Womack Hosts FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford in Arkansas’s Third District

ARKANSAS - March 11, 2026... House Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Steve Womack (AR-3) welcomed the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Bryan Bedford to Arkansas's Third Congressional District. Together, they visited and toured key locations across Northwest Arkansas pertinent to the FAA's mission of maintaining a safe, efficient, and modern national airspace.

Chairman Womack said, "It was an honor to welcome FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford to Arkansas's Third District to see firsthand how our region is providing safer, more efficient air travel. Not only does the Third District boast of rapidly growing and modernized national, regional, and municipal airports, we have also become a hub for next-generation aviation innovation. As Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, I understand Administrator Bedford's critical role in ensuring that our aviation system remains the gold standard, and his visit to Northwest Arkansas exemplifies his strong leadership."

During the visit, Administrator Bedford said of the new technology installed at Drake Field, "Aviation has changed dramatically over the past three decades, and the importance of air traffic control and the need for more modern technology has only grown since then. This new, state-of-the-art facility represents a significant investment in aviation safety. We are grateful for the strong partnership with Congress, including Representative Womack, whose support helped make this important investment possible."

THUD Chairman Womack's Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriations bill increased funding for the FAA by $1.220 billion over FY 2025 enacted levels, providing the FAA with resources to hire 2,500 new air traffic controllers and replace an aging telecommunication infrastructure. Read more bill highlights HERE.

Visit Highlights

Rep. Womack and Administrator Bedford received a tour of Fayetteville's air traffic control tower at Drake Field. Under the leadership of U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Administrator Bedford, the FAA has been focused on modernizing our aging air traffic control system, and new voice switch technology installed at Drake Field is an example of this work.

At Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA), Rep. Womack and Administrator Bedford participated in the ribbon cutting of the airport's new air traffic control tower. This new tower replaces a temporary tower constructed in 1998-improving safety and operational capacity. In FY 2023, Congressman Womack and Senator John Boozman secured $6.414 million in Community Project Funding to help construct the tower. The FAA also provided another $5 million through two separate grants.

During a working lunch, Rep. Womack and Administrator Bedford heard from XNA leadership about the airport's history and how the new air traffic control tower will usher in a new era of air travel in Northwest Arkansas.

While at XNA, the pair also toured the ongoing modernization efforts inside and outside of the airport's terminal. In 2025, XNA had the highest number of enplanements in the state of Arkansas-a record that came six years earlier than previously projected.

Rep. Womack and Administrator Bedford then received a tour of Game Aerospace's facility in Bentonville where they saw how the company designs and builds advanced aerobatic aircraft and next-generation wildfire fighting planes.

At a roundtable, Rep. Womack and Administrator Bedford heard from managers and directors of national, regional, and municipal airports in the Third District. The discussion centered on how the federal government and FAA can be a valuable partner in fostering safer and more efficient air travel, in addition to supporting the larger aviation community.

Rep. Womack and Administrator Bedford also attended a demonstration of how Zipline, a U.S. drone delivery company, and Walmart are working together to deliver items like groceries to Third District homes. Zipline launched a new delivery platform in Pea Ridge in 2025 designed to make instant deliveries and better navigate urban areas. All Zipline aircraft and operations are FAA-approved.

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas's Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

womack.house.gov

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