331 
the Administration shall consider factors 
such as— 
‘‘(I) the responsibilities of partici-
pating agencies under applicable laws; 
‘‘(II) resources available to the co-
operating agencies; 
‘‘(III) overall size and complexity 
of the project; 
‘‘(IV) the overall time required by 
an agency to conduct an environ-
mental review and make decisions 
under applicable Federal law relating 
to a project (including the issuance or 
denial of a permit or license) and the 
cost of the project; and 
‘‘(V) the sensitivity of the natural 
and historic resources that could be af-
fected by the project. 
‘‘(iii) 
MAXIMUM
PROJECT
SCHED-
ULE.—To the maximum extent practicable 
and consistent with applicable Federal law, 
the Administrator shall develop, in concur-
rence with the project sponsor, a maximum 
schedule for the project described or des-
ignated under subsection (b) that is not 
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more than 2 years for the completion of the 
environmental review process for such 
projects, as measured from, as applicable 
the date of publication of a notice of intent 
to prepare an environmental impact state-
ment to the record of decision. 
‘‘(iv) DISPUTE RESOLUTION.— 
‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—Any issue or 
dispute that arises between the Admin-
istrator and participating agencies (or 
amongst participating agencies) dur-
ing the environmental review process 
will be addressed expeditiously to avoid 
delay. 
‘‘(II) 
RESPONSIBILITIES.—The 
Administrator and participating agen-
cies shall— 
‘‘(aa) implement the require-
ments of this section consistent 
with any dispute resolution proc-
ess established in an applicable 
law, regulation, or legally binding 
agreement to the maximum extent 
permitted by law; and 
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‘‘(bb) seek to resolve issues or 
disputes at the earliest possible 
time at the project level through 
agency employees who have day- 
to-day involvement in the project. 
‘‘(III) ELEVATION
FOR
MISSED 
MILESTONE.—If a dispute between the 
Administrator and participating agen-
cies (or amongst participating agen-
cies) causes a milestone to be missed or 
extended, or the Administrator antici-
pates that a permitting timetable mile-
stone will be missed or will need to be 
extended, then the dispute shall be ele-
vated to an official designated by the 
relevant agency for resolution. Such 
elevation should take place as soon as 
practicable after the Administrator be-
comes aware of the dispute or potential 
missed milestone. 
‘‘(IV) EXCEPTION.—Disputes that 
do not impact the ability of an agency 
to meet a milestone may be elevated as 
appropriate. 
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‘‘(V) FURTHER
EVALUATION.— 
Once a dispute has been elevated to the 
designated official, if no resolution has 
been reached at the end of 30 days 
after the relevant milestone date or ex-
tension date, then the relevant agencies 
shall elevate the dispute to senior agen-
cy leadership for resolution. 
‘‘(C) CONSISTENCY WITH OTHER TIME PERI-
ODS.—A schedule under subparagraph (B) shall 
be consistent with any other relevant time peri-
ods established under Federal law. 
‘‘(D) MODIFICATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 
in clause (ii), the Administrator may 
lengthen or shorten a schedule established 
under subparagraph (B) for good cause. A 
decision by a project sponsor to change, 
modify, expand, or reduce the scope of a 
project may be considered as good cause for 
lengthening or shortening of such schedule 
as appropriate and based on the nature and 
extent of the proposed project adjustment. 
‘‘(ii) LIMITATIONS.— 
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‘‘(I) LENGTHENED
SCHEDULE.— 
The Administrator may lengthen a 
schedule under clause (i) for a cooper-
ating Federal agency by not more than 
1 year after the latest deadline estab-
lished for the project described or des-
ignated under subsection (b) by the Ad-
ministration. 
‘‘(II) SHORTENED
SCHEDULE.— 
The Administrator may not shorten a 
schedule under clause (i) if doing so 
would impair the ability of a cooper-
ating Federal agency to conduct nec-
essary analyses or otherwise carry out 
relevant obligations of the Federal 
agency for the project. 
‘‘(E) FAILURE TO MEET DEADLINE.—If a 
cooperating Federal agency fails to meet a dead-
line established under subparagraph (D)(ii)(I)— 
‘‘(i) the cooperating Federal agency 
shall, not later than 10 days after meeting 
the deadline, submit to the Administrator a 
report that describes the reasons why the 
deadline was not met; and 
‘‘(ii) the Secretary shall— 
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‘‘(I) submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a copy of 
the report under clause (i); and 
‘‘(II) make the report under clause 
(i) publicly available on the website of 
the agency. 
‘‘(F) DISSEMINATION.—A copy of a schedule 
under subparagraph (B), and of any modifica-
tions to the schedule, shall be— 
‘‘(i) provided to all participating agen-
cies and to the State transportation depart-
ment of the State in which the project is lo-
cated (and, if the State is not the project 
sponsor, to the project sponsor); and 
‘‘(ii) made available to the public. 
‘‘(2) COMMENT DEADLINES.—The Administrator 
shall establish the following deadlines for comment 
during the environmental review process for a project: 
‘‘(A) For comments by agencies and the 
public on a draft environmental impact state-
ment, a period of not more than 60 days after 
publication in the Federal Register of notice of 
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the date of public availability of such statement, 
unless— 
‘‘(i) a different deadline is established 
by agreement of the lead agency, the project 
sponsor, and all participating agencies; or 
‘‘(ii) the deadline is extended by the 
lead agency for good cause. 
‘‘(B) For all other comment periods estab-
lished by the lead agency for agency or public 
comments in the environmental review process, a 
period of no more than 30 days from availability 
of the materials on which comment is requested, 
unless— 
‘‘(i) a different deadline is established 
by agreement of the Administrator, the 
project sponsor, and all participating agen-
cies; or 
‘‘(ii) the deadline is extended by the 
lead agency for good cause. 
‘‘(3) DEADLINES FOR DECISIONS UNDER OTHER 
LAWS.—In any case in which a decision under any 
Federal law relating to a project described or des-
ignated under subsection (b) (including the issuance 
or denial of a permit or license) is required to be 
made by the later of the date that is 180 days after 
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338 
the date on which the Administrator made all final 
decisions of the lead agency with respect to the 
project, or 180 days after the date on which an appli-
cation was submitted for the permit or license, the 
Administrator shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and pub-
lish on the website of the Administration— 
‘‘(A) as soon as practicable after the 180- 
day period, an initial notice of the failure of the 
Federal agency to make the decision; and 
‘‘(B) every 60 days thereafter until such 
date as all decisions of the Federal agency relat-
ing to the project have been made by the Federal 
agency, an additional notice that describes the 
number of decisions of the Federal agency that 
remain outstanding as of the date of the addi-
tional notice. 
‘‘(4) INVOLVEMENT OF THE PUBLIC.—Nothing in 
this subsection shall reduce any time period provided 
for public comment in the environmental review proc-
ess under existing Federal law, including a regula-
tion. 
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339 
‘‘(n) CONCURRENT REVIEWS AND SINGLE NEPA DOC-
UMENT.— 
‘‘(1) CONCURRENT
REVIEWS.—Each partici-
pating agency and cooperating agency under the ex-
pedited and coordinated environmental review process 
established under this section shall— 
‘‘(A) carry out the obligations of that agen-
cy under other applicable law concurrently, and 
in conjunction, with the review required under 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), unless doing so would 
impair the ability of the Federal agency to con-
duct needed analysis or otherwise carry out such 
obligations; and 
‘‘(B) formulate and implement administra-
tive, policy, and procedural mechanisms to en-
able the agency to ensure completion of the envi-
ronmental review process in a timely, coordi-
nated, and environmentally responsible manner. 
‘‘(2) SINGLE NEPA DOCUMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as inconsistent 
with subsection (a), to the maximum extent 
practicable and consistent with Federal law, all 
Federal permits and reviews for a project shall 
rely on a single environment document prepared 
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340 
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) under the leader-
ship of the Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration. 
‘‘(B) USE OF DOCUMENT.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—To the maximum 
extent practicable, the Administrator shall 
develop an environmental document suffi-
cient to satisfy the requirements for any 
Federal approval or other Federal action re-
quired for the project, including permits 
issued by other Federal agencies. 
‘‘(ii) COOPERATION OF PARTICIPATING 
AGENCIES.—Other participating agencies 
shall cooperate with the lead agency and 
provide timely information to help the lead 
agency carry out this subparagraph. 
‘‘(C) TREATMENT
AS
PARTICIPATING
AND 
COOPERATING AGENCIES.—A Federal agency re-
quired to make an approval or take an action 
for a project, as described in this paragraph, 
shall work with the Administration for the 
project to ensure that the agency making the ap-
proval or taking the action is treated as being 
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341 
both a participating and cooperating agency for 
the project. 
‘‘(3) 
PARTICIPATING
AGENCY
RESPONSIBIL-
ITIES.—An agency participating in the expedited and 
coordinated environmental review process under this 
section shall— 
‘‘(A) provide comments, responses, studies, 
or methodologies on those areas within the spe-
cial expertise or jurisdiction of the agency; and 
‘‘(B) use the process to address any environ-
mental issues of concern to the agency. 
‘‘(o) ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In preparing a final envi-
ronmental impact statement under the National En-
vironmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.) for a project described or designated under sub-
section (b), if the Administrator modifies the state-
ment in response to comments that are minor and are 
confined to factual corrections or explanations of why 
the comments do not warrant additional agency re-
sponse, the Administrator may write on errata sheets 
attached to the statement instead of rewriting the 
draft statement, subject to the condition that the er-
rata sheets— 
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342 
‘‘(A) cite the sources, authorities, and rea-
sons that support the position of the agency; and 
‘‘(B) if appropriate, indicate the cir-
cumstances that would trigger agency re-
appraisal or further response. 
‘‘(2) SINGLE DOCUMENT.—To the maximum ex-
tent practicable, for a project subject to a coordinated 
review process under this section, the Administrator 
shall expeditiously develop a single document that 
consists of a final environmental impact statement 
and a record of decision, unless— 
‘‘(A) the final environmental impact state-
ment or record of decision makes substantial 
changes to the project that are relevant to envi-
ronmental or safety concerns; or 
‘‘(B) there is a significant new cir-
cumstance or information relevant to environ-
mental concerns that bears on the proposed ac-
tion or the environmental impacts of the pro-
posed action. 
‘‘(3) LENGTH OF ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), an environmental impact 
statement shall not exceed 150 pages, not includ-
ing any citations or appendices. 
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343 
‘‘(B) EXTRAORDINARY
COMPLEXITY.—An 
environmental impact statement for a proposed 
agency action of extraordinary complexity shall 
not exceed 300 pages, not including any cita-
tions or appendices. 
‘‘(p) INTEGRATION
OF
PLANNING
AND
ENVIRON-
MENTAL REVIEW.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (5) 
and to the maximum extent practicable and appro-
priate, the following agencies may adopt or incor-
porate by reference, and use a planning product in 
proceedings relating to, any class of action in the en-
vironmental review process of a project described or 
designated under subsection (b): 
‘‘(A) The lead agency for a project, with re-
spect to an environmental impact statement, en-
vironmental assessment, categorical exclusion, or 
other document prepared under the National En-
vironmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 
et seq.). 
‘‘(B) A cooperating agency with responsi-
bility under Federal law with respect to the 
process for and completion of any environmental 
permit, approval, review, or study required for a 
project under any Federal law other than the 
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National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), if consistent with that law. 
‘‘(2) IDENTIFICATION.—If the relevant agency 
makes a determination to adopt or incorporate by ref-
erence and use a planning product under paragraph 
(1), such agency shall identify the agencies that par-
ticipated in the development of the planning products. 
‘‘(3) ADOPTION
OR
INCORPORATION
BY
REF-
ERENCE
OF
PLANNING
PRODUCTS.—The relevant 
agency may— 
‘‘(A) adopt or incorporate by reference an 
entire planning product under paragraph (1); or 
‘‘(B) select portions of a planning project 
under paragraph (1) for adoption or incorpora-
tion by reference. 
‘‘(4) TIMING.—The adoption or incorporation by 
reference of a planning product under paragraph (1) 
may— 
‘‘(A) be made at the time the relevant agen-
cies decide the appropriate scope of environ-
mental review for the project; or 
‘‘(B) occur later in the environmental re-
view process, as appropriate. 
‘‘(5) CONDITIONS.—The relevant agency in the 
environmental review process may adopt or incor-
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porate by reference a planning product under this sec-
tion if the relevant agency determines, with the con-
currence of the lead agency and, if the planning prod-
uct is necessary for a cooperating agency to issue a 
permit, review, or approval for the project, with the 
concurrence of the cooperating agency, that the fol-
lowing conditions have been met: 
‘‘(A) The planning product was developed 
through a planning process conducted pursuant 
to applicable Federal law. 
‘‘(B) The planning product was developed 
in consultation with appropriate Federal and 
State resource agencies and Indian Tribes. 
‘‘(C) The planning process included broad 
multidisciplinary consideration of systems-level 
or corridor-wide transportation needs and poten-
tial effects, including effects on the human and 
natural environment. 
‘‘(D) The planning process included public 
notice that the planning products produced in 
the planning process may be adopted during any 
subsequent environmental review process in ac-
cordance with this section. 
‘‘(E) During the environmental review 
process, the relevant agency has— 
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346 
‘‘(i) made the planning documents 
available for public review and comment by 
members of the general public and Federal, 
State, local, and Tribal governments that 
may have an interest in the proposed 
project; 
‘‘(ii) provided notice of the intention of 
the relevant agency to adopt or incorporate 
by reference the planning product; and 
‘‘(iii) considered any resulting com-
ments. 
‘‘(F) There is no significant new informa-
tion or new circumstance that has a reasonable 
likelihood of affecting the continued validity or 
appropriateness of the planning product or por-
tions thereof. 
‘‘(G) The planning product has a rational 
basis and is based on reliable and reasonably 
current data and reasonable and scientifically 
acceptable methodologies. 
‘‘(H) The planning product is documented 
in sufficient detail to support the decision or the 
results of the analysis and to meet requirements 
for use of the information in the environmental 
review process. 
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‘‘(I) The planning product is appropriate 
for adoption or incorporation by reference and 
use in the environmental review process for the 
project and is incorporated in accordance with, 
and is sufficient to meet the requirements of, the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and section 1502.21 of title 
40, Code of Federal Regulations. 
‘‘(6) EFFECT OF ADOPTION OR INCORPORATION 
BY REFERENCE.—Any planning product or portions 
thereof adopted or incorporated by reference by the 
relevant agency in accordance with this subsection 
may be— 
‘‘(A) incorporated directly into an environ-
mental review process document or other envi-
ronmental document; and 
‘‘(B) relied on and used by other Federal 
agencies in carrying out reviews of the project. 
‘‘(q) REPORT ON NEPA DATA.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall carry out a 
process to track, and annually submit to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
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report on projects described in subsection (b)(1) that 
contains the information described in paragraph (3). 
‘‘(2) TIME
TO
COMPLETE.—For purposes of 
paragraph (3), the NEPA process— 
‘‘(A) for an environmental impact state-
ment— 
‘‘(i) begins on the date on which a no-
tice of intent is published in the Federal 
Register; and 
‘‘(ii) ends on the date on which the Ad-
ministrator issues a record of decision, in-
cluding, if necessary, a revised record of de-
cision; and 
‘‘(B) for an environmental assessment— 
‘‘(i) begins on the date on which the 
Administrator makes a determination to 
prepare an environmental assessment; and 
‘‘(ii) ends on the date on which the Ad-
ministrator issues a finding of no signifi-
cant impact or determines that preparation 
of an environmental impact statement is 
necessary. 
‘‘(3) INFORMATION
DESCRIBED.—The informa-
tion referred to in paragraph (1) is, with respect to 
the Federal Aviation Administration— 
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‘‘(A) the number of proposed actions for 
which a categorical exclusion was applied by the 
Administration during the reporting period; 
‘‘(B) the number of proposed actions for 
which a documented categorical exclusion was 
applied by the Administration during the report-
ing period; 
‘‘(C) the number of proposed actions pend-
ing on the date on which the report is submitted 
for which the issuance of a documented categor-
ical exclusion by the Administration is pending; 
‘‘(D) the number of proposed actions for 
which an environmental assessment was issued 
by the Administration during the reporting pe-
riod; 
‘‘(E) the length of time the Administration 
took to complete each environmental assessment 
described in subparagraph (D); 
‘‘(F) the number of proposed actions pend-
ing on the date on which the report is submitted 
for which an environmental assessment is being 
drafted by the Administration; 
‘‘(G) the number of proposed actions for 
which a final environmental impact statement 
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350 
was completed by the Administration during the 
reporting period; 
‘‘(H) the length of time that the Adminis-
tration took to complete each environmental im-
pact statement described in subparagraph (G); 
‘‘(I) the number of proposed actions pend-
ing on the date on which the report is submitted 
for which an environmental impact statement is 
being drafted; and 
‘‘(J) for the proposed actions reported under 
subparagraphs (F) and (I), the percentage of 
those proposed actions for which— 
‘‘(i) project funding has been identi-
fied; and 
‘‘(ii) all other Federal, State, and local 
activities that are required to allow the pro-
posed action to proceed are completed. 
‘‘(4) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(A) ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSESSMENT.—The 
term ‘environmental assessment’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 1508.1 of title 40, Code 
of Federal Regulations (or a successor regula-
tion). 
‘‘(B) 
ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT
STATE-
MENT.—The term ‘environmental impact state-
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351 
ment’ means a detailed statement required under 
section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)). 
‘‘(C) NEPA PROCESS.—The term ‘NEPA 
process’ means the entirety of the development 
and documentation of the analysis required 
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), including the as-
sessment and analysis of any impacts, alter-
natives, and mitigation of a proposed action, 
and any interagency participation and public 
involvement required to be carried out before the 
Administrator undertakes a proposed action. 
‘‘(D) PROPOSED ACTION.—The term ‘pro-
posed action’ means an action (within the mean-
ing of the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.)) under this title 
that the Administrator proposes to carry out. 
‘‘(E) REPORTING
PERIOD.—The term ‘re-
porting period’ means the fiscal year prior to the 
fiscal year in which a report is issued under sub-
section (a).’’. 
SEC. 474. SUBCHAPTER III DEFINITIONS. 
Section 47175 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
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352 
(1) in paragraph (3)(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end and inserting ‘‘or’’; 
(2) in paragraph (4)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A) by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘(B)’’; and 
(ii) by redesignating clauses (i) and 
(ii) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respec-
tively; 
(3) by striking paragraph (5); 
(4) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (1), (4), 
(2), (6), and (8) as paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), 
and (6), respectively; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) TERMINAL DEVELOPMENT.—The term ‘ter-
minal development’ has the same meaning given such 
term in section 47102.’’. 
SEC. 475. PILOT PROGRAM EXTENSION. 
Section 190(i) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 
(49 U.S.C. 47104 note) is amended by striking ‘‘5 years’’ 
and all that follows through the period at the end and in-
serting ‘‘on October 1, 2028.’’. 
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353 
SEC. 476. PART 150 NOISE STANDARDS UPDATE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall review and revise part 150 
of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, to reflect all rel-
evant laws and regulations, including part 161 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations. 
(b) OUTREACH.—As part of the review conducted 
under subsection (a), the Administrator shall clarify exist-
ing and future noise policies and standards and seek feed-
back from airports, airport users, and individuals living 
in the vicinity of airports before implementing any changes 
to any noise policies or standards. 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and every 6 months thereafter, the 
Administrator shall brief the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate regarding the review conducted under subsection 
(a). 
(d) SUNSET.—The requirement under subsection (c) 
shall terminate on September 30, 2028. 
SEC. 477. REDUCING COMMUNITY AIRCRAFT NOISE EXPO-
SURE. 
In implementing or revising a flight procedure, the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
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seek to take the following actions (to the extent that such 
actions do not negatively affect aviation safety or efficiency) 
to reduce undesirable aircraft noise: 
(1) Implement flight procedures that can miti-
gate the impact of aircraft noise. 
(2) Work with airport sponsors and potentially 
impacted neighboring communities in establishing or 
modifying aircraft arrival and departure routes. 
(3) Discourage local encroachment of residential 
or other buildings near airports that could create fu-
ture aircraft noise complaints or impact airport oper-
ations or aviation safety. 
SEC. 478. CATEGORICAL EXCLUSIONS. 
(a) CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION FOR PROJECTS OF LIM-
ITED FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.—An action by the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration to approve, 
permit, finance, or otherwise authorize any airport project 
that is undertaken by the sponsor, owner, or operator of 
a public-use airport shall be presumed to be covered by a 
categorical exclusion under Federal Aviation Administra-
tion Order 1050.1F, or any successor document, if such 
project— 
(1) receives less than $6,000,000 (as adjusted an-
nually by the Administrator to reflect any increases 
in the Consumer Price Index prepared by the Depart-
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ment of Labor) of Federal funds or funds from 
charges collected under section 40117 of title 49, 
United States Code; or 
(2) with a total estimated cost of not more than 
$35,000,000 (as adjusted annually by the Adminis-
trator to reflect any increases in the Consumer Price 
Index prepared by the Department of Labor) and 
Federal funds comprising less than 15 percent of the 
total estimated project cost. 
(b) CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION IN EMERGENCIES.—An 
action by the Administrator to approve, permit, finance, 
or otherwise authorize an airport project that is undertaken 
by the sponsor, owner, or operator of a public-use airport 
shall be presumed to be covered by a categorical exclusion 
under Federal Aviation Administration Order 1050.1F, or 
any successor document, if such project is— 
(1) for the repair or reconstruction of any air-
port facility, runway, taxiway, or similar structure 
that is in operation or under construction when dam-
aged by an emergency declared by the Governor of the 
State and concurred in by the Administrator, or for 
a disaster or emergency declared by the President 
pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et 
seq.); 
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(2) in the same location with the same capacity, 
dimensions, and design as the original airport facil-
ity, runway, taxiway, or similar structure as before 
the declaration described in this section; and 
(3) commenced within a 2-year period beginning 
on the date of a declaration described in this section. 
(c) EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.—The presump-
tion that an action is covered by a categorical exclusion 
under subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply if the Admin-
istrator determines that extraordinary circumstances exist 
with respect to such action. 
(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to impact any aviation safety authority 
of the Administrator. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION.—The term ‘‘cat-
egorical exclusion’’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 1508.1(d) of title 40, Code of Federal Regula-
tions. 
(2) PUBLIC-USE AIRPORT; SPONSOR.—The terms 
‘‘public-use airport’’ and ‘‘sponsor’’ have the meaning 
given such terms in section 47102 of title 49, United 
States Code. 
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SEC. 479. CRITICAL HABITAT ON OR NEAR AIRPORT PROP-
ERTY. 
(a) FEDERAL AGENCY REQUIREMENTS.—The Admin-
istrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, to the 
maximum extent practicable, shall collaborate with the 
heads of appropriate Federal agencies to ensure that des-
ignations of critical habitat, as such term is defined in sec-
tion 3 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1532), on or near airport property do not— 
(1) result in conflicting statutory, regulatory, or 
Federal grant assurance requirements for airports or 
aircraft operators; 
(2) interfere with the safe operation of aircraft; 
or 
(3) occur on airport-owned lands that have be-
come attractive habitat for a threatened or endan-
gered species because such lands— 
(A) have been prepared for future develop-
ment; 
(B) have been designated as noise buffer 
land; or 
(C) are held by the airport to prevent en-
croachment of uses that are incompatible with 
airport operations. 
(b) STATE REQUIREMENTS.—In a State in which a 
State agency is authorized to designate land on or near air-
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port property for the conservation of a threatened or endan-
gered species in the State, the Administrator, to the max-
imum extent practicable, shall collaborate with the State 
in the same manner as the Administrator collaborates with 
the heads of Federal agencies under subsection (a). 
SEC. 480. UPDATING PRESUMED TO CONFORM LIMITS. 
Not later than 24 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration shall take such actions as are necessary to up-
date the Administration’s list of actions that are presumed 
to conform to a State implementation plan pursuant to sec-
tion 93.153(f) of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, to 
include projects relating to the construction of aircraft 
hangars. 
SEC. 481. RECOMMENDATIONS ON REDUCING ROTORCRAFT 
NOISE IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct a study on reducing rotorcraft noise 
in the District of Columbia. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The study conducted under subsection 
(a) shall consider— 
(1) the extent to which military operators con-
sider operating over unpopulated areas outside of the 
District of Columbia for training missions; 
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(2) the extent to which vehicles or aircraft other 
than conventional rotorcraft (such as unmanned air-
craft) could be used for emergency and law enforce-
ment response; and 
(3) the extent to which relevant operators and 
entities have assessed and addressed, as appropriate, 
the noise impacts of various factors of operating 
rotorcraft, including, at a minimum— 
(A) altitude; 
(B) the number of flights; 
(C) flight paths; 
(D) time of day of flights; 
(E) types of aircraft; 
(F) operating procedures; and 
(G) pilot training. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall brief the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate on preliminary observations with a report to follow 
at a date agreed upon at the time of the briefing con-
taining— 
(1) the contents of the study conducted under 
subsection (a); and 
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(2) any recommendations for the reduction of 
rotorcraft noise in the District of Columbia. 
(d) RELEVANT
OPERATORS
AND
ENTITIES
DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘relevant operators and 
entities’’ means— 
(1) the Chief of Police of the Metropolitan Police 
Department of the District of Columbia; 
(2) any medical rotorcraft operator that rou-
tinely flies a rotorcraft over the District of Columbia; 
and 
(3) any other operator that routinely flies a 
rotorcraft over the District of Columbia. 
SEC. 482. UFP STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration shall enter into an agreement 
with the National Academies under which the National Re-
search Council shall carry out a study examining airborne 
ultrafine particles and the effect of such particles on human 
health. 
(b) SCOPE OF STUDY.—The study conducted under 
subsection (a) shall— 
(1) summarize the relevant literature and studies 
done on airborne UPFs worldwide; 
(2) focus on large hub airports; 
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(3) examine airborne UFPs and their potential 
effect on human health, including— 
(A) characteristics of UFPs present in the 
air; 
(B) spatial and temporal distributions of 
UFP concentrations; 
(C) primary sources of UFPs; 
(D) the contribution of aircraft and airport 
operations to the distribution of UFP concentra-
tions compared to other sources; 
(E) potential health effects associated with 
elevated UFP exposures, including outcomes re-
lated to cardiovascular disease, respiratory infec-
tion and disease, degradation of neurocognitive 
functions, and other health effects; and 
(F) potential UFP exposures, especially to 
susceptible groups; 
(4) identify measures intended to reduce the re-
lease of UFPs; and 
(5) identify information gaps related to under-
standing potential relationships between UFP expo-
sures and health effects, contributions of aviation-re-
lated emissions to UFP exposures, and the effective-
ness of mitigation measures. 
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(c) COORDINATION.— The Administrator may coordi-
nate with the heads of such other agencies that the Adminis-
trator considers appropriate to provide data and other as-
sistance necessary for the study. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the Na-
tional Research Council submits of the results of the study 
to the Administrator, the Administrator shall submit to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report con-
taining the results of the study carried out under subsection 
(a), including any recommendations based on such study. 
(e) DEFINITION OF ULTRAFINE PARTICLE.—In this 
section, the terms ‘‘ultrafine particle’’ and ‘‘UFP’’ mean 
particles with diameters less than or equal to 100 nano-
meters. 
SEC. 483. AVIATION AND AIRPORT COMMUNITY ENGAGE-
MENT. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration shall establish 
an airport community of interest task force (in this 
section referred to as the ‘‘Task Force’’) to evaluate 
and improve existing processes and mechanisms for 
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engaging communities impacted by airport develop-
ment and aviation operations. 
(2) ACTIVITIES.—The Task Force shall— 
(A) review research on aircraft noise im-
pacts to identify potential actions the Adminis-
trator could take; 
(B) review processes and practices of the 
Administration for engaging communities prior 
to or after air traffic pattern changes that im-
pact such communities, including with how such 
processes and practices compare to best practices 
from organizations with expertise in grassroots 
community organizing and collaboration; 
(C) assess Federal efforts to mitigate noise 
impacts on communities, including costs and 
benefits of such efforts; 
(D) assess the various actions that State 
and local government officials and community 
planners could take when considering changes to 
airport infrastructure, including planned airport 
projects or surrounding airport community de-
velopments; 
(E) identify potential improvements to Fed-
eral, State, and local airport development policy 
and planning processes to better balance which 
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communities experience negative externalities as 
a result of airport operations; 
(F) consider guidance to airports and air-
port communities to improve engagement with 
the Administration, as recommended by the doc-
ument titled ‘‘Aircraft Noise: FAA Could Im-
prove 
Outreach 
Through 
Enhanced 
Noise 
Metrics, Communication, and Support to Com-
munities’’, issued in September 2021 (GAO–21– 
103933); 
(G) consider mechanisms and opportunities 
for the Administration to facilitate better ex-
change of helicopter noise information with oper-
ators in communities adversely impacted by heli-
copter noise, as recommended by the Comptroller 
General in the document titled ‘‘Aircraft Noise: 
Better Information Sharing Could Improve Re-
sponses to Washington, D.C. Area Helicopter 
Noise Concerns’’ (GAO–21–200); and 
(H) review air traffic controller guidance 
on use and development of noise abatement pro-
cedures of the Administration to identify areas 
for improvement or efficiency that do not ad-
versely impact aviation safety. 
(3) COMPOSITION.— 
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(A) 
APPOINTMENT.—The 
Administrator 
shall appoint the members of the Task Force. 
(B) CHAIRPERSON.—The Task Force shall 
be chaired by the Administrator’s executive level 
designee. 
(C) REPRESENTATION.—The Task Force 
shall be comprised of representatives from— 
(i) airport communities or a represent-
ative organization of an airport commu-
nity; 
(ii) airport operators; 
(iii) airlines; 
(iv) experts with specific knowledge of 
air traffic planning; 
(v) aircraft manufacturers; 
(vi) local government officials; and 
(vii) such other representatives as the 
Administrator considers appropriate. 
(4) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Task Force 
shall serve without compensation. 
(5) NONAPPLICABILITY OF FACA.—Chapter 10 of 
title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to the 
Task Force established under this section. 
(6) CONSULTATION.—The Task Force shall, as 
appropriate, consult with relevant experts and stake-
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holders not listed in paragraph (3)(C) in conducting 
the activities described in paragraph (2). 
(7) REPORTS.— 
(A) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of the establishment of the 
Task Force and every year thereafter through fis-
cal year 2028, the Task Force shall provide to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate, and the Administrator rec-
ommendations to improve the processes and 
mechanisms for engaging communities impacted 
by airport development and aviation operations. 
(B) BRIEFING.—Not later than 60 days 
after the submission of the annual recommenda-
tions under subparagraph (A), the Administrator 
shall brief the committees described in such sub-
paragraph on any plans of the Administration 
to implement the recommendations of the Task 
Force, including explanations for each of the rec-
ommendations the Administrator does not intend 
to adopt. 
(b) ENGAGEMENT EVENTS.— 
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(1) ANNUAL
EVENT.—The Administrator shall 
seek to convene at least 1 annual event in each geo-
graphic region of the Administration to engage with 
aviation communities on issues of regional import. 
(2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the engagement 
events described under paragraph (1) shall be to foster 
open and transparent communication between the 
Federal Government and aviation-impacted commu-
nities prior to, during, and after decision making at 
the Federal level. 
(3) TOPICS OF CONSIDERATION.—The topics of 
consideration of such engagement events shall be ap-
proved by the Regional Administrator or the Regional 
Community Engagement Officer of the applicable re-
gion, in consultation with regional interest groups. 
Topic areas shall be driven by local and regional feed-
back and may focus on— 
(A) noise concerns from low-flying commer-
cial aircraft; 
(B) purchase and installation of aircraft 
noise reduction measures; 
(C) new development projects in close prox-
imity to airports and realistic noise expectations 
for such projects; 
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(D) proposed airport expansion projects 
and the potential noise implications of such 
projects; 
(E) the establishment of new, or changes to 
existing, approach and departure routes and the 
community impacts of such changes; 
(F) upcoming events with an aviation com-
ponent; or 
(G) any other topic or issue considered rel-
evant by an aviation-impacted community. 
(4) PARTICIPATION.— 
(A) COORDINATION.—All events described in 
paragraph (3) shall be convened by or in coordi-
nation with the regional offices of the Adminis-
tration. 
(B) ATTENDANCE BY REPRESENTATIVES.— 
The Administrator shall ensure representatives 
from relevant program offices of the Administra-
tion are in attendance at such events. 
(C) 
APPROPRIATE
PARTICIPATION.—The 
Administrator shall collaborate with community 
groups at the State, municipal, city, or local 
government level to ensure appropriate partici-
pation by as many relevant parties on a given 
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issue as practicable. Such relevant parties may 
include— 
(i) State or local government officials; 
(ii) local or municipal planning and 
zoning officials; 
(iii) neighborhood representatives; 
(iv) aircraft operators, flight school 
representatives, or other local aviation enti-
ties; 
(v) airport operators; and 
(vi) any other parties as appropriate. 
(D) COORDINATION.—The Administrator 
shall coordinate Federal participation that is not 
under the Administration through the Federal 
Interagency Committee on Aviation Noise to en-
courage appropriate Federal representation at 
all such events, based on the topic areas of con-
sideration. 
SEC. 484. COMMUNITY COLLABORATION PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall establish a Commu-
nity Collaboration Program (in this section referred to as 
the ‘‘Program’’) within the Office for Policy, International 
Affairs, and Environment of the Administration. 
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(b) STAFF.—The Program shall be comprised of rep-
resentatives from— 
(1) the Office for Policy, International Affairs, 
and Environment of the Administration; 
(2) the Office of Airports of the Administration; 
(3) the Air Traffic Organization of the Adminis-
tration; and 
(4) other entities as considered appropriate by 
the Administrator. 
(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Program shall facilitate 
and harmonize, as appropriate, policies and proce-
dures carried out by the entities listed in subsection 
(b) pertaining to community engagement relating 
to— 
(A) airport planning and development; 
(B) noise and environmental policy; 
(C) NextGen implementation; 
(D) air traffic route changes; 
(E) integration of new and emerging en-
trants; and 
(F) other topics with respect to which com-
munity engagement is critical to program suc-
cess. 
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(2) SPECIFIED RESPONSIBILITIES.—The respon-
sibilities of the Program lead shall include— 
(A) the establishment of, and membership 
selection for, the Airport Community of Interest 
Task Force, established under section 483; 
(B) joint execution with Federal Aviation 
Administration Regional Administrators of re-
gional community engagement events, as de-
scribed in section 483; 
(C) updating the internal guidance of the 
Administration for community engagement based 
on recommendations from such Task Force and 
best practices of other Federal agencies and ex-
ternal organizations with expertise in commu-
nity engagement; 
(D) coordinating with the Air Traffic Orga-
nization on community engagement efforts re-
lated to air traffic procedure changes to ensure 
that impacted communities are consulted in a 
meaningful way; 
(E) oversight of Regional Ombudsmen of the 
Administration; 
(F) oversight, streamlining, and increasing 
the responsiveness of the noise complaint process 
of the Administration by— 
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(i) centralizing noise complaint data 
and improving data collection methodolo-
gies; 
(ii) increasing public accessibility to 
such Regional Ombudsmen; 
(iii) ensuring such Regional Ombuds-
men are consulted in local air traffic proce-
dure development decisions; 
(iv) collecting feedback from such Re-
gional Ombudsmen to inform national pol-
icymaking efforts; and 
(v) other recommendations made by the 
Airport Community of Interest Task Force; 
(G) timely implementation of the rec-
ommendations, as appropriate, made by the 
Comptroller General of the United States to the 
Secretary of Transportation contained in the re-
port titled ‘‘Aircraft Noise: FAA Could Improve 
Outreach Through Enhanced Noise Metrics, 
Communication, and Support to Communities’’, 
issued in September 2021 (GAO–21–103933) to 
improve the outreach of the FAA to local commu-
nities impacted by aircraft noise, including— 
(i) any recommendations to— 
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(I) identify appropriate supple-
mental metrics for assessing noise im-
pacts and circumstances for their use 
to aid in the internal assessment of the 
Administration of noise impacts re-
lated to proposed flight path changes; 
(II) update guidance to incor-
porate additional tools to more clearly 
convey expected impacts, such as other 
noise metrics and visualization tools; 
and 
(III) improve guidance to airports 
and communities on effectively engag-
ing with the Administration; and 
(ii) any other recommendations in-
cluded in the report that would assist the 
agency in improving outreach to commu-
nities affected by aircraft noise; and 
(H) other responsibilities as considered ap-
propriate by the Administrator. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the Admin-
istrator implements the recommendations described in sub-
section (c)(2)(H), the Administrator shall brief the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
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of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate describing— 
(1) the implementation of each such rec-
ommendation; 
(2) how any recommended actions are assisting 
the Administrator in improving outreach to commu-
nities affected by aircraft noise and other community 
engagement concerns; and 
(3) any challenges or barriers that limit or pre-
vent the ability of the Administrator to take such ac-
tions. 
SEC. 485. THIRD PARTY STUDY ON AVIATION NOISE 
METRICS. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall enter into an agreement with 
the National Academies to conduct a study on aviation 
noise metrics. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The study required under subsection 
(a) shall include an assessment of— 
(1) the efficacy of the day-night average sound 
level (in this section referred to as ‘‘DNL’’) noise met-
ric compared to other alternative models; 
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(2) the disadvantages of the DNL noise metric in 
effect as of the date of enactment of this Act compared 
to other alternative models; 
(3) any potential changes that should be made to 
the DNL noise metric in effect as of the date of enact-
ment of this Act; and 
(4) the data collected by the Neighborhood Envi-
ronmental Survey of the Administration using alter-
native noise metrics. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the National Acad-
emies shall submit to the Administrator, the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a report— 
(1) on the results of the study described in sub-
section (a); and 
(2) containing recommendations regarding the 
most appropriate metric to adequately assess the pub-
lic health impacts of aircraft noise. 
SEC. 486. INFORMATION SHARING REQUIREMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation, acting through the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, shall establish a mechanism to 
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make helicopter noise complaint data accessible to the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration, to helicopter operators oper-
ating in the Washington, D.C. area, and to the public on 
a website of the Administration, based on the recommenda-
tion of the Government Accountability Office in the report 
published on January 7, 2021, titled ‘‘Aircraft Noise: Better 
Information Sharing Could Improve Responses to Wash-
ington, D.C. Area Helicopter Noise Concerns’’. 
(b) COOPERATION.—Any helicopter operator operating 
in the Washington, D.C. area shall provide helicopter noise 
complaint data to the Federal Aviation Administration 
through the mechanism established under subsection (a). 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) HELICOPTER NOISE COMPLAINT DATA.—The 
term ‘‘helicopter noise complaint data’’— 
(A) means general data relating to a com-
plaint made by an individual about helicopter 
noise in the Washington, D.C. area and may in-
clude— 
(i) the location and description of the 
event that is the subject of the complaint; 
(ii) the start and end time of such 
event; 
(iii) a description of the aircraft that 
is the subject of the complaint; and 
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(iv) the airport name associated with 
such event; and 
(B) does not include the personally identifi-
able information of the individual who submitted 
the complaint. 
(2) WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA.—The term ‘‘Wash-
ington, D.C. area’’ means the area inside of a 30-mile 
radius surrounding Ronald Reagan Washington Na-
tional Airport. 
TITLE V—AVIATION SAFETY 
Subtitle A—General Provisions 
SEC. 501. ZERO TOLERANCE FOR NEAR MISSES, RUNWAY IN-
CURSIONS, AND SURFACE SAFETY RISKS. 
(a) POLICY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 47101(a) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(2) 
through (13) as paragraphs (3) through (14), re-
spectively; and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) that projects, activities, and actions that 
prevent runway incursions serve to— 
‘‘(A) improve airport surface surveillance; 
and 
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‘‘(B) mitigate surface safety risks that are 
essential to ensuring the safe operation of the 
airport and airway system;’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 47101 
of title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (g) by striking ‘‘subsection 
(a)(5)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (a)(6)’’; and 
(B) in subsection (h) by striking ‘‘subsection 
(a)(6)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (a)(7)’’. 
(3) CONTINUOUS EVALUATION.—In carrying out 
section 47101(a) of title 49, United States Code, as 
amended by this subsection, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall establish a 
process to continuously track and evaluate ground 
traffic and air traffic activity and related incidents 
at airports. 
(b) RUNWAY SAFETY COUNCIL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration shall establish 
a council, to be known as the ‘‘Runway Safety Coun-
cil’’ (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Council’’), to 
develop a systematic proactive management strategy 
to address surface safety risks. 
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(2) DUTIES.—The duties of the Council shall in-
clude, at a minimum, advancing the development of 
risk-based, data driven, integrated systems solutions 
and strategies to enhance surface safety risk mitiga-
tion. 
(3) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—In establishing the 
Council, the Administrator shall appoint at least 
1 member from each of the following: 
(i) Airport operators. 
(ii) Air carriers. 
(iii) Aircraft operators. 
(iv) Avionics manufacturers. 
(v) Flight schools. 
(vi) The certified bargaining represent-
ative of aviation safety inspectors for the 
Administration. 
(vii) The exclusive bargaining rep-
resentative of the air traffic controllers cer-
tified under section 7111 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
(viii) Other safety experts the Adminis-
trator determines appropriate. 
(B) ADDITIONAL MEMBERS.—The Adminis-
trator may appoint members representing any 
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other stakeholder organization that the Adminis-
trator determines appropriate to the Runway 
Safety Council. 
(c) AIRPORT SURFACE SURVEILLANCE.— 
(1) IDENTIFICATION.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator shall, in coordination with the Council, consult 
with relevant stakeholders to identify technologies, 
equipment, and systems that— 
(A) may provide airport surface surveil-
lance capabilities at airports lacking such capa-
bilities; 
(B) may augment existing airport surface 
surveillance systems; or 
(C) 
may 
provide 
onboard 
situational 
awareness to pilots. 
(2) CRITERIA.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall— 
(A) based on the information obtained pur-
suant to paragraph (1), identify airport surface 
surveillance systems that meet the standards of 
the Administration and may be able to— 
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(i) provide airport surface surveillance 
capabilities at airports lacking such capa-
bilities; or 
(ii) augment existing airport surface 
surveillance systems; and 
(B) establish clear and quantifiable criteria 
relating to operational factors, including ground 
traffic and air traffic activity and the rate of 
runway and terminal airspace safety events (in-
cluding runway incursions), that determine 
when the installation and deployment of an air-
port surface surveillance system, or other runway 
safety system (including runway status lights), 
at an airport is required. 
(3) DEPLOYMENT.—Not later than 5 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall ensure that airport surface surveillance systems 
are deployed and operational at— 
(A) all airports described in paragraph 
(2)(A); and 
(B) all medium and large hub airports. 
(4) REPORT.—Not later than 4 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
brief the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the 
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Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate on the progress of the deployment 
described in paragraph (3). 
(d) FOREIGN OBJECT DEBRIS DETECTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall assess, in coordination with the Council, auto-
mated foreign object debris monitoring and detection 
systems at not less than 3 airports that are using 
such systems. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the assess-
ment under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall 
consider the following: 
(A) The categorization of an airport. 
(B) The potential frequency of foreign object 
debris incidents on airport runways or adjacent 
ramp areas. 
(C) The availability of funding for the in-
stallation and maintenance of foreign object de-
bris monitoring and detection systems. 
(D) The impact of such systems on the air-
field operations of an airport. 
(E) The effectiveness of available foreign ob-
ject debris monitoring and detection systems. 
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(F) Any other factors relevant to assessing 
the return on investment of foreign object debris 
monitoring and detection systems. 
(3) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out this sub-
section, the Administrator and the Council shall con-
sult with manufacturers and suppliers of foreign ob-
ject debris detection technology and any other relevant 
stakeholders. 
(e) RUNWAY SAFETY STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall seek to enter into an agreement with a federally 
funded research and development center to conduct a 
study of runway incursions, surface incidents, oper-
ational errors, or losses of standard separation of air-
craft in the approach or departure phase of flight to 
determine how advanced technologies and future air-
port development projects may be able to reduce the 
frequency of such events and enhance aviation safety. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the study 
under paragraph (1), the federally funded research 
and development center shall— 
(A) examine data relating to recurring run-
way incursions, surface incidents, operational 
errors, or losses of standard separation of air-
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craft in the approach or departure phase of flight 
at airports to identify the underlying factors 
that caused such events; 
(B) assess metrics used to identify when 
such events are increasing at an airport; 
(C) assess available and developmental tech-
nologies, including and beyond such technologies 
considered in subsection (c), that may augment 
existing air traffic management capabilities of 
surface surveillance and terminal airspace 
equipment; 
(D) consider growth trends in airport size, 
staffing and communication complexities to 
identify— 
(i) future gaps in information ex-
change between aerospace stakeholders; and 
(ii) methods for meeting future near 
real-time information sharing needs; and 
(E) examine airfield safety training pro-
grams used by airport tenants and other stake-
holders operating on airfields of airports, includ-
ing airfield familiarization training programs 
for employees, to assess scalability to handle fu-
ture growth in airfield capacity and traffic. 
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(3) RECOMMENDATIONS.—In conducting the 
study required by paragraph (1), the federally funded 
research and development center shall develop rec-
ommendations for the strategic planning efforts of the 
Administration to appropriately maintain surface 
safety considering future increases in air traffic and 
based on the considerations described in paragraph 
(2). 
(4) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 90 
days after the completion of the study required by 
paragraph (1), the Administrator shall submit to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
a report on the findings of such study and any rec-
ommendations developed under paragraph (3). 
(f) AIRPORT SURFACE DETECTION
AND SURVEIL-
LANCE SYSTEM DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘air-
port surface detection and surveillance system’’ means an 
airport surveillance system that is— 
(1) designed to track surface movement of air-
craft and vehicles; and 
(2) capable of alerting air traffic controllers or 
flight crew members of a possible runway incursion, 
misaligned approach, or other safety event. 
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SEC. 502. GLOBAL AVIATION SAFETY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 40104(d) of title 49, United 
States Code, (as redesignated by section 325) is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading by inserting‘‘AND 
ASSISTANCE’’ after ‘‘INTERNATIONAL ROLE’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘The Adminis-
trator’’ and inserting ‘‘In carrying out subsection (a), 
the Administrator’’; 
(3) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para-
graph (4); and 
(4) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE.—The Adminis-
trator shall maintain an international presence to— 
‘‘(A) assist foreign civil aviation authorities 
in— 
‘‘(i) establishing robust aerospace over-
sight practices and policies; 
‘‘(ii) training staff, to include inspec-
tors and accident investigators; 
‘‘(iii) harmonizing international aero-
space standards for air traffic management, 
operator certification, aircraft certification, 
airports, and certificated or credentialed in-
dividuals; 
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‘‘(iv) validating and accepting foreign 
aircraft design and production approvals; 
‘‘(v) maintaining appropriate levels of 
air navigation services; 
‘‘(vi) preparing for new aerospace tech-
nologies; and 
‘‘(vii) appropriately adopting con-
tinuing airworthiness information, such as 
airworthiness directives; 
‘‘(B) encourage the adoption of United 
States standards, regulations, and policies; 
‘‘(C) establish, maintain, and update bilat-
eral or multilateral aviation safety agreements 
and the aviation safety information contained 
within such agreements; 
‘‘(D) engage in bilateral and multilateral 
discussions and provide technical assistance as 
described in paragraph (5); 
‘‘(E) validate foreign aerospace products 
and ensure reciprocal validation of products for 
which the United States is the state of design or 
production; 
‘‘(F) support accident and incident inves-
tigations, particularly such investigations that 
involve United States persons and certified prod-
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ucts and such investigations where the National 
Transportation Safety Board is supporting an 
investigation pursuant to annex 13 of the Inter-
national Civil Aviation Organization; 
‘‘(G) support the international activities of 
the United States aerospace sector; 
‘‘(H) maintain valuable relationships with 
entities with aerospace equities, including civil 
aviation authorities, other governmental bodies, 
non-governmental organizations, and foreign 
manufacturers; and 
‘‘(I) perform other activities as determined 
necessary by the Administrator.’’. 
(b) REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL FIELD OFFICES.— 
Section 40104(d) of title 49, United States Code, (as redes-
ignated by section 325) is further amended by inserting 
after paragraph (2) the following: 
‘‘(3) INTERNATIONAL OFFICES.—In carrying out 
the responsibilities described in subsection (a), the Ad-
ministrator shall— 
‘‘(A) maintain international offices of the 
Administration; 
‘‘(B) every 3 years, review existing inter-
national offices to determine— 
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‘‘(i) the effectiveness of such offices in 
fulfilling the mission described in para-
graph (2); and 
‘‘(ii) the adequacy of resources and 
staffing to achieve the mission described in 
paragraph (2); 
‘‘(C) establish offices to address gaps identi-
fied by the review under subparagraph (B) and 
in furtherance of the mission described in para-
graph (2), putting an emphasis on establishing 
such offices— 
‘‘(i) where international civil aviation 
authorities are located; 
‘‘(ii) where regional intergovernmental 
organizations are located; 
‘‘(iii) in countries that have difficulty 
maintaining a category 1 classification 
through the International Aviation Safety 
Assessment program; and 
‘‘(iv) in regions that have experienced 
substantial growth in aerospace operations 
or manufacturing.’’. 
(c) BILATERAL AVIATION SAFETY AGREEMENTS.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Section 40104(d) of title 
49, United States Code, (as redesignated by section 
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325) is further amended by inserting after paragraph 
(4) the following: 
‘‘(5) BILATERAL
AVIATION
SAFETY
AGREE-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator 
shall negotiate, enter into, promote, enforce, 
evaluate the effectiveness of, and seek to update 
bilateral or multilateral aviation safety agree-
ments, and the parts of such agreements, with 
international aviation authorities. 
‘‘(B) PURPOSE.—The Administrator shall 
seek to enter into bilateral aviation safety agree-
ments under this section to, at a minimum— 
‘‘(i) improve global aerospace safety; 
‘‘(ii) increase harmonization of, and 
reduce duplicative, requirements, processes, 
and approvals to advance the aerospace in-
terests of the United States; 
‘‘(iii) ensure access to international 
markets for operators, service providers, and 
manufacturers from the United States; and 
‘‘(iv) put in place procedures for re-
course when a party to such agreements 
fails to meet the obligations of such party 
under such agreements. 
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‘‘(C) SCOPE.—The scope of a bilateral avia-
tion safety agreement entered into under this sec-
tion shall, as appropriate, cover existing aero-
space users and concepts and establish a process 
by which bilateral aviation safety agreements 
can be updated to include new and novel con-
cepts on an ongoing basis. 
‘‘(D) CONTENTS.—Bilateral aviation safety 
agreements entered into under this section shall, 
as appropriate and consistent with United 
States law and regulation, include topics such 
as— 
‘‘(i) airworthiness, certification, and 
validation; 
‘‘(ii) maintenance; 
‘‘(iii) operations and pilot training; 
‘‘(iv) airspace access, efficiencies, and 
navigation services; 
‘‘(v) transport category aircraft; 
‘‘(vi) fixed-wing aircraft, rotorcraft, 
and powered-lift aircraft; 
‘‘(vii) aerodrome certification; 
‘‘(viii) unmanned aircraft and associ-
ated elements of such aircraft; 
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‘‘(ix) flight simulation training de-
vices; 
‘‘(x) new or emerging aerospace tech-
nologies and technology trends; and 
‘‘(xi) other topics as determined appro-
priate by the Administrator. 
‘‘(E) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—Bilateral 
or multilateral aviation safety agreements en-
tered into under this subsection shall not be con-
strued to diminish or alter any authority of the 
Administrator under any other provision of 
law.’’. 
(2) AUDIT OF VALIDATION ACTIVITIES UNDER BI-
LATERAL AVIATION SAFETY AGREEMENTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the in-
spector general of the Department of Transpor-
tation shall initiate an audit of bilateral compli-
ance with respect to the validation of aircraft 
and aircraft parts as set forth in bilateral or 
multilateral aviation safety agreements between 
the Federal Aviation Administration and the 
civil aviation authorities of— 
(i) the European Union; 
(ii) Canada; 
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(iii) Brazil; 
(iv) China; 
(v) the United Kingdom; and 
(vi) any other country as determined 
by the inspector general. 
(B) REVIEW CONTENTS.—As part of the re-
view required under this subsection, the inspector 
general shall evaluate the performance of valida-
tion programs by assessing— 
(i) validation timelines and milestones 
for individual projects; 
(ii) trends relating to the repeated use 
of nonbasic criteria to review systems and 
methods of compliance that have been vali-
dated previously in similar contexts; 
(iii) the extent to which implementa-
tion tools such as validation workplans and 
safety emphasis items have addressed vali-
dation issues; 
(iv) the perspective of Administration 
employees; 
(v) the perspective of employees of other 
civil aviation authorities, who wish to pro-
vide such perspective, on the validation of 
products certified in the United States and 
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the validation of products by the United 
States of products certified abroad; and 
(vi) the perspective of domestic and 
foreign industry applicants seeking valida-
tion of aircraft and aircraft parts. 
(C) REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not 
later than 14 months after beginning the audit 
under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General 
shall provide to the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
a report summarizing the findings of the audit 
and any recommendations to increase compli-
ance and improve the validation timeframes of 
aircraft and aircraft parts. 
(d) INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY.—Sec-
tion 40104(d) of title 49, United States Code, (as redesig-
nated by section 325) is further amended by inserting after 
paragraph (5) the following: 
‘‘(6) STRATEGIC PLAN.—The Administrator shall 
maintain a strategic plan for the international en-
gagement of the Administration that includes— 
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‘‘(A) all elements of the report required in 
section 243(b)(1) of the FAA Reauthorization Act 
of 2018 (49 U.S.C. 44701 note); 
‘‘(B) measures to fulfill the mission de-
scribed in paragraph (2); 
‘‘(C) initiatives to attain greater expertise 
among employees of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration in issues related to dispute resolu-
tion, intellectual property, and expert control 
laws; 
‘‘(D) policy regarding the future direction 
and strategy of the United States engagement 
with the International Civil Aviation Organiza-
tion; 
‘‘(E) procedures for acceptance of manda-
tory airworthiness information, such as air-
worthiness directives, and other safety-related 
regulatory documents, including procedures to 
implement 
the 
requirements 
of 
section 
44701(e)(5); 
‘‘(F) all factors, including funding and 
resourcing, necessary for the Administration to 
maintain leadership in the global activities re-
lated to aviation safety and air transportation; 
and 
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‘‘(G) establishment of, and a process to reg-
ularly track and update, metrics to measure the 
effectiveness of, and foreign civil aviation author-
ity compliance with, bilateral aviation safety 
agreements.’’. 
SEC. 503. AVAILABILITY OF PERSONNEL FOR INSPECTIONS, 
SITE VISITS, AND TRAINING. 
Section 40104 of title 49, United States Code, is fur-
ther amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) TRAVEL.—The Administrator and the Secretary 
of Transportation shall, in carrying out the responsibilities 
described in subsection (a), delegate to the appropriate su-
pervisors of offices of the Administration the ability to au-
thorize the domestic and international travel of relevant 
personnel who are not in the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion Executive System, without any additional approvals 
required, for the purposes of— 
‘‘(1) promoting aviation safety, aircraft oper-
ations, air traffic, airport, unmanned aircraft sys-
tems, commercial space transportation, and other 
aviation standards and regulations adopted by the 
United States; 
‘‘(2) facilitating the adoption of United States 
approaches on standards and recommended practices 
at the International Civil Aviation Organization; 
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‘‘(3) promoting environmental standards adopted 
by the United States and standards promulgated 
under section 44714; 
‘‘(4) supporting the acceptance of Administra-
tion design and production approvals by other civil 
aviation authorities; 
‘‘(5) training Administration personnel and 
training provided to other persons; 
‘‘(6) engaging with regulated entities, including 
performing site visits; 
‘‘(7) activities associated with subsections (c) 
through (f) of this section; and 
‘‘(8) other activities as determined by the Ad-
ministrator.’’. 
SEC. 504. HELICOPTER AIR AMBULANCE OPERATIONS. 
(a) OUTDATED AIR AMBULANCE RULEMAKING RE-
QUIREMENT.—Section 44730 of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1) by striking ‘‘not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this sec-
tion,’’; 
(2) in subsection (c) by striking ‘‘address the fol-
lowing’’ and inserting ‘‘consider, or address through 
other means, the following’’; 
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398 
(3) in subsection (d) by striking ‘‘provide for the 
following’’ and inserting ‘‘consider, or address 
through other means, the following’’; and 
(4) in subsection (e)— 
(A) in the heading by striking ‘‘SUBSE-
QUENT RULEMAKING’’ and inserting ‘‘SUBSE-
QUENT ACTIONS’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘shall 
conduct a follow-on rulemaking to address the 
following:’’ and inserting ‘‘shall address through 
a follow-on rulemaking, or through such other 
means that the Administrator considers appro-
priate, the following:’’; 
(C) by striking paragraph (2); and 
(D) by redesignating paragraph (3) as 
paragraph (2). 
(b) SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS BRIEFING.—Not 
later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall brief the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
on how the proposed rule published on January, 11, 2023, 
titled ‘‘Safety Management System’’ (88 Fed. Reg. 1932) 
will— 
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(1) improve helicopter air ambulance operations 
and piloting; and 
(2) consider the use of safety equipment by flight 
crew and medical personnel on a helicopter con-
ducting an air ambulance operation. 
(c) IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLICATION OF HELICOPTER 
AIR AMBULANCE OPERATIONS DATA.—Section 44731 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (d); 
(2) in subsection (e)— 
(A) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(2) make publicly available, in part or in 
whole, on the website of the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration website, the database developed pursuant to 
subsection (c); and 
‘‘(3) analyze the data submitted under subsection 
(a) periodically and use such data to inform efforts 
to improve the safety of helicopter air ambulance op-
erations.’’; and 
(3) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as 
subsections (d) and (e), respectively. 
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SEC. 505. GLOBAL AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE SAFETY IM-
PROVEMENTS. 
(a) FAA OVERSIGHT OF REPAIR STATIONS LOCATED 
OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 44733 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in the heading by striking ‘‘Inspec-
tion’’ and inserting ‘‘Oversight’’; 
(B) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘Not later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
section, the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’; 
(C) in subsection (e)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘, without prior notice 
to such repair stations,’’ after ‘‘annually’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘and the applicable 
laws of the country in which the repair sta-
tion is located’’ after ‘‘international agree-
ments’’; and 
(iii) by striking the last sentence and 
inserting ‘‘The Administrator may carry 
out announced or unannounced inspections 
in addition to the annual unannounced in-
spection required under this subsection 
based on identified risks and in a manner 
consistent with United States obligations 
under international agreements and the ap-
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plicable laws of the country in which the 
part 145 repair station is located.’’; 
(D) by redesignating subsection (g) as sub-
section (j); and 
(E) by inserting after subsection (f) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(g) DATA ANALYSIS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each fiscal year in which a 
part 121 air carrier has had heavy maintenance work 
performed on an aircraft owned or operated by such 
carrier, such carrier shall provide to the Adminis-
trator, not later than the end of the following fiscal 
year, a report containing the information described 
in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) INFORMATION REQUIRED.—A report under 
paragraph (1) shall contain the following: 
‘‘(A) The location where any heavy mainte-
nance work on aircraft was performed outside 
the United States. 
‘‘(B) A description of the work performed at 
each such location. 
‘‘(C) The date of completion of the work 
performed at each such location. 
‘‘(D) A list of all failures, malfunctions, or 
defects affecting the safe operation of such air-
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craft identified by the air carrier not later than 
30 days after the date on which an aircraft is 
returned to service, organized by reference to air-
craft registration number, that— 
‘‘(i) requires corrective action after the 
aircraft is approved for return to service; 
and 
‘‘(ii) results from such work performed 
on such aircraft. 
‘‘(E) The certificate number of the person 
approving such aircraft or on-wing aircraft en-
gine, for return to service following completion of 
the work performed at each such location. 
‘‘(3) ANALYSIS.—The Administrator shall— 
‘‘(A) analyze information provided under 
this subsection and sections 121.703, 121.705, 
121.707, and 145.221 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations, or any successor provisions of such 
title, to detect safety issues associated with heavy 
maintenance work on aircraft performed outside 
the United States; and 
‘‘(B) require appropriate actions by an air 
carrier or repair station in response to any safe-
ty issue identified by the analysis conducted 
under subparagraph (A). 
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‘‘(4) CONFIDENTIALITY.—Information provided 
under this subsection shall be subject to the same pro-
tections given to voluntarily provided safety or secu-
rity related information under section 40123. 
‘‘(h) APPLICATIONS AND PROHIBITION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may not 
approve any new application under part 145 of title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations, from a person lo-
cated or headquartered in a country that the Admin-
istration, through the International Aviation Safety 
Assessment program, has classified as Category 2. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—Paragraph (1) shall not 
apply to an application for the renewal of a certifi-
cate issued under part 145 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations. 
‘‘(3) MAINTENANCE
IMPLEMENTATION
PROCE-
DURES AGREEMENT.—The Administrator may elect 
not to enter into a new maintenance implementation 
procedures agreement with a country classified as 
Category 2, for as long as the country remains classi-
fied as Category 2. 
‘‘(3) PROHIBITION ON CONTINUED HEAVY MAIN-
TENANCE WORK.—No part 121 air carrier may enter 
into a new contract for heavy maintenance work with 
a person located or headquartered in a country that 
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the Administrator, through the International Aviation 
Safety Assessment program, has classified as Category 
2, for as long as such country remains classified as 
Category 2. 
‘‘(i) MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR MECHANICS AND 
OTHERS WORKING ON U.S. REGISTERED AIRCRAFT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this subsection, the Adminis-
trator shall require that, at each covered repair sta-
tion— 
‘‘(A) all supervisory personnel of such sta-
tion are appropriately certificated as a mechanic 
or repairman under part 65 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations, or under an equivalent cer-
tification or licensing regime, as determined by 
the Administrator; and 
‘‘(B) all personnel of such station author-
ized to approve an article for return to service 
are appropriately certificated as a mechanic or 
repairman under part 65 of such title, or under 
an equivalent certification or licensing regime, 
as determined by the Administrator. 
‘‘(2) AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION.—Not later 
than 2 years after the date of enactment of this sub-
section, the Administrator shall require any indi-
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vidual who is responsible for approving an article for 
return to service or who is directly in charge of heavy 
maintenance work performed on aircraft operated by 
a part 121 air carrier be available for consultation 
while work is being performed at a covered repair sta-
tion.’’. 
(2) DEFINITIONS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 44733(j) of title 
49, United States Code (as redesignated by this 
section), is amended— 
(i) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘air-
craft’’ and inserting ‘‘aircraft (including 
on-wing aircraft engines)’’; 
(ii) by redesignating paragraphs (1) 
through (3) as paragraphs (2) through (4), 
respectively; and 
(iii) by inserting before paragraph (2), 
as so redesignated, the following: 
‘‘(1) COVERED REPAIR STATION.—The term ‘cov-
ered repair station’ means a facility that— 
‘‘(A) is located outside the United States; 
‘‘(B) is a part 145 repair station; and 
‘‘(C) performs heavy maintenance work on 
aircraft operated by a part 121 air carrier.’’. 
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(B) 
TECHNICAL
AMENDMENT.—Section 
44733(a)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘covered part 145 repair 
stations’’ and inserting ‘‘part 145 repair sta-
tions’’. 
(3) CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—The analysis 
for chapter 447 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking the item relating to section 
44733 and inserting the following: 
‘‘44733. Oversight of repair stations located outside the United States.’’. 
(b) INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR SAFETY OVER-
SIGHT OF EXTRATERRITORIAL REPAIR STATIONS.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
invite other civil aviation authorities to convene with 
the Administration an extraterritorial repair station 
working group (hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘Work-
ing Group’’) to conduct a review of the certification 
and oversight of extraterritorial repair stations and 
to identify any future enhancements or harmoni-
zation that might be appropriate to strengthen over-
sight of such repair stations and improve global avia-
tion safety. 
(2) COMPOSITION
OF
WORKING
GROUP.—The 
Working Group shall consist of— 
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(A) technical representatives from the FAA; 
and 
(B) such other civil aviation authorities or 
international intergovernmental aviation safety 
organizations as the Administrator determines 
appropriate and are willing to participate, in-
cluding— 
(i) civil aviation authorities respon-
sible for certificating extraterritorial repair 
stations; and 
(ii) civil aviation authorities of coun-
tries in which extraterritorial repair sta-
tions are located. 
(3) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the review 
under this section, the Working Group shall, as ap-
propriate, consult with relevant experts and stake-
holders. 
(4) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Working Group 
shall make recommendations with respect to any fu-
ture enhancements that might be appropriate to— 
(A) strengthen oversight of extraterritorial 
repair stations; and 
(B) better leverage the resources of other 
civil aviation authorities to conduct such over-
sight. 
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(5) REPORTS.— 
(A) REPAIR STATION WORKING GROUP RE-
PORT.—In establishing the Working Group, the 
Administrator shall task the Working Group 
with submitting to the participating civil avia-
tion authorities a report containing the findings 
of the recommendations made under paragraph 
(4). 
(B) FAA REPORT.— 
(i) TRANSMISSION OF REPAIR STATION 
WORKING
GROUP
REPORT.—The Adminis-
trator shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives, and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate a copy of the report 
required under subparagraph (A) as soon as 
is practicable after the receipt of such re-
port. 
(ii) FAA BRIEFING
TO
CONGRESS.— 
Not later than 45 days after receipt of the 
report under paragraph (1), the Adminis-
trator shall brief the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Com-
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merce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate on— 
(I) whether the Administrator 
concurs or does not concur with each 
recommendation contained in the re-
port required under subparagraph (A); 
(II) any recommendation with 
which the Administrator does not con-
cur, a detailed explanation as to why 
the Administrator does not concur; 
(III) a plan to implement each 
recommendation with which the Ad-
ministrator concurs; and 
(IV) a plan to work with the 
international community to implement 
the recommendations applicable to both 
the FAA as well as other civil aviation 
authorities. 
(6) TERMINATION.—The Working Group shall 
terminate 90 days after the date of submission of the 
report under paragraph (5)(A), unless the Adminis-
trator or another participant of the Working Group 
requests for an extension of the Working Group in 
order to inform the implementation and harmoni-
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zation of any recommendation applicable to multiple 
civil aviation authorities. 
(7) DEFINITION OF EXTRATERRITORIAL REPAIR 
STATION.—In 
this 
subsection, 
the 
term 
‘‘extraterritorial repair station’’ means a repair sta-
tion that performs heavy maintenance work on an 
aircraft (including on-wing engines) and that is lo-
cated outside of the territory of the country of the 
civil aviation authority which certificated the repair 
station. 
(c) ALCOHOL AND DRUG TESTING AND BACKGROUND 
CHECKS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, and annually there-
after, the Administrator shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report updating Congress on the progress and chal-
lenges involved with carrying out the requirements of 
subsection (b) of section 2112 of the FAA Extension, 
Safety, and Security Act of 2016 (49 U.S.C. 44733). 
(2) SUNSET.—The reporting requirement under 
paragraph (1) shall cease to be effective after a final 
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rule carrying out the requirements of such subsection 
(b) has been published in the Federal Register. 
(3) RULEMAKING
ON
ASSESSMENT
REQUIRE-
MENT.—With respect to any employee not covered 
under the requirements of section 1554.101 of title 49, 
Code of Federal Regulations, the Administrator shall 
initiate a rulemaking or request the head of another 
Federal agency to initiate a rulemaking that requires 
a covered repair station to confirm that any such em-
ployee has successfully completed an assessment com-
mensurate with a security threat assessment described 
in subpart C of part 1540 of such title. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) FAA.—The term ‘‘FAA’’ means the Federal 
Aviation Administration. 
(2) 
ADMINISTRATOR.—The 
term 
‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the FAA. 
(3) COVERED REPAIR STATION; HEAVY MAINTE-
NANCE WORK.—The terms ‘‘covered repair station’’ 
and ‘‘heavy maintenance work’’ have the meaning 
given those terms in section 44733(j) of title 49, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 506. ODA BEST PRACTICE SHARING. 
Section 44736(b) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
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(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘Not later than 
120 days after the date of enactment of this section, 
the’’ and insert ‘‘The’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) in subparagraph (E) by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (F) by striking the pe-
riod and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(G) convene a forum not less than every 2 
years between ODA holders, unit members, and 
other organizational representatives and relevant 
experts, in order to— 
‘‘(i) share best practices; 
‘‘(ii) instill professionalism, ethics, and 
personal responsibilities in unit members; 
and 
‘‘(iii) foster open and transparent com-
munication between Administration safety 
specialists, ODA holders, and unit mem-
bers.’’. 
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SEC. 507. TRAINING OF ORGANIZATION DELEGATION AU-
THORITY UNIT MEMBERS. 
(a) UNIT MEMBER ANNUAL ETHICS TRAINING.—Sec-
tion 44736 of title 49, United States Code, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) ETHICS TRAINING REQUIREMENT
FOR ODA 
HOLDERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this subsection, the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
review and ensure each ODA holder approved under 
section 44741 has in effect a recurrent training pro-
gram for all ODA unit members that covers— 
‘‘(A) unit member professional obligations 
and responsibilities; 
‘‘(B) the ODA holder’s code of ethics as re-
quired to be established under section 102(f) of 
the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Account-
ability Act (49 U.S.C. 44701 note); 
‘‘(C) procedures for reporting safety con-
cerns, as described in the respective approved 
procedures manual for the delegation; 
‘‘(D) the prohibition against and reporting 
procedures for interference from a supervisor or 
other ODA member described in section 44742; 
and 
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‘‘(E) any additional information the Ad-
ministrator considers relevant to maintaining 
ethical and professional standards across all 
ODA holders and unit members. 
‘‘(2) FAA REVIEW.— 
‘‘(A) REVIEW OF TRAINING PROGRAM.—The 
Organization Designation Authorization Office 
of the Administration shall review each ODA 
holders’ recurrent training program to ensure 
such program includes all elements described in 
paragraph (1). 
‘‘(B) CHANGES TO PROGRAM.—Such Office 
may require changes to the training program 
considered necessary to maintain ethical and 
professional standards across all ODA holders 
and unit members. 
‘‘(3) TRAINING.—As part of the recurrent train-
ing required under paragraph (1), not later than 60 
business days after being designated as an ODA unit 
member, and annually thereafter, each ODA unit 
member shall complete the ethics training required by 
the ODA holder of the respective ODA unit member 
in order to exercise the functions delegated under the 
ODA. 
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‘‘(4) ACCOUNTABILITY.—The Administrator shall 
establish such processes or requirements as are nec-
essary to ensure compliance with paragraph (3).’’. 
(b) DEADLINE.—An ODA unit member authorized to 
perform delegated functions under an ODA prior to the date 
of completion of an ethics training required under section 
44736(g) of title 49, United States Code, shall complete such 
training not later than 30 days after the training program 
is approved by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration pursuant to such section. 
SEC. 508. CLARIFICATION ON SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYS-
TEM INFORMATION DISCLOSURE. 
Section 44735 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘; or’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(B) in paragraph (2) by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) if the report, data, or other information is 
submitted for any purpose relating to the develop-
ment, implementation, and use of a safety manage-
ment system, including a system required by regula-
tion, that is acceptable to the Administrator.’’; and 
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(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) OTHER AGENCIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The limitation established 
under subsection (a) shall apply to the head of any 
other Federal agency who receives reports, data, or 
other information described in such subsection from 
the Administrator. 
‘‘(2) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—This section 
shall not be construed to limit the accident or inci-
dent investigation authority of the National Trans-
portation Safety Board under chapter 11, including 
the requirement to not disclose voluntarily provided 
safety-related information under section 1114.’’. 
SEC. 509. EXTENSION OF AIRCRAFT CERTIFICATION, SAFE-
TY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT REPORTING 
REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) APPEALS OF CERTIFICATION DECISIONS.—Section 
44704(g)(1)(C)(ii) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘2025’’ and inserting ‘‘2028’’. 
(b) OVERSIGHT OF ORGANIZATION DESIGNATION AU-
THORIZATION UNIT MEMBERS.—Section 44741(f)(2) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Not later 
than 90 days’’ and all that follows through ‘‘the Adminis-
trator shall provide a briefing’’ and inserting ‘‘The Admin-
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istrator shall provide an annual briefing each fiscal year 
through fiscal year 2028’’. 
(c) INTEGRATED PROJECT TEAMS.—Section 108(f) of 
the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act 
(49 U.S.C. 44704 note) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2028’’. 
(d) VOLUNTARY SAFETY REPORTING PROGRAM.—Sec-
tion 113(f) of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Ac-
countability Act (49 U.S.C. 44701 note) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2028’’. 
(e) CHANGED PRODUCT RULE.—Section 117(b)(1) of 
the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act 
(49 U.S.C. 44704 note) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2028’’. 
SEC. 510. DON YOUNG ALASKA AVIATION SAFETY INITIA-
TIVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 447 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 44745. Don Young Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall redesignate the FAA Alaska 
Aviation Safety Initiative of the Administration as the Don 
Young Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘Initiative’), under which the Administrator 
shall carry out the provisions of this section and take such 
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other actions as the Administrator determines appropriate 
to improve aviation safety in covered locations. 
‘‘(b) OBJECTIVE.—The objective of the Initiative shall 
be to work cooperatively with aviation stakeholders and 
other stakeholders towards the goal of— 
‘‘(1) reducing the rate of fatal aircraft accidents 
in covered locations by 90 percent from 2019 to 2033; 
and 
‘‘(2) by January 1, 2033, eliminating fatal acci-
dents of aircraft operated by an air carrier that oper-
ates under part 135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regu-
lations. 
‘‘(c) LEADERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall des-
ignate the Regional Administrator for the Alaskan 
Region of the Administration to serve as the Director 
of the Initiative. 
‘‘(2) REPORTING CHAIN.—In all matters relating 
to the Initiative, the Director of the Initiative shall 
report directly to the Administrator. 
‘‘(3) COORDINATION.—The Director of the Initia-
tive shall coordinate with the heads of other offices 
and lines of business of the Administration, including 
the other regional administrators, to carry out the 
Initiative. 
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‘‘(d) AUTOMATED WEATHER SYSTEMS.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENT.—The Administrator shall 
ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that a cov-
ered automated weather system is installed and oper-
ated at each covered airport not later than December 
31, 2030. 
‘‘(2) WAIVER.—In complying with the require-
ment under paragraph (1), the Administrator may 
waive any positive benefit-cost ratio requirement for 
the installation and operation of a covered automated 
weather system. 
‘‘(3) PRIORITIZATION.—In developing the instal-
lation timeline of a covered automated weather system 
at a covered airport pursuant to this subsection, the 
Administrator shall— 
‘‘(A) coordinate and consult with the gov-
ernments with jurisdiction over covered loca-
tions, covered airports, air carriers operating in 
covered locations, private pilots based in covered 
locations, and such other members of the avia-
tion community in covered locations; and 
‘‘(B) prioritize early installation at covered 
airports that would enable the greatest number of 
instrument flight rule operations by air carriers 
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operating under part 121 or 135 of title 14, Code 
of Federal Regulations. 
‘‘(4) RELIABILITY.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Pertaining to both Fed-
eral and non-Federal systems, the Administrator 
shall be responsible for ensuring— 
‘‘(i) the reliability of covered auto-
mated weather systems; and 
‘‘(ii) the availability of weather infor-
mation from such systems. 
‘‘(B) SPECIFICATIONS.—The Administrator 
shall establish data availability and equipment 
reliability specifications for covered automated 
weather systems. 
‘‘(C) SYSTEM RELIABILITY AND RESTORA-
TION PLAN.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Adminis-
trator shall establish an automated weather sys-
tem reliability and restoration plan. Such plan 
shall document the Administrator’s strategy for 
ensuring covered automated weather system reli-
ability, including the availability of weather in-
formation from such system, and for restoring 
service in as little time as possible. 
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‘‘(D) TELECOMMUNICATIONS
OR
OTHER 
FAILURES.—If a covered automated weather sys-
tem is unable to broadly disseminate weather in-
formation due to a telecommunications failure or 
a failure other than an equipment failure, the 
Administrator shall take such actions as may be 
necessary to restore the full functionality and 
connectivity of the covered automated weather 
system. The Administrator shall take actions 
under this subparagraph with the same urgency 
as the Administrator would take an action to re-
pair a covered automated weather system equip-
ment failure or data fidelity issue. 
‘‘(E) RELIABILITY
DATA.—In tabulating 
data relating to the operational status of covered 
automated weather systems (including individ-
ually or collectively), the Administrator may not 
consider a covered automated weather system 
that is functioning nominally but is unable to 
broadly disseminate weather information tele-
communications failure or a failure other than 
an equipment failure as functioning reliably. 
‘‘(5) INVENTORY.—The Administrator shall con-
sider storing excess inventory necessary for air traffic 
control equipment, including commonly required re-
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placement parts, in covered locations to reduce the 
amount of time necessary to acquire such equipment 
or such parts necessary to replace or repair air traffic 
control system components. 
‘‘(6) VISUAL WEATHER OBSERVATION SYSTEM.— 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this section, the Administrator shall take such actions 
as may be necessary to— 
‘‘(A) deploy visual weather observation sys-
tems; and 
‘‘(B) ensure that such systems are capable of 
meeting the definition of covered automated 
weather systems. 
‘‘(e) WEATHER CAMERAS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall continu-
ously assess the state of the weather camera systems 
in covered locations to ensure the operational suffi-
ciency and reliability of such systems. 
‘‘(2) APPLICATIONS.—The Director shall— 
‘‘(A) accept applications from persons to in-
stall weather cameras; and 
‘‘(B) consult with the governments with ju-
risdiction over covered locations, covered air-
ports, air carriers operating in covered locations, 
private pilots based in covered locations, and 
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such other members of the aviation community 
in covered locations as the Administrator deter-
mines appropriate to solicit additional locations 
at which to install and operate weather cameras. 
‘‘(3) PRESUMPTION.—Unless the Director has 
clear and compelling evidence to the contrary, the Di-
rector shall presume that the installation of a weather 
camera at a covered airport, or that is recommended 
by a government with jurisdiction over a covered lo-
cation, is cost beneficial and will improve aviation 
safety. 
‘‘(f) COOPERATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES.—In car-
rying out this section, the Administrator shall cooperate 
with the heads of other Federal or State agencies with re-
sponsibilities affecting aviation safety in covered locations, 
including the collection and dissemination of weather data. 
‘‘(g) SURVEILLANCE AND COMMUNICATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall take such 
actions as may be necessary to— 
‘‘(A) encourage and incentivize the equipage 
of aircrafts that operate under part 135 of title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations, with automatic 
dependent surveillance and broadcast out equip-
ment; and 
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‘‘(B) improve aviation surveillance and 
communications in covered locations. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than December 
31, 2030, the Administrator shall ensure that auto-
matic dependent surveillance and broadcast coverage 
is available at 5,000 feet above ground level through-
out each covered location. 
‘‘(3) WAIVER.—In complying with the require-
ment under paragraph (2), the Administrator shall 
waive any positive benefit-cost ratio requirement for 
the installation and operation of equipment and fa-
cilities necessary to implement such requirement. 
‘‘(4) SERVICE AREAS.—The Director shall con-
tinuously identify additional automatic dependent 
surveillance–broadcast service areas in which the de-
ployment of automatic dependent surveillance–broad-
cast receivers and equipment would improve aviation 
safety. 
‘‘(h) OTHER PROJECTS.—The Director shall continue 
to build upon other initiatives recommended in the reports 
of the FAA Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative of the Admin-
istration published before the date of enactment of this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(i) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall submit an 
annual report on the status and progress of the Ini-
tiative to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate. 
‘‘(2) OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS.—The re-
port under paragraph (1) shall include a detailed de-
scription of the Director’s progress in and plans for 
meeting the objectives of the Initiative under sub-
section (b) and the other requirements of this section. 
‘‘(3) STAKEHOLDER
COMMENTS.—The Director 
shall append stakeholder comments, organized by 
topic, to each report submitted under paragraph (1) 
in the same manner as appendix 3 of the report titled 
‘FAA Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative FY21 Final 
Report’, dated September 30, 2021. 
‘‘(j) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, in fiscal years 2024 through 2028— 
‘‘(A) the Administrator may, upon applica-
tion from the government with jurisdiction over 
a covered location, use amounts apportioned to a 
covered location under subsection (d)(2)(B) or 
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subsection (e)(5) of section 47114 to carry out 
the Initiative; or 
‘‘(B) the sponsor of an airport in a covered 
location that receives an apportionment under 
subsection (d)(2)(B) or subsection (e) of section 
47114 may use such apportionment for any pur-
pose contained in this section. 
‘‘(2) SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING.—Out of amounts 
made available under section 106(k) and section 
48101, not more than a total of $25,000,000 for each 
of fiscal year 2024 through 2028 is authorized to be 
expended to carry out the Initiative. 
‘‘(k) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) COVERED AIRPORT.—The term ‘covered air-
port’ means an airport in a covered location that is 
included in the national plan of integrated airport 
systems required under section 47103 and that has a 
status other than unclassified in such plan. 
‘‘(2) COVERED AUTOMATED WEATHER SYSTEM.— 
The term ‘covered automated weather system’ means 
an automated or visual weather reporting facility 
that enables a pilot to begin an instrument procedure 
approach to an airport under section 91.1039 or 
135.225 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
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‘‘(3) COVERED LOCATION.—The term ‘covered lo-
cation’ means Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Amer-
ican Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, 
and the United States Virgin Islands.’’. 
(b) REMOTE POSITIONS.—Section 40122(g) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(7) REMOTE POSITIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—If the Administrator 
determines that a covered position has not been 
filled after multiple vacancy announcements and 
that there are unique circumstances affecting the 
ability of the Administrator to fill such position, 
the Administrator may consider, in consultation 
with the appropriate labor union, applicants for 
the covered position who apply under a vacancy 
announcement recruiting from the State or terri-
tory in which the position is based. 
‘‘(B) COVERED POSITION DEFINED.—In this 
paragraph, the term ‘covered position’ means a 
safety-critical position based in Alaska, Hawaii, 
Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the 
Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Is-
lands.’’. 
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(c) RUNWAY LENGTH.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the Secretary of Transportation may not 
require an airport to shorten a runway or prevent airport 
improvement grants made by the Secretary to be used for 
reconstructing and rehabilitating a primary runway on the 
basis that the airport does not have a sufficient number of 
aircraft operations requiring a certain runway length if— 
(1) the airport is located in a covered location; 
(2) the airport is not connected to the road 
transportation network; and 
(3) the runway length is utilized by aircraft to 
deliver necessary cargo, including heating fuel and 
gasoline, for the community served by the airport. 
(d) ALASKAN REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR.— 
(1) SENSE
OF
CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that— 
(A) the Regional Administrator for the 
Alaskan Region is a uniquely important position 
that contributes to aviation safety in the State of 
Alaska; 
(B) vacancies in any Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration office have a deleterious effect on 
the efficacy of the Alaskan Region office; 
(C) a prolonged vacancy in the position of 
Regional Administrator for the Alaskan Region 
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may be detrimental to the effective administra-
tion of such region and the Don Young Alaska 
Aviation Safety Initiative; and 
(D) the Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration should ensure that any va-
cancy in the position of Regional Administrator 
for the Alaskan Region is filled will a highly 
qualified candidate as expeditiously as possible. 
(2) VACANCY NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.— 
(A) INITIAL VACANCY.—The Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration shall no-
tify the appropriate committees of Congress when 
there is a vacancy for the position of Regional 
Administrator for the Alaskan Region. 
(B) STATUS UPDATES.—Not later than 90 
days after the notification under subparagraph 
(A) (and every 30 days thereafter until the va-
cancy described under subparagraph (A) is 
filled), the Administrator shall notify the appro-
priate committees of Congress of any vacancy of 
such position, if so, provide an estimated 
timeline for filling such vacancy. 
(C) APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CON-
GRESS DEFINED.—In this paragraph, the term 
‘‘appropriate committees of Congress’’ means the 
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Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate. 
(D) SUNSET.—This paragraph shall cease 
to be effective after September 30, 2028. 
(e) 
IMPLEMENTATION
OF
NTSB 
RECOMMENDA-
TIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall take such actions as may be necessary to imple-
ment National Transportation Safety Board rec-
ommendations A–22–25 and A–22–26 (as contained 
in Aviation Investigation Report AIR–22–09, adopted 
November 16, 2022). 
(2) COORDINATION.—In taking actions under 
paragraph (1), the Administrator shall coordinate 
with the State of Alaska, airports in Alaska, air car-
riers operating in Alaska, private pilots (including 
tour operators) based in Alaska, and such other mem-
bers of the Alaska aviation community or other stake-
holders as the Administrator determines appropriate. 
(f) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 
447 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘44745. Don Young Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative.’’. 
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SEC. 511. CONTINUED OVERSIGHT OF FAA COMPLIANCE 
PROGRAM. 
Section 122 of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and 
Accountability Act (Public Law 116–260; 134 Stat. 2344) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b) by striking paragraph (2) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) conduct an annual agency-wide evaluation 
of the Compliance Program through fiscal year 2028 
to assess the functioning and effectiveness of such pro-
gram and to determine— 
‘‘(A) the need for long-term metrics that, to 
the maximum extent practicable, apply to all 
program offices to assess the effectiveness of the 
program; 
‘‘(B) if the program ensures the highest level 
of compliance with safety standards; and 
‘‘(C) if the program has met its stated safe-
ty goals and purpose;’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(4) by striking ‘‘2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2028’’; and 
(3) in subsection (d) by striking ‘‘2023’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2028’’. 
SEC. 512. SCALABILITY OF SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. 
In conducting any rulemaking to require, or imple-
menting a regulation requiring, a safety management sys-
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tem, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion shall consider the scalability of such safety manage-
ment system requirements to the full range of entities in 
terms of size or complexity that may be affected by such 
rulemaking or regulation, including— 
(1) how an entity can demonstrate compliance 
using various documentation, tools, and methods, in-
cluding, as appropriate, systems with multiple small 
operators collectively monitoring for and addressing 
risks; 
(2) a review of traditional safety management 
techniques and the suitability of such techniques for 
small entities; 
(3) the applicability of existing safety manage-
ment system programs implemented by an entity; 
(4) the suitability of existing requirements under 
part 5 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, for 
small entities; and 
(5) other unique challenges relating to small en-
tities the Administrator determines appropriate to 
consider. 
SEC. 513. FINALIZE SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM RULE-
MAKING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Fed-
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eral Aviation Administration shall issue a final rule relat-
ing to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking of the Federal 
Aviation Administration titled ‘‘Safety Management Sys-
tems’’, issued on January 11, 2023. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—In issuing a final rule under 
subsection (a), the Administrator shall ensure that the safe-
ty management system requirement under the Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking described in subsection (a) is applied 
to all certificate holders operating under the rules for com-
muter and on-demand operations under part 135 of title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations, commercial air tour opera-
tors operating under section 91.147 of such title, production 
certificate holders that are holders or licensees of a type cer-
tificate for the same product, and holders of a type certifi-
cate who license out such certificate for production under 
part 21 of such title. 
SEC. 514. IMPROVEMENTS TO AVIATION SAFETY INFORMA-
TION ANALYSIS AND SHARING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration shall implement improve-
ments to the Aviation Safety Information Analysis and 
Sharing Program with respect to safety data sharing and 
risk mitigation. 
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(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out subsection (a), 
the Administrator shall— 
(1) identify methods to increase the rate at 
which data is collected, processed, and analyzed to ex-
peditiously share safety intelligence; 
(2) develop predictive capabilities to anticipate 
emerging safety risks; 
(3) identify methods to improve shared data en-
vironments with external stakeholders; 
(4) establish a robust process for prioritizing re-
quests for safety information; 
(5) establish guidance to encourage regular safety 
inspector review of non-confidential aviation safety 
and performance data; 
(6) identify industry segments not yet included 
and conduct outreach to such industry segments to in-
crease the rate of participation, including— 
(A) general aviation; 
(B) rotorcraft; 
(C) air ambulance; and 
(C) maintenance facilities; and 
(7) establish processes for obtaining and ana-
lyzing comprehensive and aggregate data for new and 
future industry segments. 
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(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed— 
(1) to require the Administrator to share con-
fidential or proprietary information and data to safe-
ty inspectors for purposes of enforcement; or 
(2) to limit the applicability of section 44735 of 
title 49, United States Code, to the Aviation Safety 
Information Analysis and Sharing Program. 
(d) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and every 6 months thereafter until 
the improvements under subsection (a) are made, the Ad-
ministrator shall brief the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate on the progress of implementation of the Avia-
tion Safety Information Analysis and Sharing Program 
and steps taken to make improvements under subsection (a). 
SEC. 515. IMPROVEMENT OF CERTIFICATION PROCESSES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall continually look for opportu-
nities and methods to improve the processing of applica-
tions, consideration of applications, communication with 
applicants, and quality of feedback provided to applicants, 
for aircraft certification projects. 
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(b) CERTIFICATION IMPROVEMENTS.—Not later than 
270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Admin-
istrator shall enter into an appropriate arrangement with 
a qualified third-party organization or consortium to iden-
tify and assess digital tools and software systems to allow 
for efficient and virtual evaluation of an applicant design, 
associated documentation, and software or systems engi-
neering product, including in digital 3 dimensional formats 
or using model-based systems engineering design techniques 
for aircraft certification projects. 
(c) PARTIES TO REVIEW.—In identifying digital tools 
and software systems as described in subsection (b), the Ad-
ministrator shall ensure that the qualified third-party orga-
nization or consortium entering into an arrangement under 
this section shall, throughout the review, consult with— 
(1) the aircraft certification and flight standards 
offices or services of the Administration; and 
(2) at least 3 industry members representing air-
craft and aircraft part manufacturing interests. 
(d) DIGITAL TOOL AND SOFTWARE SYSTEM REQUIRE-
MENTS.—In identifying digital tools and software systems 
under subsection (b), the qualified third-party organization 
or consortium shall— 
(1) consider the interoperability of such systems 
to the extent practicable; 
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(2) consider the scalability and usability of such 
systems for differing use-cases by aircraft manufac-
turers, aircraft operators, and the Administration, in-
cluding cross-office use-cases within the Administra-
tion; 
(3) consider such systems currently in use by 
United States manufacturers or other civil aviation 
authorities for certification and engineering purposes; 
(4) consider the— 
(A) available technology support for such 
systems; and 
(B) ability for such systems to be updated 
and adapted over time to improve user inter-
faces, 
including 
providing 
additional 
functionalities and addressing gaps; 
(5) consider the ability of digital tools and soft-
ware systems to aid in the electronic review of soft-
ware components of aircraft and aircraft systems; 
(6) consider the ability of the Administration 
and aircraft designers to use digital tools and soft-
ware systems for corrective actions and modifications 
in a more rapid fashion; 
(7) determine if each system provides adequate 
protections for the exchange of information between 
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governmental and nongovernmental entities, includ-
ing— 
(A) intellectual property protections; 
(B) cyber and network security protections; 
and 
(C) the ability for governmental and non-
governmental entities to control what is accept-
able and what is restricted for other parties; 
(8) evaluate the estimated ease of adoption and 
any impediments to adoption for personnel of the 
Federal Aviation Administration; and 
(9) evaluate the ability for nongovernmental or-
ganizations of various sizes to adopt and utilize the 
digital and software systems identified under sub-
section (b) to improve the aircraft certification appli-
cation and coordination processes with the Adminis-
tration. 
(e) ASSESSMENT.—After reviewing digital and soft-
ware systems under subsection (b), the qualified third-party 
organization or consortium shall provide an assessment to 
the Administrator as to— 
(1) whether or not digital and software systems 
and tools would improve the coordination of the Ad-
ministration with industry; 
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(2) whether or not such systems and tools would 
improve the ability of the Administration to validate 
and verify aircraft and software designs in non-paper 
formats; and 
(3) the potential safety benefits or safety risks of 
using such systems and tools. 
(f) CONTENT OF ASSESSMENT.—In the event the quali-
fied third-party organization or consortium finds that dig-
ital and software systems and tools would assist the work 
of the Administration and improve certification projects 
processing, the assessment described under subsection (e) 
shall also include— 
(1) a prioritization, expected costs, and timeline 
of acquisitions and training based on immediate and 
future needs and benefits; and 
(2) suggest actions the Administration could take 
in order to institutionalize the use of such technologies 
at the headquarters and field offices of the Adminis-
tration, and to protect information shared through 
such technologies, including recommended updates to 
orders issued by the Administration. 
(g) IMPLEMENTATION.—Based on the assessment re-
quired in subsections (e) and (f), if the qualified third-party 
organization finds that the use of digital software systems 
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and tools would assist the work of the agency, the Adminis-
trator shall— 
(1) provide the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate with a briefing on the in-
tended actions of the Administrator; 
(2) not later than 60 days after receiving such 
assessment develop a plan to— 
(A) work towards the acquisition of the sys-
tems and tools recommended, subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations; 
(B) update any applicable orders and guid-
ance to allow for the use of these new systems 
and tools by personnel of the Administration and 
nongovernmental entities applying to or coordi-
nating with the Administration on certification 
related activities, at the discretion of the appli-
cant or nongovernmental entity; 
(C) on an ongoing basis review and modify 
orders and guidance to improve the use of these 
systems and tools as well as addressing any in-
tellectual property vulnerabilities; and 
(h) BRIEFING.—Not later than 30 months after receiv-
ing such assessment, the Administrator shall provide the 
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committees described in paragraph (1) with a briefing on 
the use, benefits, and any drawbacks of the systems and 
tools, including comparisons between certification programs 
using and not using digital and software systems and tools. 
SEC. 516. INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONTINUED AIRWORTHINESS 
AVIATION RULEMAKING COMMITTEE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration shall convene an aviation 
rulemaking committee to review, and develop findings and 
recommendations regarding, instructions for continued air-
worthiness (as described in section 21.50 of title 14, Code 
of Federal Regulations), and provide to the Administrator 
a report on such findings and recommendations and for 
other related purposes as determined by the Administrator. 
(b) COMPOSITION.—The aviation rulemaking com-
mittee established pursuant to subsection (a) shall consist 
of members appointed by the Administrator, including rep-
resentatives of— 
(1) holders of type certificates (as described in 
subpart B of part 21, title 14, Code of Federal Regu-
lations); 
(2) holders of production certificates (as de-
scribed in subpart G of part 21, title 14, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations); 
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(3) holders of parts manufacturer approvals (as 
described in subpart K of part 21, title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations); 
(4) holders of technical standard order author-
izations (as described in subpart O of part 21, title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations); 
(5) operators under parts 121, 125, or 135 of 
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; 
(6) holders of repair station certificates (as de-
scribed in section 145 of title 14, Code of Federal Reg-
ulations); 
(7) the certified bargaining representative of 
aviation safety inspectors for the Administration; 
(8) general aviation operators; 
(9) mechanics certificated under part 65 of title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations; 
(10) holders of supplemental type certificates (as 
described in subpart E of part 21 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations); 
(11) designated engineering representatives em-
ployed by repair stations; and 
(12) aviation safety experts with specific knowl-
edge of instructions for continued airworthiness poli-
cies and regulations. 
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(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—The aviation rulemaking com-
mittee established pursuant to subsection (a) shall con-
sider— 
(1) existing standards, regulations, certifications, 
assessments, and guidance related to instructions for 
continued airworthiness and the clarity of such stand-
ards, regulations, certifications, assessments, and 
guidance to all parties; 
(2) the sufficiency of safety data used in pre-
paring instructions for continued airworthiness; 
(3) the sufficiency of maintenance data used in 
preparing instructions for continued airworthiness; 
(4) the protection of proprietary information 
and intellectual property in instructions for contin-
ued airworthiness; 
(5) the availability of instructions for continued 
airworthiness, as needed, for maintenance activities; 
(6) the need to harmonize or deconflict proposed 
and existing regulations with other Federal regula-
tions, guidance, and policies; 
(7) international collaboration, where appro-
priate and consistent with the interests of safety in 
air commerce and national security, with other civil 
aviation authorities, international aviation and 
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standards organizations, and any other appropriate 
entities; and 
(8) any other matter the Administrator deter-
mines appropriate. 
(d) DUTIES.—The Administrator shall— 
(1) not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, submit to the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a copy of 
the aviation rulemaking committee report under sub-
section (a); and 
(2) not later than 180 days after the date of sub-
mission of the report under paragraph (1), initiate a 
rulemaking activity or make such policy and guid-
ance updates necessary to address any consensus rec-
ommendations reached by the aviation rulemaking 
committee established pursuant to subsection (a), as 
determined appropriate by the Administrator. 
SEC. 517. CLARITY FOR SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE 
REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall issue or update guidance, 
policy documents, orders, job aids, or regulations to clarify 
the conditions under which a major alteration will require 
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a supplemental type certificate under part 21 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations. 
(b) CONTENTS.—Issuances or updates under subsection 
(a) shall include providing clarity around— 
(1) the terms ‘‘might appreciatively effect’’ and 
‘‘no appreciable effect pursuant to sections 1.1 and 
21.93 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, respec-
tively’’; and 
(2) whether the term ‘‘other approved design’’, as 
such term appears in part 21.1 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations, includes engineering data ap-
proved by the Administrator by means other than 
through a supplemental type certificate. 
(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—In satisfying subsection (a), 
the Administrator shall make such updates as necessary to 
provide consideration for the level of effort required by an 
applicant to make a major alteration and the associated 
level of risk to the national airspace system for a single 
aircraft or multiple aircraft using such alteration. 
SEC. 518. USE OF ADVANCED TOOLS IN CERTIFYING AERO-
SPACE PRODUCTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration shall complete an assessment 
of the use of advanced tools during the testing, analysis, 
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and verification stages of aerospace certification projects to 
reduce the risks associated with high-risk flight profiles and 
performing limit testing. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out the assessment 
under subsection (a), the Administrator shall consider— 
(1) instances where high risk flight profiles and 
limit testing have already occurred in the certifi-
cation process and the applicability of such test data 
for use in other aspects of flight testing; 
(2) the safety of pilots during such testing; 
(3) the value and accuracy of data collected 
using such advanced tools; 
(4) the ability to produce more extensive data 
sets using such advanced tools; 
(5) any aspects of testing for which the use of 
such tools would not be valuable or applicable; 
(6) the cost of using such advanced tools; and 
(7) the best practices of other civil aviation au-
thorities that permit the use of advanced tools during 
aerospace certification projects. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the assessment 
under subsection (a), the Administrator shall consult 
with— 
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(1) aircraft manufacturers, including manufac-
turers that have designed and certified aircraft 
under— 
(A) part 23 of title 14, Code of Federal Reg-
ulations; 
(B) part 25 of such title; or 
(C) part 27 of such title; 
(2) aircraft manufacturers that have designed 
and certified, or are in the process of certifying, air-
craft with a novel design under part 21.17(b) of such 
title; 
(3) associations representing aircraft manufac-
turers; 
(4) researchers and academics in related fields; 
and 
(5) pilots who are experts in flight testing. 
(d) CONGRESSIONAL REPORT.—Not later than 60 days 
after the completion of the assessment under subsection (a), 
the Administrator shall brief the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate on— 
(1) the results of the assessment conducted under 
subsection (a); and 
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(2) how the Administrator plans to implement 
the findings of the assessment and any changes needed 
to Administration policy, guidance, and regulations 
to allow for and optimize the use of advanced tools 
during the certification of aerospace products in order 
to reduce risk and improve safety outcomes. 
SEC. 519. TRANSPORT AIRPLANE AND PROPULSION CER-
TIFICATION MODERNIZATION. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration shall publish a notice of proposed rulemaking for 
the rulemaking activity titled ‘‘Transport Airplane and 
Propulsion Certification Modernization’’, published in Fall 
2022 in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and De-
regulatory Actions (RIN 2120–AL42). 
SEC. 520. ENGINE FIRE PROTECTION STANDARDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration shall establish an internal 
regulatory review team to review and compare domestic and 
international airworthiness standards and guidance for 
aircraft engine firewalls. 
(b) REVIEW.—In completing the review under sub-
section (a), the regulatory review team shall— 
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(1) identify any significant differences in stand-
ards or guidance with respect to test article selection, 
fire test boundaries, and pass-fail criteria; 
(2) consider if alternative international stand-
ards used by peer civil aviation authorities reflect best 
practices that should be adopted by the Administra-
tion; 
(3) recommend updates, if appropriate, to the 
Significant Standards List of the Administration 
based on any findings; 
(4) assess whether a selection of aircraft engine 
firewalls certified by other civil aviation authorities, 
which were validated by the Administration, comply 
with the requirements of the Administration; 
(5) recommend actions the Administration 
should take during future validation activities or with 
other civil aviation authorities to address any gaps in 
requirements; and 
(6) consult with industry stakeholders during 
such review. 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than 120 days after the com-
pletion of the review under subsection (a), the Adminis-
trator shall brief the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
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Senate on the findings and recommendations stemming 
from such review. 
SEC. 521. RISK MODEL FOR PRODUCTION FACILITY INSPEC-
TIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act and periodically thereafter, 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall— 
(1) conduct a review of the risk-based model used 
by Federal Aviation Administration certification 
management offices to inform the frequency of air-
craft manufacturing or production facility inspec-
tions; and 
(2) update the model to ensure such model ade-
quately accounts for risk at facilities during periods 
of increased production. 
(b) BRIEFINGS.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
on which the review is conducted under subsection (a), the 
Administrator shall brief the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate on— 
(1) the results of the review; 
(2) any changes made to the risk-based model de-
scribed in subsection (a); and 
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(3) how such changes would help improve the in- 
plant inspection process. 
SEC. 522. SECONDARY COCKPIT BARRIERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the 
issuance of a final rule on the proposed rule of the Federal 
Aviation Administration titled ‘‘Installation and Oper-
ation of Flightdeck Installed Physical Secondary Barriers 
on Transport Category Airlines in Part 121 Service’’, and 
issued on August 1, 2022 (87 Fed. Reg. 46892), the Admin-
istrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall con-
vene an aviation rulemaking committee to review and de-
velop findings and recommendations to require installation 
of a secondary cockpit barrier on aircraft operated under 
the provisions of part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regu-
lations, that are not captured under another regulation or 
proposed regulation. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Administrator shall appoint 
the members of the rulemaking committee convened under 
subsection (a), which shall be comprised of at least 1 rep-
resentative each of— 
(1) mainline air carriers; 
(2) regional air carriers; 
(3) cargo air carriers; 
(4) aircraft manufacturers; 
(5) a labor group representing pilots; 
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(6) a labor group representing flight attendants; 
and 
(7) other stakeholders the Administrator deter-
mines appropriate. 
(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—The aviation rulemaking com-
mittee convened under subsection (a) shall consider— 
(1) minimum dimension requirements for sec-
ondary barriers on all aircraft types operated under 
part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; 
(2) secondary barrier performance standards 
manufacturers and air carriers must meet for such 
aircraft types; 
(3) the availability of certified secondary bar-
riers suitable for use on such aircraft types; 
(4) the development, certification, testing, manu-
facturing, installation, and training for secondary 
barriers for such aircraft types; 
(5) flight duration and stage length; 
(6) the location of lavatory on such aircraft as 
related to operational complexities; 
(7) operational complexities; 
(8) any risks to safely evacuate passengers of 
such aircraft; and 
(9) other considerations the Administrator deter-
mines appropriate. 
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(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 18 months 
after the convening of the aviation rulemaking committee 
described in subsection (a), the Administrator shall submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, a report 
based on the findings and recommendations of the aviation 
rulemaking committee convened under subsection (a), to in-
clude— 
(1) if applicable, any dissenting positions on the 
findings and the rationale for each position; and 
(2) any disagreements, including the rationale 
for each position and the reasons for the disagree-
ment. 
SEC. 523. REVIEW OF FAA USE OF AEROSPACE SAFETY 
DATA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall enter into an appropriate 
arrangement with a qualified third-party organization or 
consortium to evaluate the Administration’s collection, col-
lation, analysis, and use of aerospace data across the Ad-
ministration. 
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(b) CONSULTATION.—In completing the evaluation 
under subsection (a), the qualified third-party organization 
or consortium shall— 
(1) seek the input of experts in data analytics, 
including at least 1 expert in the commercial data 
services or analytics solutions sector; 
(2) consult with the National Transportation 
Safety Board and the Transportation Research 
Board; and 
(3) consult with appropriate federally funded re-
search and development centers, to the extent that 
such centers are not already involved in the evalua-
tion. 
(c) SUBSTANCE OF EVALUATION.—In completing the 
evaluation under subsection (a), the qualified third-party 
organization or consortium shall— 
(1) compile a list of internal and external 
sources, databases, and streams of information the 
Administration receives or has access to that provide 
the Administration with operational or safety infor-
mation and data about the national airspace system, 
its users, and other regulated entities of the Adminis-
tration; 
(2) review data sets to determine completeness 
and accuracy of relevant information; 
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(3) identify gaps in information that the Admin-
istration could fill through sharing agreements, part-
nerships, or other means that would add value during 
safety trend analysis; 
(4) assess the Administration’s capabilities, in-
cluding analysis systems and workforce skillsets, to 
analyze relevant data and information to make in-
formed decisions; 
(5) review data and information for proper stor-
age, identification controls, and data privacy— 
(A) as required by law; and 
(B) consistent with best practices for data 
collection, storage, and use; 
(6) review the format of such data and identify 
methods to improve the usefulness of such data; 
(7) assess internal and external access to data 
for— 
(A) appropriateness based on data type and 
level of detail; 
(B) proper data access protocols and pre-
cautions; and 
(C) maximizing availability of safety-re-
lated data that could support the improvement of 
safety management systems of and trend identi-
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fication by regulated entities and the Adminis-
tration; 
(8) examine the collation and dissemination of 
data within offices and between offices of the Admin-
istration; 
(9) review and recommend improvements to the 
data analysis techniques of the Administration; and 
(10) recommend investments the Administration 
should consider to better collect, manage, and analyze 
data sets, including within and between offices of the 
Administration. 
(d) ACCESS TO INFORMATION.—The Administration 
shall provide the qualified third-party organization or con-
sortium and the experts described in subsection (b) with 
adequate access to safety and operational data collected by 
and held by the agency across all offices of the Administra-
tion, except if specific access is otherwise prohibited by law. 
(e) NONDISCLOSURE.—Prior to participating in the 
review, the Administrator shall ensure that each person 
participating in the evaluation under this section enters 
into an agreement with the Administrator in which the per-
son shall be prohibited from disclosing at any time, except 
as required by law, to any person, foreign or domestic, any 
non-public information made accessible to the federally 
funded research and development center under this section. 
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(f) REPORT.—The qualified third-party organization 
or consortium carrying out the evaluation under this sec-
tion shall provide a report of the findings of the center to 
the Administrator and include recommendations to improve 
the Administration’s collection, collation, analysis, and use 
of aerospace data, including recommendations to— 
(1) improve data access across offices within the 
Administration, as necessary, to support efficient exe-
cution of safety analysis and programs across such of-
fices; 
(2) improve data storage best practices; 
(3) develop or refine methods for collating data 
from multiple administration and industry sources; 
and 
(4) procure or use available analytics tools to 
draw conclusions and identify previously unrecog-
nized trends or miscategorized risks in the aviation 
system, particularly when identification of such infor-
mation requires the analysis of multiple sets of data 
from multiple sources. 
(g) IMPLEMENTATION
OF RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not 
later than 6 months after the receipt of the report under 
subsection (f), the Administrator shall review, develop an 
implementation plan, and begin the implementation of the 
recommendations received in such report. 
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(h) REVIEW
OF IMPLEMENTATION.—The qualified 
third-party organization or consortium that conducted the 
initial evaluation, and any experts who contributed to such 
evaluation pursuant to subsection (b)(1), shall provide reg-
ular feedback and advice to the Administrator on the imple-
mentation plan developed under subsection (g) and any im-
plementation activities for at least 2 years beginning on 
the date of the receipt of the report under subsection (f). 
(i) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Administrator shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate the 
report described in subsection (f) and the implementation 
plan described in subsection (g). 
(j) EXISTING REPORTING SYSTEMS.—Consistent with 
section 132 of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Ac-
countability Act (Public Law 116–260), the Executive Di-
rector of the Transportation Research Board, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Transportation and the Adminis-
trator, may further harmonize data and sources following 
the implementation of recommendations contained in the 
report required under subsection (g). 
SEC. 524. PART 135 DUTY AND REST. 
(a) PART 91 TAIL–END FERRY RULEMAKING.—Not 
later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, 
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the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall require that any operation conducted by a flightcrew 
member during an assigned duty period under the oper-
ational control of an operator holding a certificate under 
part 135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, before, 
during, or after the duty period (including any operations 
under part 91 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations), 
without an intervening rest period, shall count towards the 
flight time and duty period limitations of such flightcrew 
member under part 135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regula-
tions. 
(b) RECORD KEEPING.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
update any Administration policy and guidance regarding 
complete and accurate record keeping practices for opera-
tors holding a certificate under part 135 of title 14, Code 
of Federal Regulations, in order to properly document, at 
a minimum— 
(1) flightcrew assignments; 
(2) flightcrew rest notifications; 
(3) compliance with flight and duty times limi-
tations and post-duty rest requirements; and 
(4) duty period start and end times. 
(c) SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OVERSIGHT.—The 
Administrator, in performing oversight of the safety man-
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agement system of an operator holding a certificate under 
part 135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, following 
the implementation of the final rule issued based on the 
rulemaking titled ‘‘Safety Management Systems’’, and pub-
lished on January 11, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg 1932), shall en-
sure such operator is evaluating and appropriately miti-
gating aviation safety risks, including, at minimum, risks 
associated with— 
(1) inadequate flightcrew member duty and rest 
periods; and 
(2) incomplete records pertaining to flightcrew 
rest, duty, and flight times. 
SEC. 525. COCKPIT VOICE AND VIDEO RECORDERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 447 of title 49, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘§ 44746. Cockpit recording device 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall complete a rule-
making proceeding to— 
‘‘(1) require that, not later than 4 years after the 
date of enactment of this section, all applicable air-
craft are fitted with a cockpit voice recorder and a 
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flight data recorder that are each capable of recording 
the most recent 25 hours of data; 
‘‘(2) prohibit any person from deliberately eras-
ing or tampering with any recording on such a cock-
pit voice recorder or flight data recorder following a 
National Transportation Safety Board reportable 
event under part 830 of title 49, Code of Federal Reg-
ulations, and provide for civil and criminal penalties 
for such deliberate erasing or tampering, which may 
be assessed in accordance with section 1155 and sec-
tion 32 of title 18; 
‘‘(3) require that such a cockpit voice recorder 
has the capability for an operator to use an erasure 
feature, such as an installed bulk erase function, con-
sistent with applicable law and regulations; 
‘‘(4) require that, in the case of such a cockpit 
voice recorder or flight data recorder that uses a solid 
state recording medium in which activation of a bulk 
erase function assigns a random discrete code to the 
deleted recording, only the manufacturer of the re-
corder and National Transportation Safety Board 
have access to the software necessary to determine the 
code in order to extract the deleted recorded data; and 
‘‘(5) ensure that data on such a cockpit voice re-
corder or a flight data recorder, through technical 
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means other than encryption (such as overwriting or 
the substitution of a blank recording medium before 
the recorder is returned to the owner) is not disclosed 
for use other than for accident or incident investiga-
tion purposes. 
‘‘(b) PROHIBITED USE.—A cockpit voice recorder re-
cording shall not be used by the Administrator or any em-
ployer for any certificate action, civil penalty, or discipli-
nary proceedings against flight crewmembers. 
‘‘(c) APPLICABLE AIRCRAFT DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘applicable aircraft’ means an aircraft that 
is— 
‘‘(1) operated under part 121 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations; and 
‘‘(2) required by regulation to have a cockpit 
voice recorder or a flight data recorder.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 
447 of title 49, United States Code, is further amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘44746. Cockpit recording device.’’. 
SEC. 526. FLIGHT DATA RECOVERY FROM OVERWATER OP-
ERATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall direct the Aviation Rule-
making Advisory Committee (hereinafter referred to as the 
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‘‘Committee’’ in this section) to review regulations regard-
ing flight data recovery for aircraft— 
(1) operated under part 121 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations; and 
(2) used in extended overwater operations. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out the review 
pursuant to subsection (a), the Committee shall provide to 
the Administrator any consensus recommendations for the 
equipage of aircraft described in subsection (a) with a cock-
pit voice recorder and a flight data recorder that— 
(1) provide a means, in the event of an accident, 
to recover mandatory flight data parameters in a 
manner that does not require the underwater retrieval 
of the cockpit voice recorder or flight data recorder; 
(2) is equipped with a tamper-resistant method 
to broadcast sufficient information to a ground sta-
tion to establish the location where an aircraft termi-
nates flight as the result of an accident within 6 nau-
tical miles of the point of impact of the aircraft; and 
(3) is equipped with an airframe low-frequency 
underwater locating device that functions for at least 
90 days and that can be detected by appropriate 
equipment. 
(c) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 18 months 
after tasking the aviation rulemaking advisory committee 
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under subsection (a), the committee shall submit to the Ad-
ministrator any consensus recommendations developed 
under subsection (b). 
(d) RULEMAKING.—Not later than 1 year after receiv-
ing any recommendations pursuant to subsection (c), the 
Administrator shall initiate a rulemaking activity based on 
such consensus recommendations, if determined appro-
priate. 
(e) BRIEFING.—If the Administrator decides not to 
issue a final rule with respect to the rulemaking initiated 
under subsection (d), the Administrator shall brief the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the justifica-
tion for such decision. 
SEC. 527. EMERGENCY MEDICAL EQUIPMENT ON PAS-
SENGER AIRCRAFT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 12 months after date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall review and update, as ap-
propriate, part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, 
regarding emergency medical equipment, including the con-
tents of emergency medical kits, and training required for 
flight crew. 
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(b) CONSIDERATION.—In carrying out subsection (a), 
the Administrator shall consider— 
(1) the benefits and costs (including the costs of 
flight diversions and emergency landings) of requir-
ing any new medications or equipment necessary to 
be included in approved emergency medical kits 
under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regula-
tions; and 
(2) whether the contents of the emergency med-
ical kits include the appropriate medications and 
equipment that can practicably be administered to 
address— 
(A) the emergency medical needs of children 
and pregnant women; 
(B) opioid overdose; 
(C) anaphylaxis; and 
(D) cardiac arrest. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the review re-
quired under subsection (a), the Administrator shall consult 
with associations representing aerospace medical profes-
sionals. 
SEC. 528. NAVIGATION AIDS STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the inspector general of the 
Department of Transportation shall initiate a study exam-
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ining the effects of reclassifying navigation aids to Design 
Assurance Level–A from Design Assurance Level–B, includ-
ing the following navigation aids: 
(1) Distance measuring equipment. 
(2) Very high frequency omni-directional range. 
(3) Tactical air navigation. 
(4) Wide area augmentation system. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study required 
under subsection (a), the inspector general shall address— 
(1) the cost-benefit analyses associated with the 
reclassification described in such subsection; 
(2) the findings from the operational safety as-
sessments and preliminary hazard analyses of the 
navigation aids listed in such subsection; 
(3) the risks of such reclassification on naviga-
tion aid equipment currently in use; 
(4) the potential impacts on global interoper-
ability of navigational aids; and 
(5) what additional actions should be taken 
based on the findings of this subsection. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 24 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the inspector general shall submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
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describing the results of the study conducted under sub-
section (a). 
SEC. 529. REMOTE TOWERS. 
(a) STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration shall seek to 
enter into an agreement with a qualified organization 
to conduct a study examining the viability and feasi-
bility of remote tower technology available on the date 
of enactment of this Act to accommodate existing air 
traffic activity at non-towered, public-use airports 
and airports with a visual flight rule air traffic con-
trol tower. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In the study conducted 
under subsection (a), the qualified organization se-
lected under such subsection shall consider and in-
clude in such study— 
(A) the effectiveness and adequacy of the 
pilot program established under section 161 of 
the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (49 U.S.C. 
47104 note) in— 
(i) assessing the installation, mainte-
nance, and operational costs and benefits of 
remote tower technology; and 
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(ii) establishing a clear process for the 
safety and operational certification of such 
technology; 
(B) a description of actions that the Admin-
istration has undertaken to carry out such pilot 
program; 
(C) any barriers related to the safety and 
operational certification of such technology; 
(D) the number and type of non-towered 
airports in the national airspace system; 
(E) the availability and development of re-
mote tower technology; 
(F) the potential to use remote tower sys-
tems to control air traffic at multiple airports 
and from a single physical location, similar to 
a terminal radar approach control facility; 
(G) staffing flexibility to support seasonal 
staffing of remote towers; 
(H) safety factors related to the potential 
need for such remote tower technology; 
(I) the potential to use remote tower systems 
to surveil for unmanned aircraft, in conjunction 
with unmanned aircraft system traffic manage-
ment systems, to enhance air traffic management 
of manned air traffic; 
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(J) factors related to the demand for remote 
tower technology; 
(K) an examination of remote tower use in 
other countries; 
(L) projected costs associated with installing 
and maintain remote tower technology at a sin-
gle airport; and 
(M) recommendations regarding the most 
cost-effective approach to provide air traffic con-
trol services at non-towered airports in the na-
tional airspace system. 
(3) INPUT.—In carrying out the study under 
subsection (a), the qualified organization selected 
under such subsection shall— 
(A) seek coordination with the Air Traffic 
Organization and other offices of the Adminis-
tration; and 
(B) seek the participation of representatives 
of— 
(i) the exclusive bargaining representa-
tives of air traffic controllers certified under 
section 7111 of title 5, United States Code; 
(ii) manufacturers of remote towers; 
(iii) airport operators; and 
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(iv) other stakeholders that the Admin-
istrator determines appropriate. 
(4) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate a report detailing the results of 
the study under subsection (a). 
(b) CERTIFICATION PROCESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the completion of the study required under subsection 
(a), the Administrator shall establish a process for the 
certification of system design and operational ap-
proval of remote towers for use at public-use airports. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out subsection 
(b), the Administrator shall consult with the fol-
lowing: 
(A) The exclusive bargaining representative 
of the air traffic controllers certified under sec-
tion 7111 of title 5, United States Code. 
(B) Manufacturers of remote towers. 
(C) Non-towered airport operators. 
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(3) REQUIREMENTS.—In developing the certifi-
cation process required under subsection (b), the Ad-
ministrator shall— 
(A) establish requirements for the system de-
sign and operational approval of remote towers, 
including— 
(i) sensor and camera visual require-
ments; 
(ii) datalink latency requirements; and 
(iii) visual presentation design re-
quirements for monitors used to display 
sensor and camera feeds; 
(B) establish tower-closure standards for 
contingency operations and procedures for re-
mote tower failures and malfunctions; and 
(C) consider the use of— 
(i) ground– and space–based tele-
communications infrastructure; and 
(ii) any other wireless telecommuni-
cations infrastructure that may enable the 
operation of a remote tower. 
(4) OPERATIONAL APPROVAL ASSESSMENTS.—In 
developing the operational approval process required 
under this subsection, the Administrator shall— 
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(A) determine the appropriate number of 
air traffic controllers necessary to staff a remote 
tower for safe air traffic control operations at the 
respective airport based on the existing or pro-
jected air traffic activity at the airport; 
(B) use a safety risk management panel 
process to address any safety issues with respect 
to the remote tower; 
(C) if the remote tower is intended to be in-
stalled at a non-towered airport, assess the safety 
benefits of the remote tower against the lack of 
an existing tower; and 
(D) establish, to the satisfaction of the Ad-
ministrator and using performance-based cri-
teria, to the extent appropriate, published in ad-
vance, the level of safety necessary for the oper-
ation of the remote tower at the airport. 
(5) AIRPORT OPERATORS.—An airport operator 
seeking to install or construct a certified remote tower 
shall submit to the Administrator an application in 
such form and containing such information as the 
Administrator may require. 
(6) IMPLEMENTATION.—In carrying out this sec-
tion, the Administrator shall— 
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(A) identify air traffic control information 
and data that assists the Administrator in cat-
egorically certifying remote towers at different 
types of airports; 
(B) implement processes necessary to collect 
the information and data identified in subpara-
graph (A); and 
(C) develop criteria from the information 
and data identified in subparagraph (A) to as-
sess remote towers for widespread use at cat-
egories of public-use airports. 
(7) PRIORITIZATION
OF
REMOTE
TOWER
CER-
TIFICATION
APPLICANTS.—With respect to applica-
tions submitted as required by paragraph (4), the Ad-
ministrator shall prioritize— 
(A) airports that do not have a permanent 
air traffic control tower at the time of applica-
tion; 
(B) airports that would provide small and 
rural community air service; or 
(C) airports that have been newly accepted 
as of the date of enactment of this Act into the 
Contract Tower Program. 
(8) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after re-
ceiving the report required under subsection (a), and 
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annually thereafter through fiscal year 2028, the Ad-
ministrator shall brief the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate on the status of the ac-
tivities required under this section. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) AIR TRAFFIC ACTIVITY.—The term ‘‘air traf-
fic activity’’ means the number of takeoffs, landings, 
and simulated approaches of an airport and the time 
of which such takeoffs, landings, and simulated ap-
proaches occur. 
(2) CONTRACT
TOWER
PROGRAM.—The term 
‘‘Contract Tower Program’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 47124(e) of title 49, United 
States Code. 
(3) 
QUALIFIED
ORGANIZATION.—The 
term 
‘‘qualified organization’’ means an independent non- 
profit organization that recommends solutions to pub-
lic policy challenges through objective analysis. 
(4) REMOTE TOWER.—The term ‘‘remote tower’’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 161(a)(9) 
of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (49 U.S.C. 
47104 note). 
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SEC. 530. WEATHER REPORTING SYSTEMS STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of 
the United States shall initiate a study to examine how 
to improve the procurement, functionality, and sustain-
ability of weather reporting systems, including— 
(1) automated weather observing systems; 
(2) automated surface observing systems; 
(3) visual weather observing systems; and 
(4) non-Federal weather reporting systems. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study required 
under section (a), the Comptroller General shall address— 
(1) the current state of the supply chain related 
to weather reporting systems and the components of 
such systems, including— 
(A) the adequacy of suppliers of such sys-
tems and components; 
(B) the affordability of such systems and 
components; and 
(C) the availability and affordability of re-
placement parts; 
(2) the average age of weather reporting systems 
infrastructure installed in the national airspace sys-
tem; 
(3) challenges to maintaining and replacing 
weather reporting systems, including— 
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(A) root causes of weather reporting system 
outages, including failures of such systems, and 
supporting systems such as telecommunications 
infrastructure; and 
(B) the degree to which such outages affect 
weather reporting in the national airspace sys-
tem; 
(4) mitigation measures to maintain aviation 
safety during such an outage; and 
(5) alternative means of obtaining weather ele-
ments at airports, including wind direction, wind 
speed, barometric pressure setting, and cloud coverage, 
including visibility. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the study required 
under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall consult 
with the appropriate stakeholders and Federal agencies in-
volved in installing, managing, and supporting weather re-
porting systems in the national airspace system. 
(d) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
General shall submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
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Transportation of the Senate a report describing the 
results of the study conducted under subsection (a). 
(2) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Comptroller Gen-
eral shall include in the report submitted under para-
graph (1) recommendations for— 
(A) ways to improve the resiliency and re-
dundancy of weather reporting systems; 
(B) alternative means of compliance for ob-
taining weather elements at airports; and 
(C) if necessary, changes to Orders of the 
Administration, including the following: 
(i) Surface Weather Observing, Joint 
Order 7900.5. 
(ii) Notices to Air Missions, Joint 
Order 7930.2. 
SEC. 531. GAO STUDY ON EXPANSION OF THE FAA WEATHER 
CAMERA PROGRAM. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct a study on the feasibility and benefits 
and costs of expanding the Weather Camera Program of the 
Federal Aviation Administration to locations in the United 
States that lack weather camera services. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the study re-
quired under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall 
review— 
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(1) the potential effects of the existing Weather 
Camera Program on weather-related aviation acci-
dents and flight interruptions; 
(2) the potential benefits and costs associated 
with expanding the Weather Camera Program; 
(3) limitations on the real-time access of weather 
camera information by pilots and aircraft operators; 
(4) non-safety related regulatory structures or 
barriers to the allowable use of weather camera infor-
mation for the purposes of aircraft operations; 
(5) limitations of existing weather camera sys-
tems at the time of the study; 
(6) alternative sources of viable weather data; 
(7) funding mechanisms for weather camera in-
stallation and operations; and 
(8) other considerations the Comptroller General 
determines appropriate. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 28 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller Gen-
eral shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report on the results of the study required under 
subsection (a). 
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SEC. 532. STUDY ON AVIATION SAFETY IN ERA OF WIRELESS 
CONNECTIVITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration shall seek to enter into an 
agreement with the National Academies to conduct a study 
on matters related to potential conflicts between uses of 
radio spectrum by the aviation ecosystem and wireless tele-
communication networks. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The study described in subsection (a) 
shall address approaches to mitigating potential safety haz-
ards posed by conflicts between uses of spectrum by the 
aviation ecosystem and wireless telecommunications net-
work, including best practices and policy recommendations 
for the Federal Aviation Administration to— 
(1) improve the process by which proposed spec-
trum reallocations or auctions are thoroughly re-
viewed in advance to ensure that any comments, ob-
jections, or technical concerns from stakeholders or 
Federal agencies in any Federal Communication 
Commission proceeding are definitively assessed and, 
if necessary, addressed; 
(2) assess the effects of proposed spectrum re-
allocations or auctions on the aviation ecosystem in 
a timely manner to better meet the needs of the avia-
tion system or to establish realistic timeframes relat-
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ing to potential aviation equipment modifications or 
replacements; and 
(3) better communicate to relevant Federal part-
ners and agencies when a proposed spectrum realloca-
tion or auctions may pose a potential risk to aviation 
safety. 
(c) STAKEHOLDER VIEWS.—In conducting the study 
under subsection (a), the National Academy shall consult 
with relevant stakeholders, including— 
(1) air carriers operating under part 121 of title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations; 
(2) operators holding a certificate under part 
135, of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; 
(3) general aviation operators; 
(4) manufacturers of aircraft and aircraft com-
ponents; 
(5) wireless telecommunication carriers; 
(6) labor unions representing pilots; 
(7) air traffic system safety specialists; 
(8) other representatives of the telecommuni-
cations industry; 
(9) aviation safety experts; 
(10) radio spectrum experts; and 
(11) such other stakeholders as the Administrator 
determines appropriate. 
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(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the National Acad-
emies shall complete and submit a report on the study de-
scribed in subsection (a) to— 
(1) the Administrator; 
(2) the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives; and 
(3) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Technology of the Senate. 
SEC. 533. RAMP WORKER SAFETY CALL TO ACTION. 
(a) CALL TO ACTION RAMP WORKER SAFETY RE-
VIEW.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration shall initiate a Call to Action safety review 
of airport ramp worker safety in order to bring stakeholders 
together to share best practices and implement actions to 
address airport ramp worker safety. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The Call to Action safety review re-
quired pursuant to subsection (a) shall include— 
(1) a review of Administration regulations, guid-
ance, and directives related to airport ramp worker 
procedures and oversight of such processes; 
(2) a review of reportable accidents and inci-
dents involving airport ramp workers, including any 
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identified contributing factors to the reportable acci-
dent or incident; 
(3) a review of training and related educational 
materials for airport ramp workers, including super-
visory employees; 
(4) a review of devices and methods for commu-
nication on the ramp; 
(5) a review of markings on the ramp that define 
restriction, staging, safety, or hazard zones; 
(6) a review of aircraft jet blast and engine in-
take safety markings; and 
(7) a process for stakeholders, including airlines, 
aircraft manufacturers, airports, labor, and aviation 
safety experts, to provide feedback and share best 
practices. 
(c) REPORT AND ACTIONS.—Not later than 180 days 
after the conclusion of the Call to Action safety review pur-
suant to subsection (a), the Administrator shall— 
(1) submit to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate a report on the results of the 
review and any recommendations for actions or best 
practices to improve airport ramp worker safety, in-
cluding the identification of risks and possible miti-
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gations to be considered in any applicable safety 
management system of air carriers and airports; and 
(2) initiate such actions as are necessary to act 
upon the findings of the review under subsection (b). 
SEC. 534. SAFETY DATA ANALYSIS FOR AIRCRAFT WITHOUT 
TRANSPONDERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration, in coordination with the 
Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, 
shall collect and analyze data relating to accidents and in-
cidents involving covered exempt aircraft that occurred 
within 30 nautical miles of an airport. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The analysis required under 
subsection (a) shall include with respect to covered exempt 
aircraft a review of— 
(1) incident and accident data since 2006; 
(2) incidents and accidents involving midair 
events, including collisions; 
(3) incidents and accidents involving ground 
proximity warning system alerts; 
(4) incidents and accidents involving traffic col-
lision avoidance system alerts; 
(5) incidents and accidents involving a loss of 
separation or near miss; and 
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(6) the causes of the accidents and incidents de-
scribed in paragraphs (1) through (5). 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report containing the results of the analysis re-
quired under subsection (a) and, if appropriate, rec-
ommendations on how to reduce the number of incidents 
and accidents associated with such covered exempt aircraft. 
(d) COVERED EXEMPT AIRCRAFT DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘covered exempt aircraft’’ means aircraft, 
balloons, and gliders exempt from air traffic control trans-
ponder and altitude reporting equipment and use require-
ments under part 91.215(b)(3) of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations. 
SEC. 535. CRASH-RESISTANT FUEL SYSTEMS IN ROTOR-
CRAFT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall task the Aviation Rule-
making Advisory Committee to— 
(1) review the data analysis conducted and the 
recommendations developed by the Aviation Rule-
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making Advisory Committee Rotorcraft Occupant 
Protection Working Group of the Administration; 
(2) update the 2018 report of such working 
group on rotorcraft occupant protection by— 
(A) reviewing National Transportation 
Safety Board data from 2016 through 2023 on 
post-crash fires in helicopter accidents; and 
(B) determining whether and to what extent 
crash-resistant fuel systems could have prevented 
fatalities; and 
(3) develop recommendations for either the Ad-
ministrator or the helicopter industry to encourage 
helicopter owners and operators to expedite the instal-
lation of crash-resistant fuel systems in the aircraft of 
such owners and operators regardless of original cer-
tification and manufacture date. 
(b) SCHEDULE.— 
(1) DEADLINE.—Not later than 18 months after 
the Administrator tasks the Aviation Rulemaking Ad-
visory Committee under subsection (a), the Committee 
shall submit the recommendations developed under 
subsection (a)(2) to the Administrator. 
(2) IMPLEMENTATION.—If applicable, and not 
later than 180 days after receiving the recommenda-
tions under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall— 
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(A) begin implementing, as appropriate, 
any consensus safety recommendations the Ad-
ministrator receives from the Aviation Rule-
making Advisory Committee, and brief the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate on any recommendations the Admin-
istrator does not implement; and 
(B) partner with the United States Heli-
copter Safety Team, as appropriate, to facilitate 
implementation of any recommendations for the 
helicopter industry pursuant to subsection (a)(2) 
SEC. 536. REDUCING TURBULENCE ON PART 121 AIRCRAFT 
OPERATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration shall review and implement, 
as appropriate, the recommendations made by the Chair 
of the National Transportation Safety Board to the Admin-
istrator contained in the safety research report titled ‘‘Pre-
venting Turbulence-Related Injuries in Air Carrier Oper-
ations Conducted Under Title 14 Code of Federal Regula-
tions Part 121’’, issued on August 10, 2021 (NTSB/SS– 
21/01). 
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(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
completing the review under subsection (a), and every 
2 years thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
a report on the status of the recommendations in the 
safety research report described in subsection (a) until 
the earlier of— 
(A) the date on which such recommenda-
tions have been adopted; or 
(B) the date that is 10 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act. 
(2) CONTENTS.—If the Administrator decides not 
to implement a recommendation in the safety research 
report described in subsection (a), the Administrator 
shall provide, as a part of the report required under 
paragraph (1), a description of why the Adminis-
trator did not implement such recommendation. 
SEC. 537. STUDY ON RADIATION EXPOSURE. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 120 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall seek to enter into an agree-
ment with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineer-
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ing, and Medicine under which the National Research 
Council of the National Academies shall conduct a study 
on radiation exposure onboard various aircraft types oper-
ated under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regula-
tions. 
(b) SCOPE OF STUDY.—In conducting the study under 
subsection (a), the National Research Council shall assess— 
(1) radiation concentrations in such aircraft at 
takeoff, in-flight at high altitudes, and upon landing; 
(2) the health risks and impact of radiation ex-
posure to flight attendants and passengers onboard 
aircraft operating at high altitudes; and 
(3) mitigation measures to prevent and reduce 
the health and safety impacts of radiation exposure to 
flight attendants and passengers. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 16 months 
after the initiation of the study required under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate commit-
tees of Congress the study conducted by the National Re-
search Council pursuant to this section. 
(d) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate committees 
of Congress’’ means the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Com-
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merce of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
SEC. 538. DETERRING CREWMEMBER INTERFERENCE. 
(a) TASK FORCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration shall convene 
a task force to develop voluntary standards and best 
practices relating to suspected violations of sections 
46318, 46503, and 46504 of title 49, United States 
Code, including— 
(A) proper and consistent incident docu-
mentation and reporting techniques; 
(B) best practices for flight crew and cabin 
crew response, including de-escalation; 
(C) improved coordination between stake-
holders, including flight crew and cabin crew, 
airport staff, other Federal agencies as appro-
priate, and law enforcement; and 
(D) appropriate enforcement actions. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The task force convened 
under paragraph (1) shall be comprised representa-
tives of— 
(A) air carriers; 
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(B) airport sponsors and airport law en-
forcement agencies; 
(C) other Federal agencies determined nec-
essary by the Administrator; and 
(D) labor organizations representing air 
carrier pilots; 
(E) labor organizations representing flight 
attendants; and 
(F) 
labor 
organizations 
representing 
ticketing, check-in, or other customer service rep-
resentatives employed by air carriers. 
(b) ANNOUNCEMENTS.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
initiate such actions as may be necessary to include in the 
briefing of passengers before takeoff required under section 
121.571 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, a state-
ment informing passengers that it is against Federal law 
to assault or threaten to assault any individual on an air-
craft or interfere with the duties of a crewmember. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section, the 
definitions in section 40102(a) of title 49, United States 
Code, shall apply to terms in this section. 
SEC. 539. CABIN TEMPERATURE STANDARDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 24 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Fed-
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eral Aviation Administration shall review existing stand-
ards produced by recognized industry standards organiza-
tions on safe air temperatures and humidity levels in en-
closed environments, including onboard aircraft, and deter-
mine the validity of such standards, including the Amer-
ican Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Condi-
tioning Engineers (in this section referred to as 
‘‘ASHRAE’’) standards titled ‘‘Air Quality within Com-
mercial Aircraft’’ (ASHRAE Guideline 28–2021) and 
‘‘Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occu-
pancy’’ (ASHRAE Standard 55–2020). 
(b) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the review under 
subsection (a), the Administrator shall consult with— 
(1) certificate holders under part 121 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations; 
(2) certified labor representatives of flight at-
tendants, pilots, and other crewmembers; 
(3) relevant Federal agencies; and 
(4) other relevant stakeholders, as appropriate. 
(c) ACADEMIC STUDY.—In the event that the Adminis-
trator determines, through the review carried out under sub-
section (a), that there is not an appropriate standard to 
determine unsafe temperatures onboard aircraft operated 
under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, 
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the Administrator shall enter into an appropriate agree-
ment with the National Academies to— 
(1) conduct a study of unsafe aircraft cabin tem-
peratures and aircraft conditions that contribute to 
such temperatures; and 
(2) provide recommendations for air carriers 
and aircraft manufacturers to improve the manage-
ment of temperature and related factors onboard air-
craft. 
(d) REPORTS.— 
(1) FAA.—Not later than 3 months after com-
pleting the review required under subsection (a), the 
Administrator shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on 
the findings and determination of the review. 
(2) NATIONAL ACADEMIES.—If a report is pro-
duced under subsection (c), not later than 1 month 
after receiving such report the Administrator shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate such report. 
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