Photo above – Jack Pelton, left and U.S. Rep. Sam Graves.
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) recognized U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Missouri) for his bipartisan efforts, working with leaders in the House and Senate, to pass the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024, which was signed into law this past May by President Biden. The EAA recognition came during Rep. Graves’ annual congressional update to aviators held at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.
“In his role as Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Sam Graves conveyed to Congress the necessity of giving the FAA its roadmap for the next five years, so the agency can plan and execute its important mission of keeping the American aviation system the safest and most active in the world,” said Jack J. Pelton, EAA CEO and Chairman of the Board. “It is especially gratifying to see general aviation represented as an essential, stand-alone title within FAA reauthorization, a provision that exists because of the direction and support of Chairman Graves.”
The FAA Reauthorization Act includes the first-ever general aviation title, a specific section that encompasses numerous provisions supported by EAA that benefit general aviation growth. Of note, the bill mandates the expansion of BasicMed, increasing the size of covered aircraft to 12,500 pounds, the number of allowable passengers to six, and the number of seats to seven. Another provision provides a 24-month maximum deadline for the FAA’s completion of the MOSAIC final rule. While the rule is expected significantly sooner – likely in 2025 – a congressional deadline highlights the importance of the rulemaking.
Also included are sections that provide for the continued availability of avgas, direct a review of the process for reserving aircraft registration numbers to reduce unfair profiteering, and spur development of a suitable position reporting system for voluntary use in non-rule airspace. In further efforts to protect pilots from unfair enforcement, language is included that prohibits the use of ADS-B Out data by the FAA to initiate an investigation, and additional sections amend the Pilot’s Bill of Rights to ensure pilots have adequate time to respond to a letter of investigation.
A longtime pilot himself, Chairman Graves has emerged as a leading voice in Congress in support of aviation. He continues to be active at aviation events throughout the country and as a member of the EAA Warbirds of America board of directors, as that organization is dedicated to the preservation of historic military aircraft.
