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— Steve Dickson is one Senate vote away from becoming administrator of the FAA.
— NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt could have to temporarily step down from the top position at the safety agency if the Senate doesn’t take quick action on his renomination.
— The Senate’s surface transportation reauthorization bill would boost highway spending by 28 percent over current authorized levels and create new programs aimed at addressing climate change.
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“Let’s waste time / Chasing cars / Around our heads.”
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DICKSON ONE STEP AWAY: The Senate is set to vote on the nominee for FAA administrator at 11 a.m. today, after it advanced Dickson in a party-line procedural vote, 52-45, on Tuesday. Despite controversy over a whistleblower retaliation case that has dogged Dickson and generated Democratic opposition, his confirmation been a remarkably speedy process: Dickson made it out of the Senate Commerce Committee just two weeks ago. According to The Washington Post, the average wait time for a nominee after being reported out of committee during this administration is 77 days.
Dickson’s got the support of Senate Republicans and many aviation industry stakeholders, who say he’s well-qualified as a pilot and former Delta Air Lines executive to head the federal aviation regulatory agency. But Democrats and some safety and whistleblower advocates are troubled by the fact that under his watch, a whistleblower was removed from duty and required to undergo a mental health evaluation.
“Can you imagine, as a whistleblower, bringing up concerns, and as a pilot flying for many years, and instead of being paid attention to, be sent for a psychiatric evaluation?” said Sen. Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on Commerce who led the charge against Dickson. She said he’s the first FAA nominee to receive a party-line vote out of committee. “I believe that we should have found consensus on a nominee for the FAA, given all of the concerns the public has about flying safety,” Cantwell said.
Reupping: Brianna’s story on the job that Dickson will walk into as the FAA looks to resurrect its image amid the Boeing 737 MAX crisis.
FAA DRONE SYSTEM EXPANDS TO MORE USERS: The FAA is growing its LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) system, which allows drone pilots to get automated airspace authorizations to fly in controlled airspace (like near airports), to include recreational pilots. According to drone manufacturer DJI, the new rules open “an estimated 2,000 square miles of airspace to safe and responsible recreational drone pilots,” allowing them to get “near-instant” authorization to fly in safe airspace near airports. Fourteen companies, including DJI and drone software companies like Kittyhawk and AirMap, have been approved by the FAA to provide LAANC services.
NTSB CHIEF MAY BE TEMPORARILY SIDELINED: Sumwalt, who is facing a race to be reconfirmed as chairman before his term expires in two weeks, has been added to a Senate Commerce Committee hearing today for several nominees, including two others at NTSB. As your host reported, Sumwalt was renominated by President Donald Trump on July 17, leaving the Senate with little time to shepherd him through and avoid a lapse. One former agency official said the delay was disappointing.
Timing: If Sumwalt doesn’t get through the Senate before the summer recess starts on or around Aug. 3, an NTSB spokesman said Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg will step in on an acting basis.
Circle the date: According to NTSB, Sumwalt’s term actually ends on Aug. 8, not Aug. 10 (even though he was sworn in on that date two years ago). Landsberg would take over acting duties the next day.
Also appearing at the confirmation hearing: Amtrak board nominee Todd Rokita, a former Indiana congressman. Rokita has earned the opposition of a rail passenger advocacy group, unions and several committee Democrats because they say he’s a classic “fox in the henhouse” Trump appointee, in that he’s voted in the past to defund Amtrak. Rokita vacated his House seat in 2017 to run for Senate, and then lost in the primary to Mike Braun.
Another nominee up for confirmation is Michael Kratsios, tapped to be associate director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and chief technology officer. The Commercial Drone Alliance and other groups wrote to the committee on Tuesday urging a quick confirmation for Kratsios, who they say “has been instrumental to the federal government’s efforts to encourage the development and use of UAS,” including as the “driving force” behind the FAA’s UAS Integration Pilot Program.
SURFACE BILL DEETS: The Senate surface transportation bill set to be released next week would authorize $287 billion in highway spending over five years, a 28 percent increase over the law on the books, our Tanya Snyder scooped for Pros on Tuesday. Environment and Public Works Committee aides are calling it the most substantial highway bill in history.
The legislation would authorize new grant programs to address transportation-related emissions, as well as road and bridge resiliency. It would also codify tenets of the “One Federal Decision” project-streamlining policy.
What’s next? Committee leaders hope to mark it up on Aug. 1. And don’t forget, Tanya writes, that “the Banking Committee will add a transit title, the Commerce Committee will handle rail and safety and the Finance Committee will find a way to pay for it before a final bill hits the Senate floor.”
TSA FEE HIKE LEFT OUT OF BUDGET DEAL: A proposal to hike TSA fees and divert the revenue toward deficit reduction was omitted from the budget deal agreed on earlier this week, alleviating the fears of aviation industry groups. As our Stephanie Beasley reports, the agreement does, however, include a two-year extension of Customs user fees, which would continue to be collected until the end of fiscal 2029 and used as an offset.
Speaking of security fees: Airlines for America is opposed to S. 2134, which would increase the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fee and send more of it to Brand USA. “In an era of extremely scarce federal resources and an elevated level of security concern, the rationing of federal revenues like those collected from the ESTA fee should be prioritized for securing our nation — not for advertising,” A4A wrote in a letter to Senate leaders. The airline industry group argues that all ESTA fees collected should be sent to CBP.
REPORT FINDS BLAME TO SHARE FOR S.C. CRASH: The NTSB issued a final report Tuesday on a February 2018 South Carolina crash between Amtrak and CSX trains, which killed one person and injured dozens. The safety agency said failings by both companies, as well as the Federal Railroad Administration’s lack of effective regulation to “mitigate the risk of misaligned switch accidents,” contributed to the accident. Pros can read more from Tanya.
EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE: The FRA is moving forward with a proposed rule that would require cameras monitoring the inside and outside of all lead locomotives in passenger trains. The regulation, which was mandated by the 2015 surface transportation law, does not cover freight trains, Tanya wrote. The devices will have to record any time the train is moving and retain the data in a “crashworthy memory module.”
Kristine O’Brien, director of outreach and member services for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is leaving the Hill to join Airlines for America. O’Brien, a former aide to Sen. Chuck Schumer and United Airlines analyst, will become vice president for global government affairs starting in September.
— “Ford teases all-electric F-150 pickup truck by pulling a million-pound train.” The Verge.
— “The last toll collectors.” The New York Times.
— “Ex-exec gets 18 months for bribing Amtrak official with $20K, beach trips.” Philadelphia Business Journal.
— “Charges thrown out again in deadly Philadelphia Amtrak crash.” Associated Press.
— “Six Metro stops are getting USB charging stations and other new features.” Curbed Washington D.C.
DOT appropriations run out in 68 days. The FAA reauthorization expires in 1,529 days. Highway and transit policy is up for renewal in 437 days.
