Safe Aviation and Flight Emergency Tracking Act of 2015

To direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to issue regulations to improve the tracking of aircraft in flight, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Safe Aviation and Flight Emergency Tracking Act of 2015 2. Improved tracking of aircraft in flight (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall issue regulations to ensure that a covered aircraft is equipped with technology that provides for— (1) continuous tracking of information regarding the aircraft during flight, including information regarding the position, altitude, and speed of the aircraft; and (2) the timely and cost effective recovery of the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder of the aircraft in the event of a crash or other serious incident. (b) Study of certain technologies In carrying out subsection (a), the Administrator shall investigate at least the following: (1) Automatic dependent surveillance. (2) Automatic deployable flight recorders. (3) Emergency locator transmitters. (4) Satellite navigation and communications. (c) Interim report Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report specifying technologies the Administrator is considering for inclusion in the regulations required under subsection (a), including a description of costs and benefits associated with each of the technologies. (d) Coordination The Administrator shall work collaboratively with the International Civil Aviation Organization and other relevant stakeholders to develop and implement international standards that improve the tracking of aircraft in flight. (e) Covered aircraft defined In this section, the term covered aircraft (1) able to carry at least 120 passengers; (2) ordered on or after January 1, 2016; and (3) providing scheduled passenger air transportation (as such term is defined in section 40102(a) of title 49, United States Code).

Summary: Safe Aviation and Flight Emergency Tracking Act of 2015 Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to: (1) issue regulations to ensure that a covered aircraft is equipped with technology that provides for the continuous tracking of information regarding the aircraft during flight and the timely and cost effective recovery of the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder in the event of a crash or other serious incident; (2) investigate automatic dependent surveillance, automatic deployable flight recorders, emergency locator transmitters, and satellite navigation and communications; and (3) work collaboratively with the International Civil Aviation Organization and other relevant stakeholders to develop and implement international standards that improve the tracking of aircraft in flight. Defines "covered aircraft" to mean a passenger aircraft: (1) able to carry at least 120 passengers, (2) ordered on or after January 1, 2016, and (3) providing scheduled passenger air transportation.