"To the weary air traveler who is spending more time sitting in airports rather than flying on airplanes, help is on the way. At last, our aviation system is going to get the help it needs. With AIR 21, the money the traveling public pays in ticket taxes will finally be dedicated solely to improving the safety and efficiency of our aviation system. This legislation will make our skies safer, modernize air traffic control, reduce flight delays, and boost airline competition. This legislation will revitalize our overburdened aviation system."

The Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21) is a three-year bill that will increase aviation investment by $10 billion over current levels, with the lion’s share of the funding going to radar modernization and much-needed airport construction projects. The total authorized funding for federal aviation programs for 2001 - 2003 will be $40 billion over the next three years, $33 billion of which will be guaranteed from the trust fund, while $6.7 billion will be available to be appropriated from the general fund.

AIR 21 will benefit all sectors of the airport and airway system.

AIR 21 WILL MAKE OUR SKIES SAFER

• Increases the FAA’s facilities & equipment budget by almost 50 percent so that the agency can modernize our antiquated air traffic control system;
   
• Increases investment for runways and other equipment at airports that will enhance safety;
   
• Provides the FAA sufficient funding to hire and retain the air traffic controllers, maintenance technicians, and safety inspectors necessary for the safety of the aviation system;
   
• Creates a cost-sharing program for airports and airlines to purchase air traffic control equipment;
   
• Authorizes funding to improve the training of airport screeners;
   
• Makes runway incursion prevention devices and wind shear detection devices eligible for AIP funding;
   
• Requires cargo airlines to install collision avoidance systems on their aircraft;
   
• Provides whistleblower protection for both the FAA and airline employees so they can reveal legitimate safety problems without fear of retaliation;
   
• Ensures that funding is available to raise safety standards at small airports.

AIR 21 IMPROVES COMPETITION

• Provides substantially more money to build terminals, gates, taxiways, and other infrastructure to stimulate competition at airports;
   
• Increases access and competition to Chicago O’Hare by abolishing slots in 2002;
   
• Increases access and competition to New York LaGuardia and Kennedy airports by abolishing slots in 2007;
   
• Creates 24 new slots at Washington Reagan National Airport. Twelve of the new slots may be used for flights within the 1,250 mile perimeter; 12 may be used for flights outside of the perimeter.

AIR 21 PRESERVES THE ENVIRONMENT

• Increases funding for noise abatement projects;
   
• Streamlines environmental laws;
   
• Establishes guidelines for air tours over our national parks.

AIR 21 HELPS SMALL COMMUNITIES

• Increases minimum funding for non-hub airports from $500 thousand to $1.0 million per year;
   
• For the first time, guarantees funds general aviation airports;
   
• Doubles the small airport fund;
   
• Creates a new discretionary set-aside for reliever airports;
   
• Authorizes a contract tower cost-sharing program so that small airports can get the benefits of air traffic control services;
   
• Creates an incentive program to help airlines buy regional jets if they agree to use them to serve small airports;
   
• Creates a new funding program to help small, under-served airports market and promote their air service;
   
• Phases out slot restrictions to provide smaller communities better access to New York and Chicago.

AIR 21 IMPROVES LARGE AIRPORTS

• Doubles the minimum amount of the annual passenger funding for primary airports (airports with 10,000 or more passengers per year);
   
• Raises the cap on the amount of annual funding that a large airport can receive from $22 million to $26 million;
   
• Doubles the funding for cargo airports;
   
• Raises the cap on the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) $1.50 so that an airport has the flexibility to proceed on its own with those improvement projects that cannot be funded through the Federal Airport Improvement Program. PFC’s can only be used to fund airport projects that increase safety and competition or for noise abatement.

AIR 21 HELPS PASSENGERS AND PILOTS

• Reforms the management of the FAA’s air traffic control system by creating an oversight board similar to the one established in the recent IRS reform legislation;
   
• Strengthens the provisions of the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act that was created following the Valujet and TWA 800 crashes;
   
• Allows pilots to appeal an emergency revocation of their license to the safety board.

AIR 21 REFORMS THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION

• Important changes are made in the management structure of the FAA to ensure that money is spent wisely.
   
• A management board is created to oversee the air traffic control modernization program. The Secretary would be expected to consult with Congress in choosing members of this board, although formal advice and consent is not required.

AIR 21 RESTORES THE TRUST IN THE AVIATION TRUST FUND

• Ensures that aviation taxes are preserved for aviation improvements.
   
• Funds aviation capital programs at their full levels.
   
• Results in a general fund contribution of $6.7 billion.

* Amount for AIP in FY 2000 is the enacted obligation limitation, as reduced by the Government-wide across-the-board cut contained in the FY 2000 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The authorized level of contract authority provided by AIR 21 for FY 2000 is $2.475 billion.

** RE&D is not authorized in FY 2003. Amount shown above for FY 2003 is an estimate.

Prepared by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Staff. For more information on the legislation, please access our website at http://www.house.gov/transportation