation will be a thing of the past.