Central ND News

Senator John Hoeven issued a statement today, following the Senate's passage of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization legislation. As a member of the Senate Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Committee, Hoeven worked to secure key priorities for North Dakota in the bill.

"Passing this legislation provides support to the wide array of aviation activities occurring across North Dakota," said Hoeven. He added that the legislation includes initiatives such as pilot and ATC training at UND and robust UAS research and development ecosystem, centered on the Northern Plains UAS Test Site. The site is reauthorized through FY28 under this bill.

In addition to these initiatives, the legislation authorizes funding for various airport improvement projects across North Dakota. This includes projects like the Terminal Development Project in Dickinson and the Hector International Airport Terminal Expansion Project in Fargo.

The FAA reauthorization bill also addresses an ATC shortage. It includes legislation that Hoeven cosponsored requiring the FAA to use a more accurate staffing model developed by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization. The bill sets an updated minimum hiring target for new air traffic controllers.

These provisions align with Hoeven’s efforts to establish UND as the first university in America where ATC program graduates can move directly into employment without attending the FAA’s ATC Academy in Oklahoma. To this end, Hoeven continues working with UND to apply for the FAA’s Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program.