Foreign Civil Aviation Authority Assistance Act of 2020

To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide assistance for foreign civil aviation authorities, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Foreign Civil Aviation Authority Assistance Act of 2020 2. International aviation safety (a) In general Section 40104(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking The Administrator shall (1) In general The Administrator shall ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (2) Bilateral and multilateral engagement; technical assistance The Administrator shall— (A) engage bilaterally and multilaterally, including with the International Civil Aviation Organization, on an ongoing basis to bolster international collaboration, data sharing, and harmonization of international aviation safety requirements including through— (i) sharing of continued operational safety information; (ii) prioritization of pilot training deficiencies, including manual flying skills and flight crew training, to discourage over reliance on automation, further bolstering the components of airmanship; and (iii) prioritizing any other flight crew training areas that the Administrator believes will enhance all international aviation safety; and (B) seek to expand technical assistance provided by the Federal Aviation Administration in support of enhancing international aviation safety, including by— (i) promoting and enhancing effective oversight systems, including operational safety enhancements identified through data collection and analysis; (ii) attaining, maintaining, and enhancing adherence to international safety standards by counterpart civil aviation authorities; (iii) minimizing cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities across the aviation ecosystem; (iv) supporting the sharing of safety information, best practices, risk assessments, and mitigations through established international aviation safety groups; and (v) providing technical assistance on any other aspect of aviation safety that the Administrator determines is likely to enhance international aviation safety. . (b) Authorization of appropriations there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the amendments made by this section. 3. Assistance to foreign aviation authorities (a) In general Section 40113(e)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting The Administrator also may provide technical assistance related to all aviation safety-related training and operational services in connection with bilateral and multilateral agreements, including further bolstering the components of air­man­ship. (b) Authorization of appropriations Section 40113(e) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (5) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator, $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2026 to carry out this subsection. Amounts appropriated under the preceding sentence for any fiscal year shall remain available until expended. . 4. Support for implementation of improvements to international pilot training to address flight deck automation and human factors (a) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the International Organizations and Programs (IO&P) account of the Department of State, $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2026, to remain available until expended. Amounts appropriated under the authority of the preceding sentence should be used for expenditures attributable to supporting implementation of recommendations included in the working paper titled, Pilot Training Improvements to Address Automation Dependency (b) Sense of Congress regarding international pilot training standards (1) Findings Congress makes the following findings: (A) Increased reliance on automation in commercial aviation risks a degradation of pilot skills in flight path management using manual flight control. (B) Manual flight skills are essential for pilot confidence and competence. (C) During the 40th Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization, the United States, Canada, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago presented a working paper titled, Pilot Training Improvements to Address Automation Dependency (D) The working paper outlines recommendations for the Assembly to mitigate the consequences of automation dependency, including identifying competency requirements for flight path management using manual flight control and assessing the need for new or amended international standards or guidance. (2) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that, as soon as practicable— (A) the recommendations included in the working paper titled, Pilot Training Improvements to Address Automation Dependency (B) the United States should work with the International Civil Aviation Organization and other international aviation safety groups, further bolstering the components of air­man­ship.

Summary: Foreign Civil Aviation Authority Assistance Act of 2020 This bill provides Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) support for foreign civil aviation authorities. In addition to the current requirement that the FAA promote and achieve global improvements in the safety, efficiency, and environmental effect of air travel, the bill requires the FAA to engage both bilaterally and multilaterally, including with the International Civil Aviation Organization, to bolster international collaboration, data sharing, and harmonization of international aviation safety requirements. The FAA must seek to expand technical assistance in support of enhancing international aviation safety, and it is authorized to provide technical assistance related to all aviation safety-related training and operational services in connection with bilateral and multilateral agreements. The bill also authorizes support for the implementation of certain recommendations to address pilots' dependency on automation.