Writer

Amy Wilder

The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) praised the FY2026 budget estimate for the FAA, calling it a critical investment in safety and modernization, but emphasized that additional funding will be required to meet long-term goals.
Proposing $22 billion for the FAA, the <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/mission/budget/faa-cj-fy-2026-estimates">FY2026 President’s Budget Request</a> names safety as the agency’s top priority. The budget supports expanded hiring and training for air traffic controllers, increased aviation safety oversight, and targeted improvements to cybersecurity infrastructure. Funding is also allocated to accelerate modernization of the agency’s core systems, including telecommunications infrastructure and radar surveillance capabilities.
To rebuild the pipeline of certified professional controllers, the FAA has requested $97.3 million to support hiring and training up to 2,500 controller trainees in FY 2026 as part of a continuing surge effort that began in the previous fiscal year. The budget also proposes $9.7 million and 91 new positions to enhance oversight of aircraft production and maintenance operations, alongside $35 million for cybersecurity enhancements.
Major infrastructure investments are proposed under Project LIFT, a $1.0 billion initiative to transition the FAA’s legacy telecommunications to modern Internet Protocol (IP) systems. The effort includes the acquisition of new voice switches and IP radios. Additionally, $450 million is requested to launch a multi-year radar replacement program aimed at improving situational awareness, operational resilience, and the integration of emerging technologies such as drones and advanced air mobility platforms.
In a May 28 statement, AIA president and CEO Eric Fanning said the budget “will sustain and support the workforce, technology, systems, and infrastructure that make the American airspace system the global gold standard.”
He also described the proposal as “a welcome first step to fundamentally remake the air traffic control system and usher in the next generation of safer, more efficient flight,” adding that more upfront investment will be necessary to fully realize the administration’s objectives.
Fanning said AIA stands ready to work with Congress to ensure timely passage and full resourcing of the budget. The association represents companies involved in the development, manufacture, and maintenance of civil and commercial aircraft and spacecraft.
The FAA’s proposed budget comes alongside recent funding from the reconciliation bill aimed at infrastructure and safety improvements across the U.S. airspace system. AIA stressed that continued bipartisan support will be crucial to maintain the country’s leadership in global aerospace.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

AIA Backs FAA FY2026 Budget, Urges More Funding for ATC Upgrades

Industry group praises prioritizing safety and workforce support

FAA’s FY 2026 budget proposal gets backing from AIA, which calls it a “first step” and stresses the need for timely funding and modernization support.

AIA Endorses FAA Funding in FY2026 Proposal

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Department of Commerce taking comments through June 3

NBAA Urges Members To Stress Trade Importance To Gov’t

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Rep. Nadler has co-sponsored a half-dozen bills in recent years to curb helo ops

U.S. Lawmakers Seek To Bar Helicopters in New York City

FAA told to ‘hire, hire, hire’ in its safety workforce

FAA Official: ‘Don't Over-engineer’ SMS

Charles Alcock

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

EBAA says industry still faces discrimination and ‘irrational’ decisions

Business Aviation Asserts Role in European Recovery

Curt Epstein

Out-of-scope operators are being erroneously charged

Business Aviation Customers Feel the RefuelEU Pinch

The airport is reducing peak access due to construction

CBAA Protests Reduced Bizav Slot Allocation at Montreal

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

The 1,300-page FAA bill was adopted one year ago

Lawmakers: Outages, Crashes Underscore FAA Bill Urgency

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

More In Regulations and Government