0
AIRWAYS Act
3/12/2024, 3:57 PM
Summary of Bill S 1935
One of the key provisions of the AIRWAYS Act is the establishment of a new independent, non-profit corporation to manage and operate the air traffic control system. This corporation would be governed by a board of directors made up of representatives from various stakeholders in the aviation industry, including airlines, pilots, and air traffic controllers.
The bill also includes measures to modernize and upgrade the technology used in air traffic control, such as the implementation of satellite-based navigation systems and the development of new communication protocols. These improvements are intended to reduce delays, increase capacity, and enhance safety in the nation's airspace. Additionally, the AIRWAYS Act includes provisions to streamline the regulatory process for the approval of new technologies and procedures in air traffic control. This is aimed at promoting innovation and ensuring that the US remains a global leader in aviation technology. Overall, the AIRWAYS Act seeks to modernize and improve the efficiency of the nation's air traffic control system in order to better serve the needs of the aviation industry and the traveling public.
Congressional Summary of S 1935
Advancing Inclusion and Representation in the Workforce of Aviation and Transportation Systems Act or the AIRWAYS Act
This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a program to provide grants to support the education and recruitment of an aviation workforce (i.e., aircraft pilots, aviation maintenance technical workers, and aviation manufacturing technical workers).
Eligible applicants include certain educational institutions (e.g., an institution of higher education, a postsecondary vocational institution, and a local educational agency), state or local governments, and nonprofit organizations. In addition, air carriers in a partnership with certain educational institutions are eligible for aircraft pilot workforce grants.
Among other things, DOT must give priority to applicants that assure that grant funds will be used to encourage the participation of populations that are underrepresented in the aviation industry, including women, minorities, and individuals in economically disadvantaged geographic areas and rural communities.
