To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot program to assess the operational benefits of remote air traffic control towers, and for other purposes.

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot program to assess the operational benefits of remote air traffic control towers, and for other purposes. 1. Remote tower pilot program for rural or small communities (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall establish a pilot program under which, upon approval of an application submitted by an operator of a public-use airport, the Secretary shall install and operate at the airport a remote air traffic control tower in order to assess the operational benefits of remote air traffic control towers. (b) Applications The operator of an airport seeking to participate in the pilot program shall submit to the Secretary for approval an application that is in such form and contains such information as the Secretary may require. (c) Selection criteria (1) Selection of airports From among the applications submitted under subsection (b), the Secretary, after consultation with representatives of labor organizations representing operators and employees of the air traffic control system, shall select for participation in the pilot program 7 airports as follows: (A) One nonhub, primary airport. (B) Three nonprimary airports without existing air traffic control towers. (C) Two airports with air traffic control towers participating in a program established under section 47124 of title 49, United States Code. (D) One airport selected at the discretion of the Secretary. (2) Priority selection In selecting from among the applications submitted under subsection (b), the Secretary shall give priority to applicants that can best demonstrate the capabilities and potential of remote air traffic control towers. (3) Authority to reallocate airport selection If the Secretary receives an insufficient number of applications, the Secretary may reallocate the distribution of airport sites described in paragraph (1). (4) Multiple remote facilities If practicable and necessary, the 3 remote air traffic control towers installed at nonprimary airports pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) may co-locate remote facilities to assess the benefits and efficiencies of consolidating such facilities. (d) Asset classification A remote air traffic control tower, including ancillary equipment, installed with Government funds pursuant to this section shall be considered to be an air navigation facility. (e) Safety risk management panel (1) Safety risk management panel meeting Prior to the operational use of a remote air traffic control tower, the Secretary shall convene a safety risk management panel for the tower to address any safety issues with respect to the tower. (2) Safety risk management panel best practices The safety risk management panels shall be created and utilized in a manner similar to that of safety risk management panels previously established for remote air traffic control towers, taking into account best practices that have been developed. (f) Definitions (1) In general In this section, the following definitions apply: (A) Air navigation facility The term air navigation facility (B) Remote air traffic control tower The term remote air traffic control tower (2) Applicability of other definitions In this section, the terms nonhub airport primary airport public-use airport reliever airport (g) Sunset The pilot program shall terminate on the day that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

Summary: This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a five-year pilot program under which DOT shall install, operate, and assess the operational benefits of remote air traffic control towers at public-use airports.