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CONGRESS MUST PASS FAA REAUTHORIZATION NOW
The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS) represents approximately 11,000 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees in five separate bargaining units throughout the United States and in several foreign locations. PASS members include Technical Operations employees (systems specialists, electronics technicians and computer specialists) who install, maintain, repair and certify the radar, navigation, communication and environmental systems making up the air traffic control system; Flight Standards and manufacturing aviation safety inspectors responsible for inspecting and certifying every aspect of the commercial and general aviation industries; flight inspection pilots, mission specialists and procedures development specialists in Aviation System Standards; and administrative employees in the FAA’s Civil Aviation Registry.
There is critical language contained in the FAA reauthorization bill that will not only impact the future working conditions of all FAA employees but is also essential to the safe operation of the National Airspace System (NAS). It is imperative that Congress pass this important legislation in order to protect the rights of FAA employees and ensure that the system is maintained as safely and efficiently as possible.
The full House passed its version of the legislation (H.R. 2881) in September 2007, but Senate lawmakers continue to negotiate its version of the bill (S. 1300). PASS supports several sections that are included in both versions of the bill, including the following:
- Contract negotiations: Language is included in both versions of the bill that would clarify that the Federal Service Impasses Panel (FSIP) has jurisdiction over the FAA and that binding arbitration before a board of arbitrators is the process used to resolve bargaining disputes.
- FAA technical training and staffing: Language is included that would require the comptroller general to study the training of technicians and the Academy of Sciences to issue a report on the staffing methods used by the FAA to ensure adequate technician staffing.
- Consolidation/realignment of facilities: Language is included that would establish a process and include employee input when deciding whether to consolidate or realign facilities, including regional offices.
- Inspector staffing model: Language is included that would require the FAA to develop a staffing model by 2009 as outlined in the September 2006 Academy of Sciences report and to include PASS in the development of the model.
There are several provisions included in the House-passed version of FAA reauthorization that are not currently in the Senate version. These are significant items that are critical to aviation safety, and it is important the final legislation include the following:
- FAA modernization: The House bill includes language that requires the FAA to collaborate with its unions in the planning, development and deployment of air traffic control modernization projects.
- Inspector staffing: In its version of FAA reauthorization, the House has directed the FAA to increase the number of aviation safety inspectors and has allocated specific funding to increase safety critical staffing through 2011.
- Designee programs: Language is included in the House bill that would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the FAA’s designee programs.
- Oversight of foreign repair stations: The House bill mandates all 145 certificated foreign repair stations must be inspected at least twice a year by an FAA inspector and that all workers working on U.S. aircraft at foreign repair stations be drug and alcohol tested.
- Certificated repair facilities: Language is included in the House version requiring that within three years all air carrier maintenance work (substantial, regularly scheduled or required inspection items) only be performed by a certificated repair facility.
- Third-party approach procedures: Language is included that would require the Department of Transportation Inspector General to review third-party approach procedures development.
There are portions of the Senate bill that PASS strongly opposes and urges members of Congress not to include in the final version of the legislation. The following two pilot programs take responsibility for NAS operations out of the hands of the trained and professional federal employees charged with maintaining the safety of the system.
- Pilot program for airport takeover of navigation facilities: Language is included in the Senate bill that would allow 10 airports to maintain and operate systems and equipment currently the responsibility of the FAA.
- Pilot program for ADS-B support: Language is included in the Senate bill that would allow for the non-federal acquisition of Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) ground stations.
Congress must work together to pass FAA reauthorization as soon as possible in order to protect this country’s aviation system and the employees who work everyday to keep it functioning safely and efficiently.
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