Senate passes $35 billion FAA reauthorization bill

The Senate approved on Monday a two-year, $34.5 billion Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill, a move that will advance agency efforts to update its air traffic control system.

The bill pushes FAA to continue deployment of NextGen, its ambitious program to replace the existing radar-based air traffic control system with a satellite-based network, at the busiest U.S. airports by 2014, according to an Associated Press report. The system, which the agency began deploying in 2008, won't be completed until after 2020, however.

FAA estimates the upgrade will cost about $20 billion. The agency requested $1.14 billion for the NextGen program in its fiscal 2011 budget, a 32 percent increase from fiscal 2010. The Senate legislation authorizes FAA to help airlines cover the cost of equipment upgrades, according to the AP.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association applauded the 93-0 Senate vote.

"NATCA supports modernization of the National Airspace System and believes that collaboration with the FAA and involvement by all stakeholders will ensure a safe and effective transition to the system of the future," the association said in a statement. "This bill not only paves the way for the safe implementation of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) but also addresses key issues regarding the stability of the air traffic controller workforce, the inclusion of controllers as key stakeholders in the system and the realignment of FAA facilities."

Congress Daily reported on Tuesday that the bill, which must be reconciled with a three-year House reauthorization passed last year, also includes a "passenger bill of rights." However, it avoids contentious language that would make it easier for FedEx workers to unionize, a provision backed by House members.