ZeroAvia Welcomes Congressional Passage of FAA Reauthorization

May 17, 2024

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ZeroAvia, the leading developer of zero-emission hydrogen-electric aircraft powertrains, today commended the U.S. Congress’s passage of a five-year reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration that includes provisions to advance hydrogen aviation.  The bipartisan bill passed the U.S. Senate on May 9 by a vote of 88-4 and was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 387-26.  

Committee leadership in the House and Senate negotiated the compromise package that reconciled their respective versions of the bill. Lead negotiators included Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), the Chair and Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Science and Transportation Committee, as well as Reps. Sam Graves (R-6-MO) and Rick Larsen (D-2-WA), the Chair and Ranking Member of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

The bill contains provisions supporting development of the U.S. hydrogen aviation industry, most importantly directing the FAA to develop a viable path to “safely and efficiently certify hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft.” The bill also includes language supporting hydrogen aviation research through the FAA ASCENT program, adding hydrogen refueling infrastructure to the list of eligible projects funded under the Airport Improvement Program, and establishing a Hydrogen Aviation Federal Advisory Committee.  

ZeroAvia, Founder and CEO, Val Miftakhov said:  “We applaud the hard work of Senators Cantwell, Cruz, Duckworth, and Moran and Representatives Sam Graves, Larsen, Garret Graves, and Cohen. The hydrogen measures in this legislation are a welcome signal that Congress supports the innovation, cost and emissions reduction, and job creation that hydrogen aviation promises. We are eager to work with FAA and other federal agencies with a large role to play in advancing hydrogen in aviation, notably DOE, to implement these new measures.”

The bill now moves to the White House, where President Biden is expected to sign it into law.

Source : ZeroAvia