II 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1170 

To improve aviation safety in Alaska, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 3, 2009 

Ms. MURKOWSKI introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 

referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

A BILL 

To improve aviation safety in Alaska, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Alaska Omnibus Avia5 tion Improvement Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. IDITAROD AIR FORCE. 

7 (a) RULEMAKING.—Not later than 90 days after the 

8 date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of 

9 the Federal Aviation Administration shall promulgate reg10 ulations that exempt Iditarod Air Force pilots, for at least 

11 5 years beginning on the date on which such regulations 

12 are promulgated, from the provisions of sections 61.113(a) 


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1 and 119.21(a)(1) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, 

2 to allow such pilots to accept nonmonetary compensation 

3 for costs directly related to flying in support of the 

4 Iditarod Sled Dog Race. 

5 (b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In promulgating regulations 

6 under subsection (a), the Administrator shall consider— 

7 (1) the unique nature of the race and its oper8 ation; 

9 (2) the necessity of safe and efficient air trans10 port; 

11 (3) the public interest served; 

12 (4) the appropriate level of safety; 

13 (5) the availability of cost-effective commercial 

14 substitutes; 

15 (6) the inapplicability of many provisions under 

16 part 135 of title 14, United States Code, to the ac17 tivities described in subsection (a); and 

18 (7) limitations that the Administrator deter19 mines to be necessary for the safety of the pilots and 

20 passengers. 

21 SEC. 3. ALASKA FLIGHT SERVICE STATIONS. 

22 Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact23 ment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Avia24 tion Administration shall develop, implement, and submit 


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1 to Congress a plan for the future of flight service stations 

2 in Alaska that includes— 

3 (1) the establishment of a formal training and 

4 hiring program for flight service specialists; and 

5 (2) a schedule for necessary inspection, up6 grades, and modernization of stations and equip7 ment. 

8 SEC. 4. MEDALLION FOUNDATION. 

9 Section 106(k)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is 

10 amended by adding at the end the following: 

11 ‘‘(H) Such sums as may be necessary for 

12 fiscal years 2009 through 2012, to carry out 

13 the Medallion Program in Alaska.’’. 

14 SEC. 5. ALASKA AVIATION SAFETY PROJECT. 

15 Section 106(k)(2)(F) of title 49, United States Code, 

16 is amended by striking ‘‘2004 through 2007’’ and insert17 ing ‘‘2009 through 2012’’. 

18 SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF TRAINEE POSITIONS. 

19 Grant amounts received by airports located in Alaska 

20 under the Airport Improvement Program, authorized 

21 under chapter 471 of title 49, United States Code, may 

22 be used for trainee positions in the same manner as such 

23 positions are authorized for Federal-aid highway projects 


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1 under section 230.111 of title 23, Code of Federal Regula2 tions (or successor regulations). 

Æ 


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