We’ve all been there.  Airport delays and cancellations have turned trips into nightmares in airport terminals.

This mess was not what American aviation was all about.  America has always been the leader in aviation since the Wright Brothers took flight in North Carolina.  But these days, air travel seems best characterized by endless delays and grounded flights.  Everyone - no matter their party affiliation - recognizes that there’s plenty of room for improvement.

That is why the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act this week, which reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and aviation safety and infrastructure programs for the next five years.  Here are a few things it does:

• It addresses the pilot shortage by offering grants to educate future pilots.
• It lays out smart and targeted initiatives to improve airport infrastructure around the country.
• It makes it clear that the Department of Transportation needs to do more to hold air carriers accountable for the quality of service they provide for passengers.

At a time when bipartisanship is rare in Congress these days, the need to address air travel spans party lines.  I am hopeful that the Senate will send this bill flying to the President’s desk without delay.