FAA reauthorization bill includes over $12 million to support Mississippi airports

The bipartisan invoice features a new rule that requires automated money refunds as a substitute of vouchers for passengers when flights are cancelled or considerably delayed.

President Joe Biden (D) has signed laws that reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration and gives funding for aviation programs and airport infrastructure, amongst different provisions.

H.R. 3935 handed the U.S. Senate 88-4 final week earlier than being despatched to the U.S. Home of Representatives, the place it handed by a vote of 387-26. Mississippi’s full federal delegation voted to approve the laws.

Included within the invoice was over $12 million to assist Mississippi airports by means of the Airport Enchancment Program. Under is an estimate of how a lot federal funding relevant airports will obtain yearly, as famous by the workplace of U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R):

Golden Triangle Regional Airport – $1.3 million

Greenville Mid-Delta Airport – $1.3 million

Gulfport-Biloxi Worldwide Airport – $2.7 million

Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport – $1.3 million

Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers Worldwide Airport – $3.5 million

Key Area Airport – $1.3 million

Tupelo Regional Airport – $1.3 million

Wicker’s workplace additionally stated the invoice included a number of provisions that will assist rural communities and assist the rising unmanned aerial programs (UAS) trade in Mississippi.

Different help benefiting Mississippi that the laws gives consists of:

Reauthorization of the Aviation Workforce Growth Grant Program, which awards grants for workforce improvement applications to assist the recruitment, training, and coaching of pilots, engineers, UAS operators, and aviation upkeep technicians. Pearl River Neighborhood Faculty receives this grant.

Language authorizing the continuation of the Heart of Excellence for Unmanned Plane Techniques, housed at Mississippi State College, by means of 2028.

A provision to ascertain ASSUREd Secure, a nationwide credentialing authority for first responders’ utilization of UAS, which might be housed on the Heart of Excellence for Unmanned Plane Techniques at Mississippi State College.

In whole, the laws gives over $105 billion to the FAA and one other $738 million to the Nationwide Transportation Security Board for security applications, airport modernization, know-how upgrades and extra.

One provision of the laws President Biden is touting is the brand new Division of Transportation rule that requires automated money refunds as a substitute of vouchers for passengers when flights are cancelled or considerably delayed.

“It additionally makes positive households can sit collectively with out paying additional charges,” President Biden was quoted as saying in a White Home assertion. “Passengers shouldn’t have to leap by means of limitless hoops simply to get the refunds that they’re owed, and companies shouldn’t rip off hardworking Individuals by means of hidden junk charges.”

The five-year reauthorization laws additionally requires the FAA to rent and prepare air site visitors controllers, as many as attainable, in an effort to fill almost 3,000 vacancies.