FAA reauthorisation bill passes Senate after deal

US Senator Tom Coburn dropped his objection to some sections of the combined aviation and surface transportation bills, which recently passed the US House of Representatives (AP/CBS News, 15-Sep-2011). The move allowed the Senate to approve the reauthorisation of US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before its congressional funding authority expired at midnight on 16-Sep-2011, avoiding a repeat of the partial shutdown in Aug-2011. The bill extends the FAA's funding authority through to Feb-2012.