Congressional Negotiators Agree on $105 Billion Bill to Improve Air Travel Safety

Congressional negotiators have reached an agreement on a $105 billion bill aimed at enhancing the safety of air travel following a series of incidents involving planes at the country’s airports. The bill, set to govern FAA operations for the next five years, encompasses several significant provisions.

Increased Air Traffic Controllers and New Technology

The bill will involve an augmentation in the number of air traffic controllers and mandate the Federal Aviation Administration to adopt novel technology to prevent plane collisions on runways, addressing crucial safety concerns.

Lawmakers have also taken measures to prohibit airlines from levying additional charges on families for sitting together, demonstrating an emphasis on ensuring consumer-friendly policies. Furthermore, maximum fines for airlines violating consumer laws will be tripled under the new bill.

Oversight and Regulation

Additionally, the legislation requires the FAA to heighten oversight of aircraft repair shops in other countries, responding to concerns raised by U.S. airline unions regarding safety standards in foreign facilities.

Provisions for Airline Operations

The bill enables the Transportation Department to establish a "dashboard" for consumers to compare seat sizes across different airlines, but stops short of setting a minimum size. Moreover, it mandates airlines to issue refunds to customers for flight delays, with specific timeframes stipulated for domestic and international flights. Also, provisions for extending the validity of travel credits and increasing civil penalties for airline violations have been included.

Technological Enhancements and International Incidents

Notably, the bill mandates new airline planes to be equipped with cockpit voice recorders capable of storing 25 hours of audio, a substantial increase from the current capacity of two hours. Additionally, it requires the FAA to develop a new system for tracking and locating high-altitude balloons, addressing concerns that gained prominence following an incident involving a Chinese balloon in 2023.