“This landmark law is about reinforcing and reinvigorating the nation’s aviation system. Following flight disruptions, runway close calls, and consumer frustrations, this law is set to deliver the safest, most reliable aviation system in the world.” - Senator Cantwell 

As the chief architect and lead negotiator, Senator Cantwell spearheaded the landmark Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024 into law. She is incredibly proud of this law, which prioritizes aviation safety workforce development, next-generation aviation innovation, and stronger protections for consumers.

Highlights in this historic law:

• Modernizes America’s Airport Infrastructure: On the heels of $25 billion in airport funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the FAA law further boosts airport funding to a record $4 billion per year to rebuild our airports and propel our local economies.

• Sets Clear Right to Refunds: For the first time, passengers have the statutory right to a hassle-free refund when an airline cancels or significantly delays a flight. It also prohibits fees for family seating and ensures passengers have 24/7 access to customer service.

• Reduces Runway “Close Calls”: This law requires the FAA to deploy additional airport surface situational awareness technologies – such as Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model-X (ASDE-X) – that track aircraft and ground vehicle movements on runways and taxiways to prevent collisions at more airports.

• Mandates 25-Hour Cockpit Voice Recorders: The law requires commercial airplanes to be equipped with 25-hour Cockpit Voice Recorders to preserve critical data needed in an investigation. Currently, these devices only record for two hours, leaving the NTSB without access to critical information during its investigation of Alaska Flight 1282 door plug incident. . 

• Addresses Air Traffic Controller Shortages: With a shortage of approximately 3,000 air traffic controllers nationwide, the law creates new standards for the FAA  to close staffing gaps and requires the FAA to set maximum hiring targets to increase the air traffic controller workforce. 

• Boosts Hiring of FAA Aviation Safety Inspectors: The law ensures that the FAA has the aviation safety inspectors necessary to perform rigorous safety oversight and helps boost hiring of manufacturing safety inspectors, engineers and technical specialists every year.

• Grows the Veteran Pilot Pool: Through a new competitive grant program at  DOT, the law will allow eligible flight training schools to recruit and train veterans to become commercial pilots and certified flight instructors.

• Supports Women in Aviation: Currently, less than 10% of licensed pilots are women and less than 3% are airline captains. That’s why the law creates the new Bessie Coleman Women in Aviation Advisory Committee to focus on bringing more women into the aviation industry.

• Expands Research on Cutting-Edge Materials: The law continues the FAA’s Joint Centers of Excellence for Advanced Materials, co-led by the University of Washington and Wichita State University, and expands its research into composites, thermoplastics, carbon fiber polymers, and more to make aircraft lighter and more fuel efficient.  

• Improves Accessibility: The law requires the FAA to form an expert panel to evaluate gaps in current aircraft evacuation standards and procedures  The law requires training for airline personnel on safely storing wheelchairs and scooters to avoid leaving flyers with disabilities with damaged or broken mobile assistance.

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The Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Law 

“If we want to be number one in aviation, you have to be number one in aviation safety. I want to thank all of the families who helped us in communicating why these safety reforms are important … and to let them know that even though we're putting a big down payment on safety reforms in the United States Congress by passing this legislation, this process does not stop with the passage of this legislation.” - Senator Cantwell

Senator Cantwell has a decades-long history in Congress as a leader and staunch advocate for stronger aviation safety reforms.

In response to the Boeing 737 MAX tragedies in 2018 and 2019, Senator Cantwell authored the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act (ACSAA), comprehensive aviation safety legislation that implemented new aircraft safety and certification reforms, and was signed into law on December 27, 2020. Numerous provisions in ACSAA were extended by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.

The law strengthened FAA’s oversight of aircraft manufacturers, reformed the aircraft certification process and increased Congress’ oversight of it, and provided new resources to address emerging technology. A Cantwell-led provision in the law required new safety trends reporting so the FAA and Congress could proactively respond to emerging trends impacting safety. 

As Committee Chair, Senator Cantwell held numerous hearings to ensure the law is implemented and that the aviation sector is held accountable. 

In December 2021, Senator Cantwell released the Aviation Safety Whistleblower Report  as part of the Committee’s ongoing oversight of the aircraft design and certification of the Boeing 737 MAX and the implementation of key aviation safety reform mandates. The report detailed information provided to the Committee by seven whistleblowers, including accounts of undue pressure from the industry to shortcut approvals, failure of the FAA and industry managers to listen to line engineers and chronic understaffing and decreasing technical expertise at the FAA's Boeing Aviation Safety Oversight Office. Senator Cantwell called on then-FAA Administrator Steve Dickson to review the whistleblower concerns and implement appropriate improvements to aviation safety in response.

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Building Sustainable Aviation Fuel Supply Chains and Cutting Emissions

“The continued growth of the aviation industry and its many benefits to travelers and our economy depends on decarbonizing the sector.” – Senator Cantwell

In August 2024, the FAA awarded $291 million in FAST-SAF and FAST-Tech grants to 36 projects across the United States. This included $36 million for projects in the State of Washington, to invest in building scalable sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) supply chains and commercializing low-emission aviation technologies. Sen. Cantwell authored the program and secured its inclusion in the Inflation Reduction Act to decarbonize the U.S. aviation sector, support innovative U.S.-based sustainable aviation projects, and create more aerospace jobs across the nation.    

Sustainable aviation fuel has the potential to reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent in comparison to conventional petroleum-based jet fuel and is already compatible for use in existing commercial aircraft engines.

For all Americans, sustainable aviation fuel will help us reduce carbon in the atmosphere to stem the increase of extreme weather events. 

For airline travelers, increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuel will help lessen our dependence on conventional jet fuel, which could reduce flight fare prices as conventional fuel gets more expensive.

The FAST-SAF and FAST-Tech grants are already creating new domestic jobs and will continue to provide new economic opportunities for farmers, manufacturers, start-ups and others in the alternative fuels supply chain and the low-emission technology sector.