U.S. Senate FAA Reauthorization Update

The Senate Commerce Committee passed an FAA reauthorization bill last week after several amendments were adopted. A description of the base bill was posted on the TWU website earlier this month. Several amendments were added during the Commerce Committee hearing, including:

• A ban on cell phone use during flight.
• A ban on knives in airplane cabins.
• Flight attendants must receive training to combat human trafficking.
• FAA must review aircraft evacuation standards.
• FAA must issue a flight attendant Fatigue Risk Management Plan.(The House bill included a stronger bipartisan provision that required 10-hours minimum rest between duty periods.)

The base bill included language supported by TWU to increase foreign aircraft repair station oversight and require background checks on foreign repair station workers. We will continue to fight to strengthen this language as congressional debate proceeds.

The bill could head to the Senate floor as soon as April.