Daines and Tester Secure Critical Support for Montana Air Service in FAA Reauthorization
By Denise Rivette
U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester on May 9 voted to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for five years and helped secure major wins for Montana air service, passengers and pilots.
“In rural states like Montana, access to safe, reliable air service is essential. This bill will help protect passengers, address workforce shortages and increase affordable travel opportunities. This is a win for Montana,” Daines said.
“Reliable and affordable air service is essential for Montanans to run their businesses, see their friends and families, and stay connected with the rest of the country, but too often rural airports fall through the cracks,” said Tester. “That’s why I was proud to see my Small Community Air Service Enhancement Act clear the Senate to ensure Montana airports have more flights that cost less – and I’ll keep working to ensure folks in rural America is have a seat at the table.”
Montana Wins Secured in the FAA Reauthorization:
Authorizes $1.7 billion in funding for the Essential Air Service (EAS) program. Montana has seven communities that rely on the EAS program for air service.
Authorizes $4 billion annually from the Aviation Trust Fund for the Airport Improvement Program, which provides grants for airport infrastructure projects (This is the program Red Lodge Airport is trying to re-enter).
Authorizes funding for the Small Community Air Service program, intended to improve commercial air service to less populated communities.
Boosts contract tower staffing. Montana has three airports that participate in the FAA’s Contract Tower Program.
Addresses Air Traffic Controller (ATC) shortages by requiring the minimum hiring target for new ATCs to be the maximum number of individuals able to be trained at the FAA Academy. The shortage of ATCs is approximately 3,000 nationwide.
Prohibits FAA from mandating COVID-related mask or vaccine requirements for airline passengers, or mandating that airline personnel, FAA employees, or FAA contractor personnel be vaccinated against COVID.
Daines voted against cloture on the bill - a procedural move that stops debate and amendments on the floor and moves the bill straight to a vote. That cloture motion passed. Had Daines had the opportunity to propose an amendment, he would have moved to add his “Rip and Replace” program to the bill. According to an earlier Daines press release, the “Rip and Replace” program would remove Chinese components from the United States’ wireless communications systems. Without full funding, wireless and broadband providers across the United States will be saddled with billions of dollars in costs that could result in service blackouts and companies closing down, including many in eastern Montana. Not getting the chance to propose his amendment did not dampen Daines’ support of reauthorizing the FAA.
How Does This Affect Carbon County?
The bill authorizes $4 billion annually from the Aviation Trust Fund for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which provides grants for airport infrastructure projects This is the program Red Lodge Airport is trying to re-enter in order to attain the funds necessary to implement the runway improvements the airport needs.