I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1483
To amend title 49, United States Code, to make nonmilitary government
aircraft subject to safety regulation by the Department of Transportation.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 29, 1997
Mr. MENENDEZ introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to make nonmilitary
government aircraft subject to safety regulation by the
Department of Transportation.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Single Standard of
Aviation Safety Act’’.
SEC. 2. SAFETY REGULATION OF CERTAIN GOVERNMENT
AIRCRAFT.
(a) APPLICATION OF FAA REQUIREMENTS TO CER-
TAIN GOVERNMENT AIRCRAFT.—Chapter 447 of title 49,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
‘‘§ 44725. Applicability to certain government aircraft
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—
‘‘(1) APPLICABILITY TO NONMILITARY GOVERN-
MENT AIRCRAFT.—This chapter (including regula-
tions issued to carry out this chapter) applies to a
nonmilitary government aircraft in the same manner
and to the same extent as this chapter would apply
to such aircraft if such aircraft were owned or oper-
ated by a nongovernmental entity.
‘‘(2) APPLICABILITY
TO
MILITARY
AIRCRAFT
TRANSPORTING CIVILIANS.—This chapter (including
regulations issued to carry out this chapter) applies
to—
‘‘(A) a military aircraft in the same man-
ner and to the same extent as this chapter
would apply to such aircraft if such aircraft
were owned or operated by a nongovernmental
entity—
‘‘(i) if (as designated by the Secretary
concerned) such aircraft is an aircraft that
is primarily used for transportation; and
‘‘(ii) if persons other than members of
the armed forces on active duty are from
time to time transported on such aircraft;
and
‘‘(B) a flight of military aircraft not cov-
ered by subparagraph (A) on which persons
other than members of the armed forces on ac-
tive duty are transported in the same manner
and to the same extent as this chapter would
apply to such flight if such aircraft were owned
or operated by a nongovernmental entity.
‘‘(b) APPLICABILITY TO PERSONS OPERATING SUCH
AIRCRAFT.—This chapter (including regulations issued to
carry out this chapter) applies to any pilot, mechanic, or
other person employed by a covered governmental entity
(or assigned to duty by the armed forces) with respect to
the operation of an aircraft covered by subsection (a) in
the same manner and to the same extent as this chapter
would apply to such person if such aircraft were owned
or operated by a nongovernmental entity.
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following
definitions apply:
‘‘(1) COVERED GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.—The
term ‘covered governmental entity’ means the United
States, the District of Columbia, any State or terri-
tory, and any unit of local government of a State or
territory.
‘‘(2) MILITARY AIRCRAFT.—The term ‘military
aircraft’ means an aircraft under the jurisdiction of
the Secretary of a military department, or the Sec-
retary of Transportation with respect to the Coast
Guard when it is not operating as a service in the
Navy.
‘‘(3) NONMILITARY GOVERNMENT AIRCRAFT.—
The term ‘nonmilitary government aircraft’ means
an aircraft other than a military aircraft that is
owned or operated by a covered governmental en-
tity.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding
at the end the following new item:
‘‘44725. Applicability to certain government aircraft.’’.
SEC. 3. ACTION BY THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION.
The Secretary of Transportation shall take action as
may be necessary to facilitate implementation of the
amendments made by section 2 of this Act on January
1, 2001, and thereafter.
SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by section 2 of this Act shall
take effect January 1, 2001.
Æ