Congress voted for a 17th time on December 18 to extend ­aviation programs, taxes and Airport and Airways Trust Fund ­spending authority through March 31, 2011, which ­essentially provides ­breathing room for the ­incoming 112th Congress to pass a new FAA reauthorization bill. Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), who will take over as new chairman of the House Transportation Committee, has said the FAA ­reauthorization is one of the first bills he wants to take up in the new ­Congress. When the 111th Congress adjourned at the end of last year all pending bills, such as new, multi-year FAA reauthorization legislation, expired.