319 
(2) PRIORITY
SELECTION.—In selecting from 
among the applications submitted under subsection 
(b), the Secretary shall give priority to applicants 
that can best demonstrate the capabilities and po-
tential of remote air traffic control towers, including 
applicants proposing to operate multiple remote air 
traffic control towers from a single facility. 
(3) AUTHORITY TO REALLOCATE AIRPORT SE-
LECTION.—If the Secretary receives an insufficient 
number of applications, the Secretary may reallocate 
the distribution of airport sites described in para-
graph (1). 
(d) ASSET CLASSIFICATION.—For purposes of sec-
tion 90317 of title 49, United States Code, as added by 
this Act, a remote air traffic control tower, including ancil-
lary equipment, installed with Government funds pursuant 
to this section shall be considered to be an air navigation 
facility. 
(e) SAFETY RISK MANAGEMENT PANEL.— 
(1) SAFETY RISK MANAGEMENT PANEL MEET-
ING.—Prior to the operational use of a remote air 
traffic control tower, the Secretary shall convene a 
safety risk management panel for the tower to ad-
dress any safety issues with respect to the tower. 
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(2) SAFETY RISK MANAGEMENT PANEL BEST 
PRACTICES.—The safety risk management panels 
shall be created and utilized in a manner similar to 
that of safety risk management panels previously es-
tablished for remote air traffic control towers, taking 
into account— 
(A) best practices that have been devel-
oped; and 
(B) operational data from remote air traf-
fic control towers located in the United States. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In this section, the following 
definitions apply: 
(A) AIR NAVIGATION FACILITY.—The term 
‘‘air navigation facility’’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 40102(a) of title 49, 
United States Code. 
(B) 
REMOTE
AIR
TRAFFIC
CONTROL 
TOWER.—The term ‘‘remote air traffic control 
tower’’ means a remotely operated air naviga-
tion facility, including all necessary system com-
ponents, that provides the functions and capa-
bilities of an air traffic control tower. 
(2) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER DEFINITIONS.— 
The terms ‘‘nonhub airport’’, ‘‘primary airport’’, and 
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‘‘public-use airport’’ have the meanings given such 
terms in section 47102 of title 49, United States 
Code. 
(g) SUNSET.—The pilot program shall terminate on 
the day before the date of transfer, as defined in section 
90101(a) of title 49, United States Code, as added by this 
Act. 
SEC. 611. ENSURING FAA READINESS TO PROVIDE SEAM-
LESS OCEANIC OPERATIONS. 
Not later than September 30, 2018, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall make a final investment decision for 
the implementation of a reduced oceanic separation capa-
bility that, by March 31, 2019, shall be operational and 
in use providing capabilities at least equivalent to that of-
fered in neighboring airspace, and such service shall be 
provided in the same manner as terrestrial surveillance is 
provided. 
SEC. 612. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING WOMEN IN 
AVIATION. 
It is the sense of Congress that the aviation industry 
should explore all opportunities, including pilot training, 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics edu-
cation, and mentorship programs, to encourage and sup-
port female students and aviators to pursue a career in 
aviation. 
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322 
SEC. 
613. 
OBSTRUCTION 
EVALUATION 
AERONAUTICAL 
STUDIES. 
The Secretary of Transportation may implement the 
policy set forth in the notice of proposed policy titled ‘‘Pro-
posal to Consider the Impact of One Engine Inoperative 
Procedures in Obstruction Evaluation Aeronautical Stud-
ies’’ published by the Department of Transportation on 
April 28, 2014 (79 Fed. Reg. 23300), only if the policy 
is adopted pursuant to a notice and comment rulemaking 
and, for purposes of Executive Order 12866 (5 U.S.C. 601 
note; relating to regulatory planning and review), is treat-
ed as a significant regulatory action within the scope of 
section 3(f)(1) of such Order. 
SEC. 614. AIRCRAFT LEASING. 
Section 44112(b) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘on land or water’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘operational’’ before ‘‘control’’. 
SEC. 615. REPORT ON OBSOLETE TEST EQUIPMENT. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall submit to 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 on the National 
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Test Equipment Program of the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Program’’). 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report shall include— 
(1) a list of all known outstanding requests for 
test equipment, cataloged by type and location, 
under the Program; 
(2) a description of the current method under 
the Program of ensuring calibrated equipment is in 
place for utilization; 
(3) a plan by the Administrator for appropriate 
inventory of such equipment; 
(4) the Administrator’s recommendations for 
increasing multifunctionality in future test equip-
ment and all known and foreseeable manufacturer 
technological advances; and 
(5) a plan to replace, as appropriate, obsolete 
test equipment throughout the service areas. 
SEC. 616. RETIRED MILITARY CONTROLLERS. 
Section 44506(f) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3) by inserting ‘‘except for 
individuals covered by a program described in para-
graph (4),’’ after ‘‘section 3307 of title 5,’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
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324 
‘‘(4) RETIRED MILITARY CONTROLLERS.—The 
Administrator may establish a program to provide 
an original appointment to a position as an air traf-
fic controller for individuals who— 
‘‘(A) are on terminal leave pending retire-
ment from active duty military service or have 
retired from active duty military service within 
5 years of applying for the appointment; and 
‘‘(B) within 5 years of applying for the ap-
pointment, have held either an air traffic con-
trol specialist certification or a facility rating 
according to Administration standards.’’. 
SEC. 617. PILOTS SHARING FLIGHT EXPENSES WITH PAS-
SENGERS. 
(a) GUIDANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration shall make 
publicly available, in a clear and concise format, ad-
visory guidance that describes how a pilot may share 
flight expenses with passengers in a manner con-
sistent with Federal law, including regulations. 
(2) EXAMPLES INCLUDED.—The guidance shall 
include examples of— 
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(A) flights for which pilots and passengers 
may share expenses; 
(B) flights for which pilots and passengers 
may not share expenses; 
(C) the methods of communication that pi-
lots and passengers may use to arrange flights 
for which expenses are shared; and 
(D) the methods of communication that pi-
lots and passengers may not use to arrange 
flights for which expenses are shared. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date on which guidance is made publicly 
available under subsection (a), the Comptroller Gen-
eral of the United States shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate a report analyzing Federal policy with respect to 
pilots sharing flight expenses with passengers. 
(2) EVALUATIONS INCLUDED.—The report sub-
mitted under paragraph (1) shall include an evalua-
tion of— 
(A) the rationale for such Federal policy; 
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(B) safety and other concerns related to 
pilots sharing flight expenses with passengers; 
and 
(C) benefits related to pilots sharing flight 
expenses with passengers. 
SEC. 618. AVIATION RULEMAKING COMMITTEE FOR PART 
135 PILOT REST AND DUTY RULES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall convene an aviation 
rulemaking committee to review, and develop findings and 
recommendations regarding, pilot rest and duty rules 
under part 135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(b) DUTIES.—The Administrator shall— 
(1) not later than 2 years after the date of en-
actment of this Act, 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 
based on the findings of the aviation rulemaking 
committee; and 
(2) not later than 1 year after the date of sub-
mission of the report under paragraph (1), issue a 
notice of proposed rulemaking based on any con-
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sensus recommendations reached by the aviation 
rulemaking committee. 
(c) COMPOSITION.—The aviation rulemaking com-
mittee shall consist of members appointed by the Adminis-
trator, including— 
(1) representatives of industry; 
(2) representatives of aviation labor organiza-
tions, including collective bargaining units rep-
resenting pilots who are covered by part 135 of title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations, and subpart K of 
part 91 of such title; and 
(3) aviation safety experts with specific knowl-
edge of flight crewmember education and training 
requirements under part 135 of such title. 
(d) CONSIDERATIONS.—The Administrator shall di-
rect the aviation rulemaking committee to consider— 
(1) recommendations of prior part 135 rule-
making committees; 
(2) accommodations necessary for small busi-
nesses; 
(3) scientific data derived from aviation-related 
fatigue and sleep research; 
(4) data gathered from aviation safety reporting 
programs; 
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(5) the need to accommodate the diversity of 
operations conducted under part 135; and 
(6) other items, as appropriate. 
SEC. 619. METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON AIRPORTS AU-
THORITY. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(1) the Metropolitan Washington Airports Au-
thority (in this section referred to as ‘‘MWAA’’), 
which operates Ronald Reagan Washington National 
Airport and Dulles International Airport by lease 
with the Department of Transportation, has rou-
tinely performed poorly on audits conducted by the 
Inspector General of the Department of Transpor-
tation; 
(2) the responsible stewardship of taxpayer- 
owned assets by MWAA is of great concern to Con-
gress; 
(3) a March 20, 2015, audit conducted by the 
Inspector General titled ‘‘MWAA’s Office of Audit 
Does Not Have an Adequate Quality Assurance and 
Improvement Program’’ (Report No. ZA–2015–035) 
found that MWAA’s quality assurance and improve-
ment program did not conform with the standards 
of the Institute of Internal Auditors; and 
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(4) the Inspector General’s audit made 7 rec-
ommendations to strengthen MWAA governance, its 
Office of Audit, and its quality assurance and im-
provement program. 
(b) IMPLEMENTING AUDIT RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
(1) STUDY.—The Inspector General of the De-
partment of Transportation shall conduct a study on 
MWAA’s progress in implementing the recommenda-
tions of the audit referred to in subsection (a). 
(2) REPORT.—The Inspector General shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate a report on the study, including 
the Inspector General’s findings, conclusions, and 
recommendations for strengthening and improving 
MWAA’s Office of Audit. 
SEC. 620. TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall permit a covered air carrier 
to operate to a destination in a noncontiguous State deter-
mined to be under visual flight rules without a Terminal 
Aerodrome Forecast or Meteorological Aerodrome Report 
if— 
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(1) a current Area Forecast, supplemented by 
other local weather observations or reports, is avail-
able; and 
(2) an alternate airport that has an available 
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast and weather report is 
specified. 
(b) PROCEDURES.—A covered air carrier shall— 
(1) have approved procedures for dispatch and 
enroute weather evaluation; and 
(2) operate under instrument flight rules 
enroute to the destination. 
(c) COVERED AIR CARRIER DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘covered air carrier’’ means an air carrier 
operating in a noncontiguous State under part 121 of title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
SEC. 621. FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION EMPLOY-
EES STATIONED ON GUAM. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration and the Secretary of Defense should 
seek an agreement that would enable Federal Avia-
tion Administration employees stationed on Guam to 
have access to Department of Defense hospitals, 
commissaries, and exchanges on Guam; 
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(2) access to these facilities is important to en-
sure the health and well-being of Federal Aviation 
Administration employees and their families; and 
(3) in exchange for this access, the Federal 
Aviation Administration should make payments to 
cover the applicable administrative costs incurred by 
the Department of Defense in carrying out the 
agreement. 
SEC. 622. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
(a) AIRPORT CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS 
AT CONGESTED AIRPORTS.—Section 40104(c) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘section 
47176’’ and inserting ‘‘section 47175’’. 
(b) 
PASSENGER
FACILITY
CHARGES.—Section 
40117(a)(5) of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘charge or charge’’ and inserting ‘‘charge’’. 
(c) OVERFLIGHTS
OF NATIONAL PARKS.—Section 
40128(a)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘under part 91 of the title 14,’’ and inserting 
‘‘under part 91 of title 14,’’. 
(d) PLANS TO ADDRESS NEEDS OF FAMILIES OF 
PASSENGERS INVOLVED IN FOREIGN AIR CARRIER ACCI-
DENTS.—Section 41313(c)(16) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘An assurance that the for-
eign air carrier’’ and inserting ‘‘An assurance that’’. 
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(e) OPERATIONS OF CARRIERS.—The analysis for 
chapter 417 of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by striking the item relating to section 41718 and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘41718. Special rules for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.’’. 
(f) SCHEDULES FOR CERTAIN TRANSPORTATION OF 
MAIL.—Section 41902(a) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘section 41906’’ and inserting 
‘‘section 41905’’. 
(g) WEIGHING MAIL.—Section 41907 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘and -adminis-
trative’’ and inserting ‘‘and administrative’’. 
(h) STRUCTURES INTERFERING WITH AIR COM-
MERCE OR NATIONAL SECURITY.—Section 44718(b)(1) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) 
by striking ‘‘air navigation facilities and equipment’’ 
and inserting ‘‘air or space navigation facilities and 
equipment’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (A)— 
(A) in clause (v) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(B) by redesignating clause (vi) as clause 
(vii); and 
(C) by inserting after clause (v) the fol-
lowing: 
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‘‘(vi) the impact on launch and re-
entry for launch and reentry vehicles arriv-
ing or departing from a launch site or re-
entry site licensed by the Secretary of 
Transportation; and’’. 
(i) FEES INVOLVING AIRCRAFT NOT PROVIDING AIR 
TRANSPORTATION.—Section 45302 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘44703(f)(2)’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘44703(g)(2)’’. 
(j) CHAPTER 465.—The analysis for chapter 465 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the 
following: 
‘‘46503. Repealed.’’. 
(k) SOLICITATION
AND CONSIDERATION
OF COM-
MENTS.—Section 47171(l) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘4371’’ and inserting ‘‘4321’’. 
(l) ADJUSTMENTS TO COMPENSATION FOR SIGNIFI-
CANTLY INCREASED COSTS.—Section 426 of the FAA 
Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a) (49 U.S.C. 41737 note) by 
striking ‘‘Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of 
Transportation’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c) (49 U.S.C. 41731 note) by 
striking ‘‘the Secretary may waive’’ and inserting 
‘‘the Secretary of Transportation may waive’’. 
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334 
(m) AIRCRAFT DEPARTURE QUEUE MANAGEMENT 
PILOT PROGRAM.—Section 507(a) of the FAA Moderniza-
tion and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 44505 note) is 
amended by striking ‘‘section 48101(a)’’ and inserting 
‘‘section 48101(a) of title 49, United States Code,’’. 
Æ 
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