When reading about H.R. 302, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, which includes long term (5 year) funding for the agency, sometimes the vernacular is hard to decipher. On September 26, 2018 Congress approved federal dollars for FAA facilities to use to make upgrades, allowing for new requirements such as improving air-related operations and safety issues. Some of the upgrades include:

• Update aircraft certification, flight standards, including medical and safety policies to create a safety workforce training strategy.


• Establish reviews of advanced cockpit displays and create an internet-based training program to keep agency personnel updated about the latest aviation technologies, processes and procedures.


• Craft a global approach to improve air traffic, and accelerate the implementation of a low-altitude, unmanned aircraft air traffic management system, evaluating the potential roles of state and local governments in the process and using risk-based permits.


• The reauthorization requires clarification of passenger bumping and compensation rules, prohibiting in-flight cellphone and e-cigarette use, establishing rights for travelers with disabilities, and setting minimum seat dimension standards for passenger aircraft.


• The bill requires the FAA to study the potential health impacts of overflight noise, and consider the feasibility of amending current departure procedures for noise sensitive communities.

Some of the wording in the reauthorization aims at streamlining processes, like Will Rogers World Airport’s ability to collect and spend passenger facility charges which are used to upgrade terminals and luggage handling systems.

The reauthorization ensures more funding for small airports so they can make upgrades, while expanding the number of states eligible to participate in block grant funding.

U.S. Representative Steve Russell celebrated the House’s approval of the report, noting “America is home to the safest skies in the world. This legislation ensures we are investing long-term in our aviation industry. That’s good for our country and good for Oklahoma, where the success of the FAA is vital to the success of our local economy.”

To read more about this historical reauthorization, you can find the H.R. 302 – FAA Authorization Act of 2018 here.