Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2007 

Below is a quick look at some of the key issues that arose during Congressional Appropriations Committees' work on the FY 2007 budget. Action on the 2007 Appropriations bill will likely happen after the November elections.

In the Senate:

Air Traffic Control Supervisor staffing issues. "The Committee is concerned that there are not enough Air Traffic Controls supervisors in place to assure flight safety. The Committee directs the FAA to submit a report by January 31, 2007." 

In the House:

Staffing: The FAA request that the bill provides $18,220,000 for salaries, benefits, training and ancillary support cost associated with 1,136 new hires, for a net increase of at least 132 in controller work force in FY2007.

New Hires: The committee agrees with the FAA that one for one replacement of retiring controllers is not prudent as it would not assume production or even new technology. The committee believes that the ability to waive the mandatory retirement age is a good hedge against the retirement surge in the future years.  

Contract tower program:  The Committee recognizes that the number of airports participating in the cost sharing program fluctuates regularly because of changes in air traffic activity. In order to prevent program disruption and provide more certainty, the committee allows the FAA to use unsubscribed funds from the contract tower base line program to avoid elimination of communities from the cost sharing towers program.