Passage of a TSA Reauthorization Bill: NACA advocates for legislative provisions to limit emergency TSA actions to 30 days unless extended, mandating approval for longer actions, requiring cost-benefit analyses prior to extensions beyond 60 days, and preventing unilateral waivers of executive orders. Congress also should provide for expanded industry consultation, transparency in security directives and risk assessments, and designation of key TSA personnel as essential during government shutdowns to ensure continuity of critical security operations.
Congressional Efforts on CRAF Issues: Educate members and staff on the on-going challenges associated with CRAF flying by NACA members. Continue to look for legislative opportunities to strengthen CRAF and our carriers’ ability to effectively operate on behalf of the military.
Advocating for Regulatory Flexibility for Diverse Carriers: NACA is a leading industry advocate, committed to working with federal agencies to ensure that aviation safety and security regulations reflect the broad diversity of aircraft types, operations, and scope of business activities conducted by NACA carriers.
Ensuring Supply Chain Continuity: NACA supports efforts to ensure supply chain continuity for aviation fuel, parts and supplies, so CRAF carriers can continue to support supplemental lift operations and military readiness during offshore deployments or national emergencies.
Pilot Shortage: The airline industry is facing a significant pilot shortage. FAA should provide flexibility allowing FAA-approved simulator training hours to count towards the 1500-hour requirement. Quality of training hours should be valued over quantity of training hours.
Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) Mechanic Shortage: The airline industry is also facing a significant shortage of certified A&P Mechanics. An upcoming wave of retirements coupled with explosive growth in demand for new mechanics could drive the shortage to 40,000 in the next few years. Spurring interest in the aviation sector and attracting instructors should be top priorities for both industry and government.
Pilot Flight and Duty Requirements: NACA opposes legislative and regulatory efforts to apply rules regarding flight and duty time rules for passenger carrier pilots to cargo pilots, which the courts and FAA and the courts have found would not enhance safety.
Foreign Repair Stations: NACA opposes legislative efforts to require onerous new reporting requirements for the use of foreign repair stations by U.S. airlines. Currently, repair stations outside the United States must meet the same standards as U.S. repair stations.
7th Freedom Operations by Foreign Carriers: U.S. charter carriers do not have reciprocal economic opportunities in other countries to make up for the loss of flights taken by foreign carriers. The loss of flights from the United States ultimately impinges on the economic health of U.S. carriers participating in DOD’s Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) program.
