House Small Business Committee Chairman Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) explored how FAA regulations on general aviators impact small businesses within the general aviation industry and ways to improve the FAA’s regulatory framework during a hearing on Wednesday.
The hearing focused on regulations that increased costs or stifled growth for small businesses in the general aviation sector and how FAA’s adaptation of technological advancements can be improved.
“The general aviation industry employs 1.2 million Americans, and the vast majority of these employers are small businesses,” Graves said. “These companies face many challenges, from rising fuel costs to the threat of user fees, and it’s important that federal regulations don’t add even more unnecessary burdens. Many in the general aviation industry see the FAA as out-of-touch and slow to react to a changing industry. As we heard in (Wednesday’s) testimony, small firms need the FAA’s regulatory priorities to promote safety in a way that allows the general aviation community to grow and create jobs.”
Response times for FAA approvals are one of the biggest challenges facing the industry, Aspen Avionics President and CEO John Uczekaj said.
“The process is unpredictable and often results in increased product development times and costs as companies develop the product and wait for the FAA to apply resources,” Uczekaj said.
Ascension Air President and CEO Jamail Larkins said FAA resources have dwindled, causing a backlog in approval for training centers, flight schools and on-demand charter operators.