Payne, Jr. Priority Included in Committee-Passed FAA Reauthorization Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – An amendment offered by Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10), a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Aviation, was included in legislation reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that passed the committee on Tuesday.

The legislation (H.R. 2997) reauthorizes federal aviation programs for six years. Congressman Payne, Jr.’s amendment directs the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to conduct a study on the feasibility and advisability of modifying regulations regarding wheels-off and wheels-on times for flights.

“Airline passengers deserve to know the actual take-off and land times of their flights,” said Congressman Payne, Jr. “I fought for the inclusion of a provision that will bring us closer to that goal. This amendment puts airlines on a path to greater transparency and improves the travel experience for airline consumers in New Jersey and across the nation. I believe that more transparency and more information will lead to the beginning of a renewal of the relationship between skeptical passengers and airlines.”

Congressman Payne, Jr. has been a leader in the House for promoting increased transparency for airline consumers. Earlier this month, he introduced legislation (H.R.2928) that requires the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations to require air carriers, during the course of a reservation or ticketing discussion or other inquiry, to disclose to consumers the projected period between the actual wheels-off and wheels-on times for a reportable flight. The bill also requires air carriers to display on their public websites information on the actual wheels-off and wheels-on times for a reportable flight.

A pdf of Congressman Payne, Jr.’s amendment can be found HERE.