numbers. Given that neither party can afford a govern- ment shutdown right before the midterms, there is opti- mism an agreement can be reached before the deadline. With Election Day looming on Nov. 8, lawmakers
won’t stay in Washington for long before heading back out on the campaign trail. The House is scheduled to have its last day in session on Sep. 30, while the Senate is tentatively set to be in session for two weeks in October, though that could change. With both the Senate and House majorities on the line in the midterm elections, the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act is an exceptionally well-timed leg- islative success for Democrats in tough races. The con- ventional wisdom is that Democrats still face an uphill battle in retaining control, but recent events such as the Supreme Court rulings on guns and abortion are thought to have energized the Democratic base and drastically shifted the landscape.
FAA Reauthorization Coming in 2023 Members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee are already preparing for the next FAA reau- thorization bill; the 2018 legislation will expire in October 2023. To better understand the needs and priorities of the general aviation sector, the House Subcommittee on Aviation held a hearing, titled “The State of General Aviation,” on Jul. 13. The hearing provided an excellent opportunity for HAI to present the committee with the priorities of our membership and to introduce legislative topics to be included in next year’s reauthorization bill. HAI President and CEO James Viola testified and addressed several issues critical for the vertical lift indus- try, such as the safe integration of new aviation technol- ogy into the airspace, sustainability, workforce development, and much-needed efficiencies within the FAA. (View his entire testimony at
https://bit.ly/ August2022VFR.) He also described a program recently launched by HAI and partners to address noise com- plaints in the Washington, D.C., area. (See “HAI, ERHC Debut Washington, D.C., Noise Initiative,” at right.) Looking ahead to the final months of this congressio- nal session, the HAI Government Affairs team will con- tinue laying the groundwork for the FAA bill, working with Congress to ensure that our priorities are reflected in the final language.
HAI, ERHC Debut Washington, D.C., Noise Initiative
During the Jul. 13 hearing on general aviation, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) asked HAI President and CEO James Viola what steps the FAA and helicopter operators should take to reduce helicopter noise. Norton explained that as a co-chair of the congressional Quiet Skies Caucus, she was “particularly concerned with the effects of helicopter noise on the lives of my constituents here in the District of Columbia.” She went on to say that helicopter noise is a major concern throughout the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Viola expressed HAI’s commitment to work with Norton and her constituents on the issue. He briefed her and other committee members about HAI’s Fly Neighborly program, which focuses on implementing noise mitigation techniques and helping local operators communicate more effectively with their communities.
He also cited the initiative launched in June by HAI and the
Eastern Region Helicopter Council (ERHC), in cooperation with the FAA, to collect aircraft noise complaints from D.C.-area res- idents through an online form, a mobile app, or a noise com- plaint hotline. After a 60-day trial, the system may be adopted permanently. Data from the complaint system will be shared with the public and reviewed by industry and government stakeholders to determine where and how improvements can be made. Similar approaches to helicopter noise complaints have been used effectively in other regions to identify specific pain points and appropriately tailored solutions. HAI supports community compatibility and data-driven
efforts to measure and mitigate noise complaints. Operators are encouraged to visit
rotor.org/fly-neighborly and take a pro- active approach to fostering acceptance of helicopters within their local communities.
Learn more:
rotor.org/fly-neighborly
SEPTEMBER 2022 ROTOR 13
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