Aviation Industry Rallies To Urge End of Shutdown

Members of the aviation industry gathered on Capitol Hill recently to protest the prolonged partial U.S. government shutdown, highlight the harmful effects it is having on businesses and workers, and urge lawmakers to do what is necessary to reopen the affected agencies.

The event was scheduled on the 20^th day of the shutdown, which began December 22 for numerous agencies, including the Departments of Transportation, Commerce, and Homeland Security. About 800,000 workers government-wide are either furloughed or working without pay, according to the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA). At the Federal Aviation Administration alone, nearly 18,000 workers are furloughed.

Speakers at the protest included lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and a cross-section of the industry. Meanwhile, nearly three-dozen industry associations wrote the House and Senate leadership, citing numerous areas where the shutdown is harming the agencies and industry. “The human and economic consequences are increasing and doing greater harm,” the groups said.

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Prolonged Shutdown Affecting Training, Flight Permits

Full ramifications were not immediately felt, given the timing of the shutdown, but some operators are already encountering issues.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, which spearheaded the event, is continuing to voice concerns about the disruptions to training and the longer ramifications to the overall workforce, as well as to the disruptions to implementing key NextGen programs.

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has outlined a series of activities disrupted as a result of the shutdown. “We appreciate that Congress acted to keep the FAA Oklahoma City Aircraft Registry Office functioning during a government shutdown, but we are very concerned about the potential effects of a prolonged shutdown on other elements of FAA operations, including certification,” the association said. GAMA pointed to delays in product development because of the FAA’s required involvement for certification and validation, aircraft and equipment modifications, and other approvals such as Instructions for Continued Airworthiness and MMELs. This affects delegated authority as well, since the FAA cannot conduct oversight.

Also, non-routine aircraft registrations have halted since Aeronautical Center Counsel attorneys are on furlough, resulting in additional leasing costs, limited access to capital, and reduced liquidity for aircraft trades, GAMA added. Furthermore, flight authorizations, operational authorizations, and changes to operators’ certificates have stopped, creating hurdles to putting aircraft into service after delivery. Pilot training is disrupted, since the FAA is involved in authorizing tests, qualifying pilot examiners, and issuing course approvals, and modifications.

More broadly, AIA has cited effects of closures of other agencies, such as Commerce and State, that are holding up export licensing, as well as the overall disruption to government contractors.