WASHINGTON—Faced with meeting increasing demands with a shrinking budget, the FAA has outlined plans to reallocate resources and change some processes in fiscal 2019, the agency’s detailed budget request shows.
Trump TSA Budget Calls For More Screeners, Higher Passenger Fees
The Trump administration’s fiscal year 2019 budget request for the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) seeks to improve airport checkpoint efficiency with more screeners and new technology. But a proposed “offsetting collection” fee increase is being criticized by the leading U.S. airline trade group.
The FAA Budget Proposes Heavy R&D Cuts
The FAA’s fiscal 2019 budget request of $16.1 billion is about 1.9% down from fiscal 2017’s approved level and includes a hefty cut in its research, engineering and development (RE&D) funding.
It also calls for slight reductions in operations, and facilities and equipment (F&E), as well as staffing.
Trump Backs ATC Reform, But With Less Fanfare
WASHINGTON—The Trump administration in its fiscal 2019 budget submission renewed the controversial effort to divest the FAA of its air traffic control (ATC) function by creating a separate organization.
In summary documents released Feb. 12, the administration said its budget contains a multiyear FAA reauthorization proposal to shift U.S. ATC to a “non-governmental, independent air traffic services cooperative.” The restructuring would drive innovation and efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS) while maintaining safety, the administration said.
Trump’s FAA Budget Will Provide Clues On ATC Stance
The Feb. 12 release of the Trump administration’s federal budget proposal for fiscal 2019 will provide insight into how much of a priority President Donald Trump still places on spinning off U.S. air traffic control from the FAA.