Congress Continues Reauthorization Drafting Process; Introduces Language in House and Senate |
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Transportation leaders in Congress are queuing up a host of bills over the summer legislative session, including the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill set to expire Sept. 30.
ATEC has engaged with our industry allies and provided considerable input into the legislative text, and this month, both the House and Senate committees of jurisdiction released their respective proposed language.
On June 14 the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved its version, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (H.R. 3935), which will now go to the floor for a vote.
The Senate Commerce Committee has not passed its version of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023 (S.1939), but draft text was released in early June. A committee “markup” date—a key step required before the bill can advance to the Senate floor—has not been set.
Once passed through their respective bodies, the bills will go to Conference Committee to work out the differences before they are ultimately sent to the President. Thus, several steps remain before the language becomes law, and each present an opportunity to further influence national policy and support for aviation technical education.
All of ATEC’s legislative proposals are addressed in one or both versions of the bill, a testament to the council’s influence and the strong coalitions built in furtherance of workforce development initiatives.
While final provisions were generally greeted with enthusiasm, ATEC will continue to push for refinements as the text progresses through the process.
Here is how each of the council’s legislative priorities are currently addressed:
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Increase and expand workforce grant program funding. In the last reauthorization bill, passed in 2018, Congress established the Aviation Workforce Development Grants program, authorizing $10 million in funding for pilot and maintenance workforce development programs. There is wide-spread support for the program’s expansion as evidenced by language in both the House and Senate versions authorizing funding for an additional five years, adding a manufacturing program, and increasing the maximum amount available to each grantee. The Senate version (Sec. 501) would maintain the $10 million in funding for pilot and maintenance and add on an additional $10 million for the manufacturing program. The House version (Sec. 301 and 302) allocates $15 million for each of the three programs and would also expand eligibility to including non-profit organizations and any part 147 program (whether it is considered an institute of higher education or not). While ATEC will support any legislation that continues the highly popular program, it prefers the House language given the increased funding and eligibility provisions.
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Improve airman testing and airman certification standard systems. The council implored Congress to direct the agency to implement recommendations submitted by an agency-industry working group calling for timely publishing of time-critical safety information and continued engagement with community partners to continually improve the Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and accompanying guidance materials. Proposed legislation on the House side (Sec. 313) would direct the agency to publish a process for updating and maintaining the ACS, guidance, and handbooks and to access methods to increase access to knowledge testing, including increased utilization of part 147 proctoring systems and the accuracy of public sample knowledge tests. The House version also directs the agency to publish the mechanic ACS within 18 months, a misdirected mandate given the standard was published last September along with the new part 147. The Senate (Sec. 510) has taken a more clean-lined approach, directing the agency to obtain industry recommendations on maintaining and updating ACS, and reengaging with the ACS working group to ensure testing and training remain correlated.
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Provide access to general knowledge testing earlier in the training cycle. Under the current regulatory framework, high school aviation maintenance programs may not refer their students to an FAA-approved testing center to take the general written knowledge test. ATEC proposed a modification to part 65 to allow applicants to sit for the general knowledge test prior to meeting experience requirements. The Senate has incorporated provisions into its draft text (Sec. 503) giving the FAA two years to publish a study on the aviation maintenance technician pipeline and barriers for students enrolled in high school aviation maintenance programs. While added with good intention, ATEC’s position is that the study would not provide any value and would only delay rule-making efforts. House language (Sec. 312) differs but is similarly problematic. Representatives there have suggested an “evaluation” of aviation maintenance curriculum, an “assessment” of opportunities to allow a high school student to take the general knowledge exam, and submission of working group recommendations to “facilitate the approval of aviation maintenance curriculum for use by a high school or secondary school educator.” ATEC’s position is that any provision directing the agency to “evaluate” or “approve” curriculum is outside the FAA’s purview and any text directing study of those initiatives should be stricken from the legislation.
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Expedite military service member transition into civilian aviation careers. The council joined a coalition of stakeholders asking Congress to direct creation of a military competency exam that will provide a pathway to mechanic certification for existing servicemen and women, similar to the pathway available to military pilots. House (Sec. 504) and Senate (Sec. 311) language both direct agencies to improve career transition but in largely different ways. If passed, the House version would create a working group to evaluate the regulatory environment and provide recommendations for policy improvements. Preferable language in the Senate takes a more forceful approach, directing the agency to create a military competency test and associated ACS and better leverage the Joint Services Aviation Maintenance Technician Certification Council (JSAMTCC).
ATEC members are encouraged to reach out to their respective congressional leaders to provide necessary feedback and/or support for these initiatives as the FAA reauthorization bill makes its way through the respective committees and chambers.
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Outreach Meetings - July 26 and August 8 |
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Join us on July 26th (Oshkosh) or August 8th (Seattle) for a regional Outreach Meeting. All area schools, employers, and regulators are invited to attend our local outreach meetings which are free to all attendees thanks to our generous hosts. The events will facilitate discussion on council initiatives, strategic objectives, and ways ATEC can support the local aviation maintenance technician education community. See the agendas and register here.
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Washington Fly-In September 19 - 22 |
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Join us on September 19-22, 2023 in Washington, DC. Events include the following: a Keynote, FAA Roundtable, Industry Roundtable, Networking, Congressional Meetings on Capitol Hill with Representatives and Senators, as well as a Board Meeting and Breakfast at HAI. See the agenda, book accommodations, and register here.
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Annual Conference, Presented by Bombardier
Tucson March 17-20
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Planning for next year's Annual Conference, hosted by Pima Community College, is well underway! The event promises informative sessions, good food, and some of the best aviation hot spots Tucson has to offer. Don't miss out on the fun, mark your calendar! Registration will open this fall.
Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are abundant. Commit early for the best rates and so you don't miss the chance to support aviation education's premier event. Get your company name on signage, buy conference goers a cup of coffee, market your product, or meet one-on-one with school instructors and administrators.
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A post-pandemic shortage of frontline workers, notably pilots and mechanics, has forced companies to shift business strategies. In many cases, wages are going up as a result. Read more.
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ATEC Outreach Meeting Recap (Tulsa) |
In May, in conjunction with Choose Aerospace, ATEC hosted an outreach event in Tulsa to discuss the latest initiatives to support the new part 147, learn how the implementation is going at A&P schools in the region, and how FAA-certificated programs can partner with emerging high school programs to increase enrollment. Read more.
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Call For Papers (and Presentations) |
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The Council is currently accepting scholarly, research, application, or opinion articles for the ATEC Journal. Published authors are offered the opportunity to present the topic at the annual conference in Tucson. Submission deadline is Oct. 1. Learn more.
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ATEC Journal: Spring 2023 |
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Check out the latest issue of the ATEC Journal. As we all continue to become accustomed to the new FAA Part 147 and Airman Certification Standards and their implementation into our programs and classrooms, this issue of the ATEC Journal includes some applicable topics. Read more. |
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A reduction in how much FAA knowledge test contractor PSI reimburses third-party testing centers is not resulting in significantly reduced capacity for FAA knowledge tests--at least according to the agency. Read more.
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The New Part 147 Is Officially Official |
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While the rule has been in effect for months, the FAA's part 147 update process officially wraps up June 13 with the publication of the final rule in the Federal Register, replacing the interim final rule issued last May. Read more.
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AVOTEK Welcomes Dennis DeMille |
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Avotek is pleased to welcome Dennis DeMille to the team as production manager. Dennis spent 21 years active duty in the U.S. Marines and retired in 2004. Since then, he has gained 18 years of experience at manufacturing companies. Read more.
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Now Accepting Curriculum Applications for Fall 2023 |
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Choose Aerospace, ATEC's sister foundation, was created to unite stakeholders to grow the pipeline and increase diversity in aviation maintenance. The non-profit is pursuing that mission through development of high school aviation maintenance programs.
The Choose Aerospace aviation maintenance curriculum puts high school students on a direct path to mechanic certification, either through direct-employment opportunities or matriculation into a part 147 programs.
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Oklahoma Careertech Funds Aviation Curriculum For High Schoolers, Puts Students On A Path To Aviation Technical Careers To Fill State Workforce Need |
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Oklahoma CareerTech programs in high schools and technology centers now have access to free aviation maintenance technical curriculum. Read more.
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Choose Aerospace Outreach Meeting Recap |
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Last month we hosted an outreach meeting in conjunction with a two-day teacher training for schools implementing the curriculum this fall. Read more.
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We'll see you at Oshkosh! |
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Executive Director Crystal Maguire will join representatives from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Tango Flight, NASA, Safe Launch, and We Build it Better to highlight the Choose Aerospace aviation maintenance curriculum at AirVenture’s AeroEducate Educator Day. The event is designed to introduce educators to the available resources to teach students about aviation in their classroom and will run from 8 a.m. until noon on July 24 at the AeroEducate Center. Read more.
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Aviation Technician Education Council
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