FAA outlines FY2014 budget request

US FAA administrator Michael Huerta testified (24-Apr-2013) before the US House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development on FAA's 2014 budget request. Key points:

• FAA's FY2014 budget request is UDS15.6 billion, down USD351 million on FY2012 (-2.2%). The budget "upholds our critical safety programmes, while also deploying key NextGen benefits to our stakeholders, and modernising our aviation infrastructure".
• The proposed budget for 2014 "assumes a long-term solution to our nation's budget deficit and no sequester". The dudget would allow the FAA to maintain staffing for air traffic control and aviation safety, as well as capital investment in both airport infrastructure and FAA facilities and equipment, and fund R&D.
• Budget requests of USD1 billion for NextGen, up 7% over 2012. NextGen funding request would help to continue to mitigate congestion in busy airspace above metropolitan areas, as well as the continued deployment of radio transceivers for satellite-based air traffic control.
• Budget requests of USD9.7 billion in for the FAA operations account, an increase of 0.5% above FY2012. Includes an additional USD30 million to maintain and operate the new En Route Automation Modernisation system.
• Budget request of USD2.8 billion for facilities and equipment, primarily to sustain legacy areas.
• Research, Engineering, and Development request of USD166 million, down 1% from FY2012.
• Budget would allow commercial service airports to increase Passenger Facility Charges from the current maximum of USD4.50 to USD8. The increase allows the FAA to reduce its request for the ongoing airport grants programme by USD450 million and gives airports greater flexibility to generate more of their own revenue. [more - original PR]