The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) announced its support for the bipartisan Aircraft Certification Reform and Accountability Act, introduced by U.S. House of Representatives Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., Ranking Member Sam Graves, R-Mo., Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Rick Larsen, D-Wash., and Ranking Member Garret Graves, R-La., which would make several critical improvements to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) program. This bill would strengthen the aviation safety culture within the FAA and the aircraft manufacturing industry particularly in the area of aircraft certification and safety oversight.
NATCA President Paul Rinaldi said, after careful review of the details and implications of the proposed legislation, the Union strongly supports the bill because it fully aligns with NATCA’s practices and core principles.
“This bipartisan bill takes several important steps toward enhancing the safety culture within the FAA, while improving the Agency’s oversight and certification process,” Rinaldi said. “The bill would initiate a comprehensive review of all ODA participants and would empower the Administrator with authority to implement corrective actions that are necessary to improve the ODA program.”
NATCA Executive Vice President Trish Gilbert said, “The bill is a critical leap forward for the nearly 700 aviation safety professionals that NATCA represents within the FAA’s Aircraft Certification Service. The bill would authorize funds to improve recruitment and retention incentives for engineers and other aviation safety specialists who oversee and certify transport aircraft and engines. The bill also prioritizes professional development and skills enhancement for these employees by establishing a regular, recurrent training program.”
NATCA National Safety Committee Chairman Steve Hansen also added, “This bill further prioritizes aviation safety by creating a new voluntary safety reporting program that would cover employees in the FAA’s Aircraft Certification Service. This new program will enhance the current safety reporting program so that it is as comprehensive as the program we jointly administer with the FAA for air traffic controllers as well as the programs jointly administered by pilot unions and each air carrier.”
Rinaldi concluded, “We thank Chairman DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves, as well as Chairman Larsen and Ranking Member Graves, and applaud them for their leadership in shepherding this important piece of bipartisan legislation. It has our full support.”
