On Tuesday, Senate cleared broad aviation policy bill which provide FAA more authority. The bill also includes new safeguards against terrorism, improved consumer protection for arline travelers and drone regulation.
CNN reported that the broad aviation policy bill, which passed 95-3, still needs to be reconciled with a House. The passing of bill reflects deep concerns from senators with the recent deadly terrorist attack in Brussels. The bill sets up a new security measures in the U.S. airport to prevent similar attacks in the soft spot of the airport, namely ticket counters and baggage claims.
Chairman of Senate Commerce Committee John Thune, R-South Dakota is the principal author of the bipartisan bill. According to Washington Post, this bill is the the second major transportation bill approved by the Senate within five months.
Regarding the bill, senator John Thune said "it is critical to addressing holes in our nation's airport security." He also called the bill as one of the most passenger-friendly FAA reauthorization bills, which sets policy and funding for the Federal Aviation Administration.
"This bill is the most pro-passenger, pro-security FAA reauthorization in recent history," senator Thune said. "Travelers are frustrated, and this bill contains common-sense reforms."
The bill provides passenger more convenience, as it requires airlines to state more clearly the fees they charge their customers, including prime seat selection, checked baggage, changes and cancellations. Airlines would also be required to refund baggages fee if the bags arrive more than six hours after a domestic flight has landed, or more than 12 hours after an international flight. Furthermore, the bill requires airlines to ease parents traveling with children in finding affordable seats with their children.
One thing which the bill introduce is the drone regulation. USA Today reported, the new FAA bill would reinforce federal supremacy in regulating drone. The bill prohibited the state to issue law and regulation on drone in design, manufacture, testing, licensing, registration, certification, operation, or maintenance of an unmanned aircraft system. The bill also stated the regulation includes airspace, altitude, flight paths, equipment or technology requirements, purpose of operations, and pilot, operator, and observer qualifications, training, and certification.
Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-California, proposed to drop the language, allowing states to set their own standards. However, her proposed amendment was not included in the legislation. Senator Feinstein determined to strip out the language from the bill because federal government must respect the state's authority. "The federal government simply cannot set commonsense rules for every city, county, park or school in the country," she said.
Senate has cleared aviation policy bill on Tuesday. The bill provide FAA more authority, including new safeguards against terrorism, protection for airline consumer and drone regulation.
