Sinema is working to ensure Arizona priorities are included in the upcoming Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization legislation
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema met with Arizona pilots from the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) to hear their aviation safety priorities for the upcoming Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization legislation.
“Arizonans count on safe and reliable air travel. I’m working with aviation leaders to ensure Arizona priorities are met in the upcoming FAA reauthorization legislation,” said Sinema.
Sinema spoke with two United pilots from Scottsdale, a Delta pilot from Peoria, a Frontier pilot from Phoenix, and a United pilot from Prescott about the challenges and opportunities they face in the aviation industry, and how the Senator can best advocate for Arizona needs in the upcoming FAA reauthorization legislation.
The FAA was reauthorized in October 2018 for a five-year period – extending the FAA’s funding and authorities through Fiscal Year 2023. In September of last year, Sinema chaired a subcommittee hearing highlighting opportunities to strengthen aviation safety and operations in Arizona and across America in the upcoming FAA reauthorization.
Sinema’s bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law – sweeping legislation the Senator wrote, negotiated, and led through Congress – includes a historic $25 billion in additional investments for aviation infrastructure. The bipartisan law provides $15 billion in priority projects at airports in the United States, $5 billion in competitive grants for terminal development and other landside projects, and $5 billion in grants for strengthening Air Traffic Control towers and infrastructure.
Since Sinema’s bipartisan bill was signed into law in November 2021; over $69 million has gone to repairs and upgrades across Arizona airports.
ALPA is the largest pilot union in the world, representing more than 52,000 pilots from 30 U.S. and Canadian carriers. It is a member of the AFL-CIO and its represented airlines include Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group.