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planning consultants, and any other relevant stakeholders 
the Comptroller General determines appropriate. 
(d) 
FINDINGS, 
BEST
PRACTICES, 
AND
REC-
OMMENDATIONS.—As part of the review required under 
subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall produce best 
practices and recommendations that can be adopted by 
public-use airports to increase non-aeronautical revenue. 
(e) REPORT
TO
CONGRESS.—Not later than 3 
months after the completion of the review required under 
subsection (a), the Comptroller 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 
containing the findings, best practices, and recommenda-
tions of such review. 
SEC. 435. MAINTAINING SAFE FIRE AND RESCUE STAFFING 
LEVELS. 
(a) UPDATE TO REGULATION.—The Administrator of 
the Federal Aviation Administration shall update the reg-
ulations contained in section 139.319 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations, to ensure that paragraph (4) of such 
section provides that at least 1 individual maintains cer-
tification at the emergency medical technician basic level, 
or higher. 
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(b) STAFFING REVIEW.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
conduct a review of airport environments and related regu-
lations to evaluate sufficient staffing levels necessary for 
firefighting and rescue services and response at airports 
certified under part 139 of title 14, Code of Federal Regu-
lations. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after completing 
the review under subsection (b), the Administrator shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report containing the results of the review. 
SEC. 436. GAO STUDY OF ONSITE AIRPORT GENERATION. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall initiate a study on the feasibility of 
installation and adoption of certain power generation 
property at airports which receive funding from the Fed-
eral Government. 
(b) CONTENT.—In carrying out the study required 
under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall exam-
ine— 
(1) any safety impacts of the installation and 
operation of such power generation property, either 
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in aggregate or around certain locations or struc-
tures at the airport; 
(2) regulatory barriers to adoption; 
(3) benefits to adoption; 
(4) previous examples of adoptions; 
(5) impacts on other entities; and 
(6) previous examples of adoption and factors 
pertaining to previous examples of adoption, includ-
ing— 
(A) novel uses beyond supplemental power 
generation, such as expanding nonresidential 
property around airports to minimize noise, 
power generation resilience, and market forces; 
(B) challenges identified in the installation 
process; 
(C) upfront and long-term costs, both fore-
seen and unforeseen; 
(D) funding sources used to pay for up-
front costs; and 
(E) long-term savings. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the initi-
ation of the study under subsection (a), the Comptroller 
General shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
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of the Senate a report and recommendations on the results 
of the study. 
(d) POWER GENERATION PROPERTY DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘power generation property’’ means 
equipment defined in section 48(a)(3)(A) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986. 
SEC. 437. TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT AT 
AIRPORTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall conduct a study to examine the 
efficacy of transportation demand management strategies 
at United States airports. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the study 
under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall exam-
ine, at minimum— 
(1) whether transportation demand manage-
ment strategies should be considered by airports 
when making infrastructure planning and construc-
tion decisions; 
(2) the impact of transportation demand man-
agement strategies on existing multimodal options to 
and from airports in the United States; and 
(3) best practices for developing transportation 
demand management strategies that can be used to 
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improve access to airports for passengers and air-
port and airline personnel. 
(c) REPORT.—Upon completion of the study con-
ducted under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report on such study. 
(d) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘trans-
portation demand management strategy’’ means the use 
of planning, programs, policy, marketing, communica-
tions, incentives, pricing, data, and technology to optimize 
travel modes, routes used, departure times, and number 
of trips. 
SEC. 438. COASTAL AIRPORTS ASSESSMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall, in coordination 
with the Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of 
the United States Army Corps of Engineers, initiate an 
assessment on the resiliency of coastal airports in the 
United States. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The assessment required under sub-
section (a) shall— 
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(1) examine the impact of sea-level rise and 
other environmental factors that pose risks to coast-
al airports; and 
(2) identify and evaluate current initiatives to 
prevent and mitigate the impacts of factors de-
scribed in paragraph (1) on coastal airports. 
(c) REPORT.—Upon completion of the assessment, 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
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 on— 
(1) the results of the assessment required under 
subsection (a); and 
(2) recommendations to improve the resiliency 
of coastal airports in the United States. 
SEC. 439. AIRPORT INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. 
Section 47134(b) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) BENEFIT-COST
ANALYSIS.—Prior to ap-
proving an application submitted under subsection 
(a), the Secretary may require a benefit-cost anal-
ysis. If a benefit-cost analysis is required, the Sec-
retary shall issue a preliminary and conditional find-
ing, which shall— 
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‘‘(A) be issued not later than 60 days after 
the date on which the sponsor submits all infor-
mation required by the Secretary; 
‘‘(B) be based upon a collaborative review 
process that includes the sponsor or sponsor’s 
representative; 
‘‘(C) not constitute the issuance of a Fed-
eral grant or obligation to issue a grant under 
this chapter or other provision of law; and 
‘‘(D) not constitute any other obligation on 
the part of the Federal Government until the 
conditions specified in the final benefit-cost 
analysis are met.’’. 
SEC. 440. GAO STUDY ON PER-TRIP AIRPORT FEES FOR TNC 
CONSUMERS. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct a study of fees that airports 
assess against customers of transportation network com-
panies. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In carrying out the study required 
under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall ad-
dress— 
(1) the methodology used by airports to set a 
fee for customers of TNCs; 
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(2) expenditures by airports of fees assessed 
against customers of TNCs; and 
(3) a comparison of the fees imposed by air-
ports on customers of TNCs and other comparable 
modes of for-hire transportation, such as taxi. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 12 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
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 on the results of the study. 
(d) TRANSPORTATION
NETWORK
COMPANY
DE-
FINED; TNC DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘trans-
portation network company’’ or ‘‘TNC’’— 
(1) means a corporation, partnership, sole pro-
prietorship, or other entity that uses a digital net-
work to connect riders to drivers affiliated with the 
entity in order for the driver to transport the rider 
using a vehicle owned, leased, or otherwise author-
ized for use by the driver to a point chosen by the 
rider; and 
(2) does not include a shared-expense carpool or 
vanpool arrangement that is not intended to gen-
erate profit for the driver. 
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SEC. 441. SPECIAL RULE FOR RECLASSIFICATION OF CER-
TAIN UNCLASSIFIED AIRPORTS. 
(a) REQUEST FOR RECLASSIFICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 
30, 2024, a privately owned reliever airport (as such 
term is defined in section 47102 of title 49, United 
States Code) that is identified as unclassified in the 
National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems, 2021– 
2025 (as published under section 47103 of title 49, 
United States Code) may submit to the Secretary of 
Transportation a request to reclassify the airport ac-
cording to the criteria used to classify a publicly 
owned airport. 
(2) REQUIRED INFORMATION.—In submitting a 
request under paragraph (1), a privately owned re-
liever airport shall include the following information: 
(A) A sworn statement and accompanying 
documentation that demonstrates how the air-
port would satisfy the requirements of Federal 
Aviation Administration Order 5090.5, titled 
‘‘Formulation of the NPIAS and ACIP’’ (or 
any successor guidance), to be classified as 
‘‘Local’’ or ‘‘Basic’’ if the airport was publicly 
owned. 
(B) A report that— 
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(i) identifies the role of the airport to 
the aviation system; and 
(ii) describes the long-term fiscal via-
bility of the airport based on demonstrated 
aeronautical activity and associated reve-
nues relative to ongoing operating and 
maintenance costs. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY REVIEW.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
receiving a request from a privately owned reliever 
airport under subsection (a), the Secretary shall per-
form an eligibility review with respect to the airport, 
including an assessment of the airport’s safety, secu-
rity, capacity, access, compliance with Federal grant 
assurances, and protection of natural resources and 
the quality of the environment, as prescribed by the 
Secretary. 
(2) PUBLIC SPONSOR.—In performing the eligi-
bility review under paragraph (1), the Secretary— 
(A) may require the airport requesting re-
classification to provide information regarding 
the outlook (whether positive or negative) for 
obtaining a public sponsor; and 
(B) may not require the airport to obtain 
a public sponsor. 
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(c) RECLASSIFICATION BY THE SECRETARY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
receiving a request from a privately owned reliever 
airport under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall 
grant such request if the following criteria are met: 
(A) The request includes the required in-
formation under subsection (a)(2). 
(B) The privately owned reliever airport, to 
the satisfaction of the Secretary— 
(i) passes the eligibility review per-
formed under subsection (b); or 
(ii) submits a corrective action plan in 
accordance with paragraph (2). 
(2) CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN.—With respect 
to a privately owned reliever airport that does not, 
to the satisfaction of the Secretary, pass the eligi-
bility review performed under subsection (b), such 
airport may resubmit to the Secretary a reclassifica-
tion request along with a corrective action plan 
that— 
(A) resolves any shortcomings identified in 
such eligibility review; and 
(B) proves that any necessary corrective 
action has been completed by the airport. 
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(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The reclassification of any 
privately owned reliever airport under this section shall 
take effect not later than— 
(1) September 30, 2026, for any request grant-
ed under subsection (c)(1); and 
(2) September 30, 2027, for any request grant-
ed after the submission of a corrective action plan 
under subsection (c)(2). 
SEC. 442. PERMANENT SOLAR POWERED TAXIWAY EDGE 
LIGHTING SYSTEMS. 
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration shall produce an engineering brief that de-
scribes the acceptable use of permanent solar powered 
taxiway edge lighting systems at regional, local, and basic 
nonprimary airports (as categorized in the most recent 
National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems). 
SEC. 443. SECONDARY RUNWAYS. 
In approving grants for projects with funds made 
available pursuant to title VIII of division J of the Infra-
structure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58) 
under the heading ‘‘Federal Aviation Administration— 
Airport Infrastructure Grants’’, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall consider permitting 
a nonhub or small hub airport to use such funds to extend 
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secondary runways, notwithstanding the level of oper-
ational activity as such airport. 
SEC. 444. INCREASING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF AIR-
PORTS AND MEETING CURRENT AND FUTURE 
ENERGY POWER DEMANDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 47140 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 47140. Meeting current and future energy power 
demand 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall establish a program under which the Secretary 
shall— 
‘‘(1) encourage the sponsor of each public-use 
airport to— 
‘‘(A) conduct airport planning that as-
sesses the airport’s— 
‘‘(i) current and future energy power 
requirements, including— 
‘‘(I) heating and cooling; 
‘‘(II) on-road airport vehicles and 
ground support equipment; 
‘‘(III) gate electrification; 
‘‘(IV) electric aircraft charging; 
and 
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‘‘(V) vehicles and equipment used 
to transport passengers and employees 
between the airport and— 
‘‘(aa) nearby facilities owned 
or controlled by the airport or 
which otherwise directly support 
the functions or services provided 
by the airport; or 
‘‘(bb) an intermodal surface 
transportation facility adjacent to 
the airport; and 
‘‘(ii) existing energy infrastructure 
condition, location and capacity, including 
base load and backup power, to meet the 
current and future electrical power demand 
as identified in this subparagraph; and 
‘‘(B) conduct airport development to in-
crease energy efficiency or meet future electrical 
power demands as identified in subparagraph 
(A); and 
‘‘(2) reimburse the airport sponsor for the costs 
incurred in conducting the assessment under para-
graph (1). 
‘‘(b) GRANTS.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall make 
grants from amounts made available under section 
48103 to assist airport sponsors that have completed 
the assessment described in subsection (a)(1)— 
‘‘(A) to acquire or construct equipment 
that will increase energy efficiency at the air-
port; and 
‘‘(B) to pursue an airport development 
project described in subsection (a)(1)(B). 
‘‘(c) APPLICATION.—To be eligible for a grant under 
paragraph (1), the sponsor of a public-use airport shall 
submit an application, including a certification that no 
safety projects are being deferred by requesting a grant 
under this section, to the Secretary at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 471 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
striking the item relating to section 47140 and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘47140. Meeting current and future energy power demand.’’. 
SEC. 445. ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT INFRASTRUCTURE PILOT 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
may establish a pilot program under which the sponsors 
of public-use airports may use funds made available under 
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chapter 471 or section 48103 of title 49, United States 
Code, for use at up to 10 airports to carry out— 
(1) activities associated with the acquisition, by 
purchase or lease, operation, and installation of 
equipment to support the operations of electric air-
craft, including interoperable electric vehicle charg-
ing equipment; and 
(2) the construction or modification of infra-
structure to facilitate the delivery of power or serv-
ices necessary for the use of electric aircraft, includ-
ing— 
(A) on airport utility upgrades; and 
(B) associated design costs. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—A public-use airport is eligible for 
participation in the pilot program under this section if the 
Secretary finds that funds made available under sub-
section (a) would support— 
(1) electric aircraft operators at such airport, or 
using such airport; or 
(2) electric aircraft operators planning to oper-
ate at such airport with an associated agreement in 
place. 
(c) SUNSET.—The pilot program established under 
subsection (a) shall sunset 5 years after the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
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SEC. 446. CURB MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to— 
(1) prevent airports from engaging in curb 
management practices, including determining and 
assigning curb designations, regulations, and to in-
stall and maintain upon any of the roadways or 
parts of roadways as many curb zones as necessary 
to aid in the regulation, control, and inspection of 
passenger loading and unloading; or 
(2) prevent airports from enforcing curb zones 
using sensor, camera, automated license plate rec-
ognition, and software technologies and issuing cita-
tions by mail to the registered owner of the vehicle. 
SEC. 447. NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY. 
Notwithstanding part 200 of title 2, Code of Federal 
Regulations, or any other provision of law, funds made 
available as part of the airport improvement program 
under subchapter I of chapter 471 or chapter 475 of title 
49, United States Code, shall not be subject to any public 
notice of funding opportunity requirement. 
SEC. 448. SPECIAL CARRYOVER ASSUMPTION RULE. 
Section 47115 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(l) SPECIAL CARRYOVER ASSUMPTION RULE.—In 
addition to amounts made available under paragraphs (1) 
and (2) of subsection (a), the Secretary may add to the 
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discretionary fund an amount equal to one-third of the 
apportionment funds made available under section 47114 
that were not required during the previous fiscal year pur-
suant to section 47117(b)(1) out of the anticipated 
amount of apportionment funds made available under sec-
tion 47114 that will not be required during the current 
fiscal year pursuant to section 47117(b)(1).’’. 
SEC. 449. RUNWAY SAFETY PROJECTS. 
In awarding grants under section 47115 of title 49, 
United States Code, for runway safety projects, the Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall, 
to the maximum extent practicable— 
(1) reduce unnecessary or undesirable project 
segmentation; and 
(2) complete the entire project in an expeditious 
manner. 
Subtitle B—Passenger Facility 
Charges 
SEC. 461. PFC APPLICATION APPROVALS. 
Section 40117(d) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) each project is an eligible airport-related 
project;’’. 
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SEC. 462. PFC AUTHORIZATION PILOT PROGRAM IMPLE-
MENTATION. 
Section 40117(l) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading by striking 
‘‘PILOT PROGRAM’’ and inserting ‘‘ALTERNATIVE 
PROCEDURES’’; and 
(2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In lieu of submitting an 
application under subsection (c), an eligible agency 
may impose a passenger facility charge in accord-
ance with the procedures under this subsection sub-
ject to the limitations of this section.’’. 
Subtitle 
C—Noise 
and 
Environ-
mental Programs and Stream-
lining 
SEC. 471. STREAMLINING CONSULTATION PROCESS. 
Section 47101(h) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘shall’’ and inserting ‘‘may’’. 
SEC. 472. REPEAL OF BURDENSOME EMISSIONS CREDIT RE-
QUIREMENTS. 
Section 47139 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
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(A) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘airport sponsors re-
ceive’’ and inserting ‘‘airport sponsors may 
receive’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘carrying out projects’’ 
and inserting ‘‘carrying out projects, in-
cluding projects’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘conditions’’ and in-
serting ‘‘considerations’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘airport sponsor’’ and 
inserting ‘‘airport sponsor, including for an 
airport outside of a nonattainment area,’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘only’’; 
(iii) by striking ‘‘or as offsets’’ and in-
serting ‘‘, as offsets’’; and 
(iv) by striking the period at the end 
and inserting ‘‘, or as part of a State im-
plementation plan.’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (b); and 
(3) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (b). 
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SEC. 473. EXPEDITED ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND ONE 
FEDERAL DECISION. 
Section 47171 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘Secretary of 
Transportation’’ and inserting ‘‘Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘Secretary’’ in each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘Administrator’’; 
(3) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘develop and’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘projects at congested 
airports’’ and all that follows through 
‘‘aviation security projects’’ and inserting 
‘‘projects, terminal development projects, 
general aviation airport construction or im-
provement projects, and aviation safety 
projects’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘better’’ 
and inserting ‘‘streamlined’’. 
(4) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(b) AVIATION PROJECTS SUBJECT TO A STREAM-
LINED ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Any airport capacity en-
hancement project, terminal development project, or 
general aviation airport construction or improvement 
project shall be subject to the coordinated and expe-
dited environmental review process requirements set 
forth in this section. 
‘‘(2) PROJECT DESIGNATION CRITERIA.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator 
may designate an aviation safety project for pri-
ority 
environmental 
review. 
A 
designated 
project shall be subject to the coordinated and 
expedited environmental review process require-
ments set forth in this section. 
‘‘(B) PROJECT DESIGNATION CRITERIA.— 
The Administrator shall establish guidelines for 
the designation of an aviation safety project or 
aviation security project for priority environ-
mental review. Such guidelines shall provide for 
consideration of— 
‘‘(i) the importance or urgency of the 
project; 
‘‘(ii) the potential for undertaking the 
environmental review under existing emer-
gency procedures under the National Envi-
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HR 3935 PCS
ronmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.); 
‘‘(iii) the need for cooperation and 
concurrent reviews by other Federal or 
State agencies; and 
‘‘(iv) the prospect for undue delay if 
the project is not designated for priority 
review.’’; 
(5) in subsection (c) by striking ‘‘an airport ca-
pacity enhancement project at a congested airport or 
a project designated under subsection (b)(3)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘a project described or designated under 
subsection (b)’’; 
(6) in subsection (d) by striking ‘‘each airport 
capacity enhancement project at a congested airport 
or a project designated under subsection (b)(3)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘a project described or designated under 
subsection (b)’’; 
(7) in subsection (h) by striking ‘‘designated 
under subsection (b)(3)’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘congested airports’’ and inserting ‘‘de-
scribed in subsection (b)(1)’’; 
(8) in subsection (j)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘For any’’ and inserting 
the following: 
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HR 3935 PCS
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For any’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) DEADLINE.—The Administrator shall de-
fine the purpose and need of a project not later than 
45 days after receipt of a draft purpose and need 
statement (or revision thereof that materially affects 
a statement previously prepared or accepted by the 
Administrator) from an airport sponsor. The Admin-
istrator shall provide airport sponsors with appro-
priate guidance to implement any applicable require-
ments.’’; 
(9) in subsection (k)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘an airport capacity en-
hancement project at a congested airport or a 
project designated under subsection (b)(3)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘a project described or designated 
under subsection (b)’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘project shall consider’’ 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘project shall— 
‘‘(1) consider’’; 
(C) by striking the period at the end and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) limit the comments of the agency to— 
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HR 3935 PCS
‘‘(A) subject matter areas within the spe-
cial expertise of the agency; and 
‘‘(B) changes necessary to ensure the 
agency is carrying out the obligations of that 
agency under the National Environmental Pol-
icy Act of 1969 and other applicable law.’’; 
(10) in subsection (l) by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘and section 1503 of title 40, 
Code of Federal Regulations.’’; and 
(11) by striking subsection (m) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(m) COORDINATION AND SCHEDULE.— 
‘‘(1) COORDINATION PLAN.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 90 
days after the date of publication of a notice of 
intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement or the initiation of an environmental 
assessment, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall establish a plan 
for coordinating public and agency participation 
in and comment on the environmental review 
process for a project described or designated 
under subsection (b). The coordination plan 
may be incorporated into a memorandum of un-
derstanding. 
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‘‘(B) CLOUD-BASED, INTERACTIVE DIGITAL 
PLATFORMS.—The Administrator is encouraged 
to utilize cloud-based, interactive digital plat-
forms to meet community engagement and 
agency coordination requirements under sub-
paragraph (A). 
‘‘(C) SCHEDULE.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—The Administra-
tion shall establish as part of such coordi-
nation plan, after consultation with and 
the concurrence of each participating agen-
cy for the project and with the State in 
which the project is located (and, if the 
State is not the project sponsor, with the 
project sponsor), a schedule for— 
‘‘(I) interim milestones and dead-
lines for agency activities necessary to 
complete the environmental review; 
and 
‘‘(II) completion of the environ-
mental review process for the project. 
‘‘(ii) 
FACTORS
FOR
CONSIDER-
ATION.—In establishing the schedule under 
clause (i), the Administration shall con-
sider factors such as— 
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HR 3935 PCS
‘‘(I) the responsibilities of par-
ticipating agencies under applicable 
laws; 
‘‘(II) resources available to the 
cooperating 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 
affected 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 
more than 2 years for the completion of 
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HR 3935 PCS
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 Ad-
ministrator and participating agencies 
(or amongst participating agencies) 
during the environmental review proc-
ess 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 ex-
tent permitted by law; and 
‘‘(bb) seek to resolve issues 
or disputes at the earliest pos-
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HR 3935 PCS
sible 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 
agencies (or amongst participating 
agencies) causes a milestone to be 
missed or extended, or the Adminis-
trator anticipates that a permitting 
timetable milestone will be missed or 
will need to be extended, then the dis-
pute shall be elevated to an official 
designated by the relevant agency for 
resolution. Such elevation should take 
place as soon as practicable after the 
Administrator becomes 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. 
‘‘(V) FURTHER
EVALUATION.— 
Once a dispute has been elevated to 
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HR 3935 PCS
the designated official, if no resolution 
has been reached at the end of 30 
days after the relevant milestone date 
or extension date, then the relevant 
agencies shall elevate the dispute to 
senior agency leadership for resolu-
tion. 
‘‘(D) CONSISTENCY WITH OTHER TIME PE-
RIODS.—A schedule under subparagraph (B) 
shall be consistent with any other relevant time 
periods established under Federal law. 
‘‘(E) MODIFICATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Except as pro-
vided 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 
established for the project described 
or designated under subsection (b) by 
the Administration. 
‘‘(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. 
‘‘(F) FAILURE TO MEET DEADLINE.—If a 
cooperating Federal agency fails to meet a 
deadline 
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 
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HR 3935 PCS
‘‘(ii) the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(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. 
‘‘(G) DISSEMINATION.—A copy of a sched-
ule under subparagraph (B), and of any modi-
fications to the schedule, shall be— 
‘‘(i) provided to all participating agen-
cies and to the State transportation de-
partment of the State in which the project 
is located (and, if the State is not the 
project sponsor, to the project sponsor); 
and 
‘‘(ii) made available to the public. 
‘‘(2) COMMENT
DEADLINES.—The Adminis-
trator shall establish the following deadlines for com-
ment during the environmental review process for a 
project: 
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‘‘(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 
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 agen-
cies; 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 avail-
ability of the materials on which comment is re-
quested, 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. 
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‘‘(3) 
DEADLINES
FOR
DECISIONS
UNDER 
OTHER
LAWS.—In any case in which a decision 
under any Federal law relating to a project de-
scribed or designated under subsection (b) (including 
the issuance or denial of a permit or license) is re-
quired to be made by the later of the date that is 
180 days after the date on which the Administrator 
made all final decisions of the lead agency with re-
spect to the project, or 180 days after the date on 
which an application 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 Sen-
ate, and publish on the website of the Administra-
tion— 
‘‘(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 re-
lating to the project have been made by the 
Federal agency, an additional notice that de-
scribes the number of decisions of the Federal 
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HR 3935 PCS
agency that remain outstanding as of the date 
of the additional notice. 
‘‘(4) INVOLVEMENT OF THE PUBLIC.—Nothing 
in this subsection shall reduce any time period pro-
vided for public comment in the environmental re-
view process under existing Federal law, including a 
regulation. 
‘‘(n) CONCURRENT REVIEWS
AND SINGLE NEPA 
DOCUMENT.— 
‘‘(1) CONCURRENT
REVIEWS.—Each partici-
pating agency and cooperating agency under the ex-
pedited and coordinated environmental review proc-
ess established under this section shall— 
‘‘(A) carry out the obligations of that 
agency 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 conduct 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 en-
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HR 3935 PCS
vironmental 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 
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) under the lead-
ership 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 
required for the project, including permits 
issued by other Federal agencies. 
‘‘(ii) 
COOPERATION
OF
PARTICI-
PATING
AGENCIES.—Other participating 
agencies shall cooperate with the lead 
agency and provide timely information to 
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HR 3935 PCS
help the lead agency carry out this sub-
paragraph. 
‘‘(C) TREATMENT AS PARTICIPATING AND 
COOPERATING
AGENCIES.—A Federal agency 
required 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 
approval or taking the action is treated as being 
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 envi-
ronmental 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 
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HR 3935 PCS
subsection (b), if the Administrator modifies the 
statement in response to comments that are minor 
and are confined to factual corrections or expla-
nations of why the comments do not warrant addi-
tional agency response, the Administrator may write 
on errata sheets attached to the statement instead 
of rewriting the draft statement, subject to the con-
dition that the errata sheets— 
‘‘(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 
extent practicable, for a project subject to a coordi-
nated review process under this section, the Admin-
istrator shall expeditiously develop a single document 
that consists of a final environmental impact state-
ment 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 
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HR 3935 PCS
‘‘(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
DOCU-
MENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), an environmental impact 
statement shall not exceed 150 pages, not in-
cluding any citations or appendices. 
‘‘(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): 
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‘‘(A) The lead agency for a project, with 
respect to an environmental impact statement, 
environmental assessment, categorical exclusion, 
or other document prepared under the National 
Environmental 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 environ-
mental permit, approval, review, or study re-
quired for a project under any Federal law 
other than the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), if con-
sistent with that law. 
‘‘(2) IDENTIFICATION.—If the relevant agency 
makes a determination to adopt or incorporate by 
reference and use a planning product under para-
graph (1), such agency shall identify the agencies 
that participated 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 
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‘‘(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 
agencies decide the appropriate scope of envi-
ronmental 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-
porate by reference a planning product under this 
section if the relevant agency determines, with the 
concurrence of the lead agency and, if the planning 
product 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 following conditions have been met: 
‘‘(A) The planning product was developed 
through a planning process conducted pursuant 
to applicable Federal law. 
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‘‘(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 po-
tential 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 
accordance with this section. 
‘‘(E) During the environmental review 
process, the relevant agency has— 
‘‘(i) made the planning documents 
available for public review and comment by 
members of the general public and Fed-
eral, 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 incor-
porate by reference the planning product; 
and 
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‘‘(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 require-
ments for use of the information in the environ-
mental review process. 
‘‘(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. 
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‘‘(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 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate a 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— 
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‘‘(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 
Administrator issues a record of decision, 
including, if necessary, a revised record of 
decision; 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 
Administrator issues a finding of no sig-
nificant impact or determines that prepa-
ration of an environmental impact state-
ment is necessary. 
‘‘(3) INFORMATION DESCRIBED.—The informa-
tion referred to in paragraph (1) is, with respect to 
the Federal Aviation Administration— 
‘‘(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 
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applied by the Administration during the re-
porting period; 
‘‘(C) the number of proposed actions pend-
ing on the date on which the report is sub-
mitted for which the issuance of a documented 
categorical 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 sub-
mitted for which an environmental assessment 
is being drafted by the Administration; 
‘‘(G) the number of proposed actions for 
which a final environmental impact statement 
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); 
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‘‘(I) the number of proposed actions pend-
ing on the date on which the report is sub-
mitted for which an environmental impact 
statement is being drafted; and 
‘‘(J) for the proposed actions reported 
under subparagraphs (F) and (I), the percent-
age 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 proposed action to proceed are com-
pleted. 
‘‘(4) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(A) ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT.—The 
term ‘environmental assessment’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 1508.1 of title 40, 
Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor 
regulation). 
‘‘(B) ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT
STATE-
MENT.—The term ‘environmental impact state-
ment’ means a detailed statement required 
under section 102(2)(C) of the National Envi-
ronmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4332(2)(C)). 
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‘‘(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 
assessment and analysis of any impacts, alter-
natives, and mitigation of a proposed action, 
and any interagency participation and public in-
volvement 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 
meaning 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 
subsection (a).’’. 
SEC. 474. SUBCHAPTER III DEFINITIONS. 
Section 47175 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3)(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end and inserting ‘‘or’’; 
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(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 
‘terminal 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 inserting ‘‘on October 1, 2028.’’. 
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 
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part 150 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, to re-
flect all relevant 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 and in overflight communities 
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 Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate regarding the review conducted under 
subsection (a). 
(d) SUNSET.—The requirement under subsection (c) 
shall terminate on September 30, 2028. 
(e) OVERFLIGHT COMMUNITY DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘overflight community’’ means an 
area— 
(1) located under the flight paths of aircraft; 
(2) that experiences noise annoyance from such 
aircraft or airports; and 
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(3) that is located in an area that experiences 
a day-night average sound level lower than the 
threshold of significant noise exposure established by 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration. 
SEC. 477. REDUCING COMMUNITY AIRCRAFT NOISE EXPO-
SURE. 
In implementing or revising a flight procedure, the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall seek to take the following actions (to the extent that 
such actions do not negatively affect aviation safety or ef-
ficiency) 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 residen-
tial or other buildings near airports that could create 
future aircraft noise complaints or impact airport 
operations or aviation safety. 
SEC. 478. CATEGORICAL EXCLUSIONS. 
(a) CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION
FOR PROJECTS
OF 
LIMITED FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.—An action by the Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to ap-
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prove, permit, finance, or otherwise authorize any airport 
project that is undertaken by the sponsor, owner, or oper-
ator of a public-use airport shall be presumed to be cov-
ered by a categorical exclusion under Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration Order 1050.1F, or any successor document, 
if such project— 
(1) receives less than $6,000,000 (as adjusted 
annually by the Administrator to reflect any in-
creases in the Consumer Price Index prepared by 
the Department 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, fi-
nance, 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 categor-
ical exclusion under Federal Aviation Administration 
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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 
damaged 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 Presi-
dent pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5121 et seq.); 
(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 begin-
ning on the date of a declaration described in this 
section. 
(c) EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.—The pre-
sumption that an action is covered by a categorical exclu-
sion under subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply if the 
Administrator 
determines 
that 
extraordinary 
cir-
cumstances exist with respect to such action. 
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(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to impact any aviation safety au-
thority 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 
Regulations. 
(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. 
SEC. 479. CRITICAL HABITAT ON OR NEAR AIRPORT PROP-
ERTY. 
(a) FEDERAL AGENCY REQUIREMENTS.—The Ad-
ministrator 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 
section 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; 
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(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 
airport property for the conservation of a threatened or 
endangered species in the State, the Administrator, to the 
maximum extent practicable, shall collaborate with the 
State in the same manner as the Administrator collabo-
rates 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 
update the Administration’s list of actions that are pre-
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sumed to conform to a State implementation plan pursu-
ant to section 93.153(f) of title 40, Code of Federal Regu-
lations, 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 sub-
section (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; 
(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; 
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(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 Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee 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 
containing— 
(1) the contents of the study conducted under 
subsection (a); and 
(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 Po-
lice Department of the District of Columbia; 
(2) any medical rotorcraft operator that rou-
tinely flies a rotorcraft over the District of Colum-
bia; and 
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(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 
Federal Aviation Administration shall enter into an agree-
ment with the National Academies under which the Na-
tional Research 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 stud-
ies done on airborne UPFs worldwide; 
(2) focus on large hub airports; 
(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 con-
centrations compared to other sources; 
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(E) potential health effects associated with 
elevated UFP exposures, including outcomes re-
lated to cardiovascular disease, respiratory in-
fection 
and 
disease, 
degradation 
of 
neurocognitive functions, and other health ef-
fects; 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. 
(c) COORDINATION.— The Administrator may coordi-
nate with the heads of such other agencies that the Ad-
ministrator considers appropriate to provide data and 
other assistance 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 Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
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containing the results of the study carried out under sub-
section (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 estab-
lish an airport community of interest task force (in 
this section referred to as the ‘‘Task Force’’) to 
evaluate and improve existing processes and mecha-
nisms for engaging communities impacted by airport 
development 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-
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pact such communities, including with how such 
processes and practices compare to best prac-
tices from organizations with expertise in grass-
roots 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 air-
port projects or surrounding airport community 
developments; 
(E) identify potential improvements to 
Federal, State, and local airport development 
policy and planning processes to better balance 
which 
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 
document titled ‘‘Aircraft Noise: FAA Could 
Improve Outreach Through Enhanced Noise 
Metrics, Communication, and Support to Com-
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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 op-
erators in communities adversely impacted by 
helicopter noise, as recommended by the Comp-
troller General in the document titled ‘‘Aircraft 
Noise: Better Information Sharing Could Im-
prove Responses to Washington, D.C. Area Hel-
icopter 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.— 
(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— 
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(i) multiple airport communities and 
communities in the vicinity of airports; 
(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-
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 
fiscal year 2028, the Task Force shall provide 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
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structure of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate, and the Administrator 
recommendations 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 rec-
ommendations under subparagraph (A), the Ad-
ministrator shall brief the committees described 
in such subparagraph on any plans of the Ad-
ministration to implement the recommendations 
of the Task Force, including explanations for 
each of the recommendations the Administrator 
does not intend to adopt. 
(b) ENGAGEMENT EVENTS.— 
(1) ANNUAL EVENT.—The Administrator shall 
seek to convene at least 2 annual events 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 fos-
ter open and transparent communication between 
the Federal Government and aviation-impacted com-
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munities 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 Re-
gional Community Engagement Officer of the appli-
cable region, in consultation with regional interest 
groups. Topic areas shall be driven by local and re-
gional feedback and may focus on— 
(A) noise concerns from low-flying com-
mercial aircraft; 
(B) purchase and installation of aircraft 
noise reduction measures; 
(C) new development projects in close 
proximity to airports and realistic noise expec-
tations for such projects; 
(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 
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(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 co-
ordination with the regional offices of the Ad-
ministration. 
(B) 
ATTENDANCE
BY
REPRESENTA-
TIVES.—The Administrator shall ensure rep-
resentatives from relevant program offices of 
the Administration 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 
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; 
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(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 Fed-
eral Interagency Committee on Aviation Noise 
to encourage appropriate Federal representa-
tion at all such events, based on the topic areas 
of consideration. 
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 
Community Collaboration Program (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Program’’) within the Office for Policy, 
International Affairs, and Environment of the Administra-
tion. 
(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; 
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(3) the Air Traffic Organization of the Admin-
istration; 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. 
(2) SPECIFIED
RESPONSIBILITIES.—The re-
sponsibilities 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; 
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(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, best practices of other Federal agencies 
interviews with impacted residents, and external 
organizations with expertise in community en-
gagement, and recommendations solicited from 
individuals and local government officials in 
communities adversely impacted by aircraft 
noise; 
(D) coordinating with the Air Traffic Or-
ganization on community engagement efforts 
related to air traffic procedure changes to en-
sure 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 proc-
ess 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 
communities impacted by aircraft noise, includ-
ing— 
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(i) any recommendations to— 
(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 
related 
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 air-
ports and communities on effectively 
engaging 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; 
(H) ensuring engagement with local com-
munity groups as appropriate in conducting the 
other responsibilities described in this section; 
and 
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(I) other responsibilities as considered ap-
propriate by the Administrator. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the Ad-
ministrator implements the recommendations described in 
subsection (c)(2)(H), the Administrator shall brief the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate describ-
ing— 
(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 commu-
nity 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 avia-
tion noise metrics. 
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(b) CONTENTS.—The study required under sub-
section (a) shall include an assessment of— 
(1) the efficacy of the day-night average sound 
level (in this section referred to as ‘‘DNL’’) noise 
metric compared to other alternative models; 
(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 
enactment of this Act; and 
(4) the data collected by the Neighborhood En-
vironmental Survey of the Administration using al-
ternative 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 
Representatives, 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 
public health impacts of aircraft noise. 
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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 
make helicopter noise complaint data accessible to the 
Federal Aviation Administration, to helicopter operators 
operating in the Washington, D.C. area, and to the public 
on a website of the Administration, based on the rec-
ommendation of the Government Accountability Office in 
the report published on January 7, 2021, titled ‘‘Aircraft 
Noise: Better Information Sharing Could Improve Re-
sponses to Washington, D.C. Area Helicopter Noise Con-
cerns’’. 
(b) COOPERATION.—Any helicopter operator oper-
ating in the Washington, D.C. area shall provide heli-
copter noise complaint data to the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration 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— 
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(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 
(iv) the airport name associated with 
such event; and 
(B) does not include the personally identi-
fiable information of the individual who sub-
mitted the complaint. 
(2) 
WASHINGTON, 
D.C. 
AREA.—The 
term 
‘‘Washington, D.C. area’’ means the area inside of 
a 30-mile radius surrounding Ronald Reagan Wash-
ington National Airport. 
TITLE V—AVIATION SAFETY 
Subtitle A—General Provisions 
SEC. 501. ZERO TOLERANCE FOR NEAR MISSES, RUNWAY 
INCURSIONS, 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), 
respectively; and 
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(B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the 
following: 
‘‘(2) that projects, activities, and actions that 
prevent runway incursions serve to— 
‘‘(A) improve airport surface surveillance; 
and 
‘‘(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 ‘‘sub-
section 
(a)(5)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘subsection 
(a)(6)’’; and 
(B) in subsection (h) by striking ‘‘sub-
section 
(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.— 
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
establish a council, to be known as the ‘‘Runway 
Safety Council’’ (in this section referred to as the 
‘‘Council’’), to develop a systematic proactive man-
agement strategy to address surface safety risks. 
(2) DUTIES.—The duties of the Council shall 
include, at a minimum, advancing the development 
of risk-based, data driven, integrated systems solu-
tions and strategies to enhance surface safety risk 
mitigation. 
(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 rep-
resentative of aviation safety inspectors for 
the Administration. 
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(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 Admin-
istrator determines appropriate. 
(B) ADDITIONAL MEMBERS.—The Admin-
istrator may appoint members representing any 
other stakeholder organization that the Admin-
istrator 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, con-
sult with relevant stakeholders to identify tech-
nologies, 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. 
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(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— 
(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 run-
way 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 Adminis-
trator shall ensure that airport surface surveillance 
systems are deployed and operational at— 
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(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 In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate on the progress of the deploy-
ment 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 as-
sessment under paragraph (1), the Administrator 
shall consider the following: 
(A) The categorization of an airport. 
(B) The potential frequency of foreign ob-
ject debris incidents on airport runways or ad-
jacent ramp areas. 
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(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 
object debris monitoring and detection systems. 
(F) Any other factors relevant to assessing 
the return on investment of foreign object de-
bris 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 rel-
evant 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 feder-
ally funded research and development center to con-
duct a study of runway incursions, surface incidents, 
operational errors, or losses of standard separation 
of aircraft in the approach or departure phase of 
flight to determine how advanced technologies and 
future airport development projects may be able to 
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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 
runway incursions, surface incidents, oper-
ational errors, or losses of standard separation 
of aircraft 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 
technologies, including and beyond such tech-
nologies considered in subsection (c), that may 
augment existing air traffic management capa-
bilities of surface surveillance and terminal air-
space 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 
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(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, in-
cluding airfield familiarization training pro-
grams for employees, to assess scalability to 
handle future growth in airfield capacity and 
traffic. 
(3) RECOMMENDATIONS.—In conducting the 
study required by paragraph (1), the federally fund-
ed research and development center shall develop 
recommendations for the strategic planning efforts 
of the Administration to appropriately maintain sur-
face safety considering future increases in air traffic 
and based on the considerations described in para-
graph (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 Sen-
ate a report on the findings of such study and any 
recommendations developed under paragraph (3). 
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(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. 
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 Admin-
istrator shall maintain an international presence 
to— 
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‘‘(A) assist foreign civil aviation authorities 
in— 
‘‘(i) establishing robust aviation over-
sight practices and policies; 
‘‘(ii) training staff, to include inspec-
tors and accident investigators; 
‘‘(iii) harmonizing international avia-
tion standards for air traffic management, 
operator certification, aircraft certification, 
airports, and certificated or credentialed 
individuals; 
‘‘(iv) validating and accepting foreign 
aircraft design and production approvals; 
‘‘(v) maintaining appropriate levels of 
air navigation services; 
‘‘(vi) preparing for new aviation 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 
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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 aviation 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 
products and such investigations where the Na-
tional Transportation Safety Board is sup-
porting an investigation pursuant to annex 13 
of the International Civil Aviation Organization; 
‘‘(G) support the international activities of 
the United States aviation sector; 
‘‘(H) maintain valuable relationships with 
entities with aviation 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.’’. 
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(b) REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL FIELD OFFICES.— 
Section 40104(d) of title 49, United States Code, (as re-
designated 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 Administrator shall— 
‘‘(A) maintain international offices of the 
Administration; 
‘‘(B) every 3 years, review existing inter-
national offices to determine— 
‘‘(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 iden-
tified by the review under subparagraph (B) 
and in furtherance of the mission described in 
paragraph (2), putting an emphasis on estab-
lishing such offices— 
‘‘(i) where international civil aviation 
authorities are located; 
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‘‘(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 aviation operations 
or manufacturing.’’. 
(c) BILATERAL AVIATION SAFETY AGREEMENTS.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Section 40104(d) of 
title 49, United States Code, (as redesignated by 
section 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 
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agreements under this section to, at a min-
imum— 
‘‘(i) improve global aviation safety; 
‘‘(ii) increase harmonization of, and 
reduce duplicative, requirements, processes, 
and approvals to advance the aviation 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. 
‘‘(C) SCOPE.—The scope of a bilateral 
aviation safety agreement entered into under 
this section shall, as appropriate, cover existing 
aviation users and concepts and establish a 
process by which bilateral aviation safety agree-
ments can be updated to include new and novel 
concepts on an ongoing basis. 
‘‘(D) CONTENTS.—Bilateral aviation safety 
agreements entered into under this section 
shall, as appropriate and consistent with United 
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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; 
‘‘(ix) flight simulation training de-
vices; 
‘‘(x) new or emerging technologies and 
technology trends; and 
‘‘(xi) other topics as determined ap-
propriate by the Administrator. 
‘‘(E) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Bilateral 
or multilateral aviation safety agreements en-
tered into under this subsection shall not be 
construed to diminish or alter any authority of 
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the Administrator under any other provision of 
law.’’. 
(2) AUDIT OF VALIDATION ACTIVITIES UNDER 
BILATERAL 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; 
(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 
review required under this subsection, the in-
spector general shall evaluate the performance 
of validation programs by assessing— 
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(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 
provide such perspective, on the validation 
of products certified in the United States 
and 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 (2), the inspector gen-
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eral shall provide to the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration, the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate a report summarizing the 
findings of the audit and any recommendations 
to increase compliance and improve the valida-
tion timeframes of aircraft and aircraft parts. 
(d) INTERNATIONAL
ENGAGEMENT
STRATEGY.— 
Section 40104(d) of title 49, United States Code, (as re-
designated 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 
engagement of the Administration that includes— 
‘‘(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-
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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 
‘‘(G) establishment of, and a process to 
regularly track and update, metrics to measure 
the effectiveness of, and foreign civil aviation 
authority compliance with, bilateral aviation 
safety agreements.’’. 
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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, 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; 
‘‘(3) promoting environmental standards adopt-
ed 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; 
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‘‘(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 
section,’’; 
(2) in subsection (c) by striking ‘‘address the 
following’’ and inserting ‘‘consider, or address 
through other means, the following’’; 
(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’’; 
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(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 Ad-
ministration 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 how the proposed rule published on Janu-
ary, 11, 2023, titled ‘‘Safety Management System’’ (88 
Fed. Reg. 1932) will— 
(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 
conducting an air ambulance operation. 
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(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 insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(2) make publicly available, in part or in 
whole, on the website of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration website, the database developed pursu-
ant to subsection (c); and 
‘‘(3) analyze the data submitted under sub-
section (a) periodically and use such data to inform 
efforts to improve the safety of helicopter air ambu-
lance operations.’’; and 
(3) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as 
subsections (d) and (e), respectively. 
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— 
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(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 
applicable laws of the country in which the 
part 145 repair station is located.’’; 
(D) by redesignating subsection (g) as sub-
section (j); and 
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(E) by inserting after subsection (f) the 
following: 
‘‘(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 Ad-
ministrator, not later than the end of the following 
fiscal year, a report containing the information de-
scribed 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-
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 
aircraft registration number, that— 
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‘‘(i) requires corrective action after 
the aircraft is approved for return to serv-
ice; and 
‘‘(ii) results from such work per-
formed 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 Fed-
eral Regulations, or any successor provisions of 
such title, to detect safety issues associated 
with heavy maintenance work on aircraft per-
formed 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). 
‘‘(4) CONFIDENTIALITY.—Information provided 
under this subsection shall be subject to the same 
protections given to voluntarily provided safety or 
security related information under section 40123. 
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‘‘(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 Fed-
eral 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 clas-
sified as Category 2. 
‘‘(4) PROHIBITION
ON
CONTINUED
HEAVY 
MAINTENANCE 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 the Administrator, through the Inter-
national Aviation Safety Assessment program, has 
classified as Category 2, for as long as such country 
remains classified as Category 2. 
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‘‘(i) MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
FOR MECHANICS 
AND OTHERS WORKING
ON U.S. REGISTERED AIR-
CRAFT.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this subsection, the 
Administrator shall require that, at each covered re-
pair station— 
‘‘(A) all supervisory personnel of such sta-
tion are appropriately certificated as a me-
chanic or repairman under part 65 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations, or under an 
equivalent certification 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 subsection, the Administrator shall require any 
individual who is responsible for approving an article 
for return to service or who is directly in charge of 
heavy maintenance work performed on aircraft oper-
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HR 3935 PCS
ated by a part 121 air carrier be available for con-
sultation while work is being performed at a covered 
repair station.’’. 
(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 
‘covered 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.’’. 
(B) 
TECHNICAL
AMENDMENT.—Section 
44733(a)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘covered part 145 repair 
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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 
‘‘Working Group’’) to conduct a review of the certifi-
cation and oversight of extraterritorial repair sta-
tions and to identify any future enhancements or 
harmonization 
that 
might 
be 
appropriate 
to 
strengthen oversight of such repair stations and im-
prove global aviation safety. 
(2) COMPOSITION
OF
WORKING
GROUP.—The 
Working Group shall consist of— 
(A) technical representatives from the 
FAA; and 
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(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. 
(5) REPORTS.— 
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(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
STA-
TION WORKING GROUP REPORT.—The Ad-
ministrator 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 copy of the 
report required under subparagraph (A) as 
soon as is practicable after the receipt of 
such report. 
(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 
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Commerce, 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 Ad-
ministrator or another participant of the Working 
Group requests for an extension of the Working 
Group in order to inform the implementation and 
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harmonization 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 BACK-
GROUND CHECKS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, and annually 
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 Sen-
ate a report updating Congress on the progress and 
challenges involved with carrying out the require-
ments 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 sub-
section (b) has been published in the Federal Reg-
ister. 
(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 an-
other Federal agency to initiate a rulemaking that 
requires a covered repair station to confirm that any 
such employee has successfully completed an assess-
ment commensurate with a security threat assess-
ment described in subpart C of part 1540 of such 
title. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) FAA.—The term ‘‘FAA’’ means the Fed-
eral 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. 
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SEC. 506. ODA BEST PRACTICE SHARING. 
Section 44736(b) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(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 
period 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 mem-
bers; and 
‘‘(iii) foster open and transparent 
communication 
between 
Administration 
safety specialists, ODA holders, and unit 
members.’’. 
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SEC. 507. TRAINING OF ORGANIZATION DELEGATION AU-
THORIZATION UNIT MEMBERS. 
(a) UNIT MEMBER ANNUAL ETHICS TRAINING.— 
Section 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 Admin-
istrator 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 
required to be established under section 102(f) 
of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Ac-
countability 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 en-
sure such program includes all elements de-
scribed 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 
training 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 dele-
gated under the ODA. 
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‘‘(4) 
ACCOUNTABILITY.—The 
Administrator 
shall establish such processes or requirements as are 
necessary 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 60 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-
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ment system, including a system required by regula-
tion, that is acceptable to the Administrator.’’; and 
(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.—Sec-
tion 44704(g)(1)(C)(ii) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘2025’’ and inserting ‘‘2028’’. 
(b) OVERSIGHT
OF ORGANIZATION DESIGNATION 
AUTHORIZATION 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 
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Administrator shall provide a briefing’’ and inserting ‘‘The 
Administrator 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.— 
Section 113(f) of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and 
Accountability 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 fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 44745. Don Young Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration shall redesignate the FAA 
Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative of the Administration as 
the Don Young Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative (in this 
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section referred to as the ‘Initiative’), under which the Ad-
ministrator shall carry out the provisions of this section 
and take such other actions as the Administrator deter-
mines 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 acci-
dents 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 op-
erates under part 135 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations. 
‘‘(c) LEADERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator shall 
designate the Regional Administrator for the Alas-
kan Region of the Administration to serve as the Di-
rector of the Initiative. 
‘‘(2) REPORTING CHAIN.—In all matters relat-
ing to the Initiative, the Director of the Initiative 
shall report directly to the Administrator. 
‘‘(3) COORDINATION.—The Director of the Ini-
tiative shall coordinate with the heads of other of-
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fices and lines of business of the Administration, in-
cluding the other regional administrators, to carry 
out the Initiative. 
‘‘(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 op-
erated at each covered airport not later than Decem-
ber 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 auto-
mated weather system. 
‘‘(3) PRIORITIZATION.—In developing the in-
stallation timeline of a covered automated weather 
system at a covered airport pursuant to this sub-
section, 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 cov-
ered locations, and such other members of the 
aviation community in covered locations; and 
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‘‘(B) prioritize early installation at covered 
airports that would enable the greatest number 
of instrument flight rule operations by air car-
riers operating under part 121 or 135 of title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
‘‘(4) RELIABILITY.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Pertaining to both 
Federal and non-Federal systems, the Adminis-
trator 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 
Adminis-
trator 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 re-
liability, including the availability of weather in-
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formation from such system, and for restoring 
service in as little time as possible. 
‘‘(D) TELECOMMUNICATIONS
OR
OTHER 
FAILURES.—If a covered automated weather 
system is unable to broadly disseminate weather 
information 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 repair a covered automated 
weather system equipment failure or data fidel-
ity issue. 
‘‘(E) RELIABILITY
DATA.—In tabulating 
data relating to the operational status of cov-
ered automated weather systems (including in-
dividually or collectively), the Administrator 
may not consider a covered automated weather 
system that is functioning nominally but is un-
able to broadly disseminate weather information 
telecommunications failure or a failure other 
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than an equipment failure as functioning reli-
ably. 
‘‘(5) INVENTORY.—The Administrator shall 
consider storing excess inventory necessary for air 
traffic control equipment, including commonly re-
quired replacement parts, in covered locations to re-
duce the amount of time necessary to acquire such 
equipment or such parts necessary to replace or re-
pair air traffic control system components. 
‘‘(6) VISUAL
WEATHER
OBSERVATION
SYS-
TEM.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment 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— 
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‘‘(A) accept applications from persons to 
install weather cameras; and 
‘‘(B) consult with the governments with ju-
risdiction over covered locations, covered air-
ports, air carriers operating in covered loca-
tions, private pilots based in covered locations, 
and such other members of the aviation com-
munity in covered locations as the Adminis-
trator determines appropriate to solicit addi-
tional locations at which to install and operate 
weather cameras. 
‘‘(3) PRESUMPTION.—Unless the Director has 
clear and compelling evidence to the contrary, the 
Director shall presume that the installation of a 
weather camera at a covered airport, or that is rec-
ommended by a government with jurisdiction over a 
covered location, is cost beneficial and will improve 
aviation safety. 
‘‘(f) COOPERATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES.—In 
carrying out this section, the Administrator shall cooper-
ate with the heads of other Federal or State agencies with 
responsibilities affecting aviation safety in covered loca-
tions, including the collection and dissemination of weath-
er data. 
‘‘(g) SURVEILLANCE AND COMMUNICATION.— 
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‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Director shall take 
such actions as may be necessary to— 
‘‘(A) encourage and incentivize the equi-
page of aircrafts that operate under part 135 of 
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, with 
automatic dependent surveillance and broadcast 
out equipment; and 
‘‘(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 
throughout 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. 
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‘‘(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 Ad-
ministration published before the date of enactment of this 
section. 
‘‘(i) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall submit 
an annual report on the status and progress of the 
Initiative to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate. 
‘‘(2) OBJECTIVES
AND
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
report under paragraph (1) shall include a detailed 
description of the Director’s progress in and plans 
for meeting the objectives of the Initiative under 
subsection (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 ti-
tled ‘FAA Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative FY21 
Final Report’, dated September 30, 2021. 
‘‘(j) FUNDING.— 
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‘‘(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 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 
purpose 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 author-
ized to be expended to carry out the Initiative. 
‘‘(k) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) COVERED
AIRPORT.—The term ‘covered 
airport’ 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. 
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‘‘(2) COVERED
AUTOMATED
WEATHER
SYS-
TEM.—The term ‘covered automated weather sys-
tem’ means an automated or visual weather report-
ing facility that enables a pilot to begin an instru-
ment procedure approach to an airport under section 
91.1039 or 135.225 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations. 
‘‘(3) COVERED LOCATION.—The term ‘covered 
location’ means Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Amer-
ican Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, 
and the United States Virgin Islands. 
‘‘(l) CONFORMITY.—The Administrator shall conduct 
all activities required under this section in conformity with 
section 44720.’’. 
(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 posi-
tion, the Administrator may consider, in con-
sultation with the appropriate labor union, ap-
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plicants for the covered position who apply 
under a vacancy announcement recruiting from 
the State or territory 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 
Islands.’’. 
(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 
rehabilitating, reconstructing, or extending a primary run-
way 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.— 
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(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 
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 Re-
gional Administrator for the Alaskan Region. 
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(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 Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation 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 im-
plement National Transportation Safety Board rec-
ommendations A–22–25 and A–22–26 (as contained 
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in Aviation Investigation Report AIR–22–09, adopt-
ed 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 
members of the Alaska aviation community or other 
stakeholders as the Administrator determines appro-
priate. 
(f) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 447 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘44745. Don Young Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative.’’. 
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 
program and to determine— 
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‘‘(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 
safety 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-
tem, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration shall consider the scalability of such safety man-
agement 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; 
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(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 Regula-
tions, 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 
Federal Aviation Administration shall issue a final rule 
relating to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration titled ‘‘Safety Management 
Systems’’, issued on January 11, 2023. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—In issuing a final rule under 
subsection (a), the Administrator shall ensure that the 
safety management system requirement under the Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking described in subsection (a) is ap-
plied to all certificate holders operating under the rules 
for commuter and on-demand operations under part 135 
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of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, commercial air 
tour operators operating under section 91.147 of such 
title, production certificate holders that are holders or li-
censees of a type certificate for the same product, and 
holders of a type certificate who license out such certifi-
cate 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 
Federal Aviation Administration shall implement improve-
ments to the Aviation Safety Information Analysis and 
Sharing Program with respect to safety data sharing and 
risk mitigation. 
(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 
expeditiously 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 
requests for safety information; 
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(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 
increase the rate of participation, including— 
(A) general aviation; 
(B) rotorcraft; 
(C) air ambulance; and 
(D) maintenance facilities; and 
(7) establish processes for obtaining and ana-
lyzing comprehensive and aggregate data for new 
and future industry segments. 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion 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 there-
after until the improvements under subsection (a) are 
made, the Administrator shall brief the Committee on 
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Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate on the progress of im-
plementation of the Aviation Safety Information Analysis 
and Sharing Program and steps taken to make improve-
ments 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. 
(b) CERTIFICATION IMPROVEMENTS.—Not later than 
270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Ad-
ministrator shall enter into an appropriate arrangement 
with a qualified third-party organization or consortium to 
identify and assess digital tools and software systems to 
allow for efficient and virtual evaluation of an applicant 
design, associated documentation, and software or systems 
engineering 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 
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Administrator shall ensure that the qualified third-party 
organization or consortium entering into an arrangement 
under this section shall, throughout the review, consult 
with— 
(1) the aircraft certification and flight stand-
ards offices or services of the Administration; and 
(2) at least 3 industry members representing 
aircraft and aircraft part manufacturing interests. 
(d) DIGITAL TOOL
AND SOFTWARE SYSTEM RE-
QUIREMENTS.—In identifying digital tools and software 
systems under subsection (b), the qualified third-party or-
ganization or consortium shall— 
(1) consider the interoperability of such systems 
to the extent practicable; 
(2) consider the scalability and usability of such 
systems for differing use-cases by aircraft manufac-
turers, aircraft operators, and the Administration, 
including cross-office use-cases within the Adminis-
tration; 
(3) consider such systems currently in use by 
United States manufacturers or other civil aviation 
authorities for certification and engineering pur-
poses; 
(4) consider the— 
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(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 modifica-
tions in a more rapid fashion; 
(7) determine if each system provides adequate 
protections for the exchange of information between 
governmental and nongovernmental entities, includ-
ing— 
(A) intellectual property protections; 
(B) cyber and network security protec-
tions; and 
(C) the ability for governmental and non-
governmental entities to control what is accept-
able and what is restricted for other parties; 
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(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 assess-
ment 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; 
(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 
qualified third-party organization or consortium finds that 
digital and software systems and tools would assist the 
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work of the Administration and improve certification 
projects processing, the assessment described under sub-
section (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 tech-
nologies at the headquarters and field offices of the 
Administration, 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 and tools would assist the work of the agency, 
the Administrator shall— 
(1) provide the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate with a briefing on the 
intended actions of the Administrator; 
(2) not later than 60 days after receiving such 
assessment develop a plan to— 
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(A) work towards the acquisition of the 
systems and tools recommended, subject to the 
availability 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 co-
ordinating with the Administration on certifi-
cation related activities, at the discretion of the 
applicant 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 re-
ceiving such assessment, the Administrator shall provide 
the committees described in paragraph (1) with a briefing 
on the use, benefits, and any drawbacks of the systems 
and tools, including comparisons between certification pro-
grams 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 
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Federal Aviation Administration shall convene an aviation 
rulemaking committee to review, and develop findings and 
recommendations regarding, instructions for continued 
airworthiness (as described in section 21.50 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations), and provide to the Adminis-
trator a report on such findings and recommendations and 
for other related purposes as determined by the Adminis-
trator. 
(b) COMPOSITION.—The aviation rulemaking com-
mittee established pursuant to subsection (a) shall consist 
of members appointed by the Administrator, including 
representatives of— 
(1) holders of type certificates (as described in 
subpart B of part 21, title 14, Code of Federal Reg-
ulations); 
(2) holders of production certificates (as de-
scribed in subpart G of part 21, title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations); 
(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); 
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(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 
Regulations) that are not also type certificate hold-
ers as included under paragraph (1), production cer-
tificate holders as included under paragraph (2), or 
aircraft operators as included under paragraph (5) 
(or associated with any such entities); 
(7) the certified bargaining representative of 
aviation safety inspectors and engineers for the Ad-
ministration; 
(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 described in paragraph (6); 
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 
committee established pursuant to subsection (a) shall 
consider— 
(1) existing standards, regulations, certifi-
cations, assessments, and guidance related to in-
structions for continued airworthiness and the clar-
ity of such standards, regulations, certifications, as-
sessments, 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 pro-
posed and existing regulations with other Federal 
regulations, 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 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 copy of 
the aviation rulemaking committee report under sub-
section (a); and 
(2) not later than 180 days after the date of 
submission of the report under paragraph (1), ini-
tiate a rulemaking activity or make such policy and 
guidance updates necessary to address any con-
sensus recommendations reached by the aviation 
rulemaking committee established pursuant to sub-
section (a), as determined appropriate by the Ad-
ministrator. 
SEC. 517. CLARITY FOR SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFI-
CATE 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 
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the conditions under which a major alteration will require 
a supplemental type certificate under part 21 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations. 
(b) CONTENTS.—Issuances or updates under sub-
section (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, re-
spectively’’; 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 
approved 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 Federal Aviation Administration shall complete an as-
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sessment of the use of advanced tools during the testing, 
analysis, 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 assess-
ment under subsection (a), the Administrator shall con-
sider— 
(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 dur-
ing 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 
Regulations; 
(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 sub-
section (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 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 regu-
lations 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 Ad-
ministration 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 
Deregulatory 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 
Federal Aviation Administration shall establish an inter-
nal regulatory review team to review and compare domes-
tic and international airworthiness standards and guid-
ance 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 selec-
tion, 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 Admin-
istration; 
(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 
completion of the review under subsection (a), the Admin-
istrator shall brief the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
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the Senate on the findings and recommendations stem-
ming 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 there-
after, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration shall— 
(1) conduct a review of the risk-based model 
used by Federal Aviation Administration certifi-
cation management offices to inform the frequency 
of aircraft manufacturing or production facility in-
spections; 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 Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives 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 
described 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 Operation 
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 Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
convene an aviation rulemaking committee to review and 
develop findings and recommendations to require installa-
tion of a secondary cockpit barrier on commercial pas-
senger aircraft operated under the provisions of part 121 
of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, that are not cap-
tured under another regulation or proposed regulation. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Administrator shall chair 
and appoint the members of the rulemaking committee 
convened under subsection (a), which shall be comprised 
of at least 1 representative from the constituencies of— 
(1) mainline air carriers; 
(2) regional air carriers; 
(3) aircraft manufacturers; 
(4) passenger aircraft pilots represented by a 
labor group; 
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(5) flight attendants represented by a labor 
group; 
(6) airline passengers; and 
(7) other stakeholders the Administrator deter-
mines appropriate. 
(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—The aviation rulemaking 
committee 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, man-
ufacturing, 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 
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(9) other considerations the Administrator de-
termines appropriate. 
(d) REPORT
TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 12 
months after the convening of the aviation rulemaking 
committee described in subsection (a), 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 based on the findings and recommenda-
tions of the aviation rulemaking committee convened 
under subsection (a), to include— 
(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. 
(e) INSTALLATION OF SECONDARY COCKPIT BAR-
RIERS
OF EXISTING AIRCRAFT.—Not later than 36 
months after the date of the submission of the report of 
subsection (d), the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall, taking into consideration the final 
reported findings and recommendations of the aviation 
rulemaking committee, issue a final rule requiring installa-
tion of a secondary cockpit barrier on each commercial 
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passenger aircraft operated under the provisions of part 
121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
SEC. 523. REVIEW OF FAA USE OF AVIATION 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 appro-
priate arrangement with a qualified third-party organiza-
tion or consortium to evaluate the Administration’s collec-
tion, collation, analysis, and use of aviation data across 
the Administration. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—In completing the evaluation 
under subsection (a), the qualified third-party organiza-
tion 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 
research and development centers, to the extent that 
such centers are not already involved in the evalua-
tion. 
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(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 Admin-
istration; 
(2) review data sets to determine completeness 
and accuracy of relevant information; 
(3) identify gaps in information that the Ad-
ministration could fill through sharing agreements, 
partnerships, 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; 
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(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 
identification by regulated entities and the Ad-
ministration; 
(8) examine the collation and dissemination of 
data within offices and between offices of the Ad-
ministration; 
(9) review and recommend improvements to the 
data analysis techniques of the Administration; and 
(10) recommend investments the Administra-
tion should consider to better collect, manage, and 
analyze data sets, including within and between of-
fices 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 
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adequate access to safety and operational data collected 
by and held by the agency across all offices of the Admin-
istration, 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 
person shall be prohibited from disclosing at any time, ex-
cept as required by law, to any person, foreign or domes-
tic, any non-public information made accessible to the fed-
erally funded research and development center under this 
section. 
(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 im-
prove the Administration’s collection, collation, analysis, 
and use of aviation data, including recommendations to— 
(1) improve data access across offices within 
the Administration, as necessary, to support efficient 
execution of safety analysis and programs across 
such offices; 
(2) improve data storage best practices; 
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(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 in-
formation 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. 
(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 
regular feedback and advice to the Administrator on the 
implementation plan developed under subsection (g) and 
any implementation activities for at least 2 years begin-
ning on the date of the receipt of the report under sub-
section (f). 
(i) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Administrator shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
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structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate the report described in subsection (f) and the im-
plementation plan described in subsection (g). 
(j) EXISTING
REPORTING
SYSTEMS.—Consistent 
with section 132 of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and 
Accountability Act (Public Law 116–260), the Executive 
Director of the Transportation Research Board, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the Ad-
ministrator, may further harmonize data and sources fol-
lowing the implementation of recommendations contained 
in the report required under subsection (g). 
(k) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to permit the public disclosure of 
information submitted under a voluntary safety reporting 
program or that is otherwise protected under section 
44735 of title 49, United States Code. 
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, 
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, 
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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 Regu-
lations. 
(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 prospective 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 
management 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 published on January 11, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg 1932), 
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shall ensure such operator is evaluating and appropriately 
mitigating 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. 
(d) ORGAN TRANSPORTATION FLIGHTS.—In updat-
ing guidance and policy pursuant to subsection (b), the 
Administrator shall consider and allow for appropriate ac-
commodations, including accommodations related to sub-
sections (b)(2) and (b)(4) for operators— 
(1) performing organ transportation operations; 
and 
(2) who have in place a means by which to 
identify and mitigate risks associated with flightcrew 
duty and rest. 
SEC. 525. COCKPIT VOICE 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 
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of the Federal Aviation Administration shall complete a 
rulemaking proceeding to— 
‘‘(1) require that, not later than 4 years after 
the date of enactment of this section, all applicable 
aircraft are fitted with a cockpit voice recorder and 
a flight data recorder that are each capable of re-
cording 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 
Regulations, or where crew would reasonably believe 
an aircraft lined up on an incorrect runway or incor-
rect taxiway, the aircraft landing at the wrong air-
port, the aircraft significantly overpassed the des-
tination airport, or the crew have been alerted of a 
possible pilot deviation and provide for civil and 
criminal penalties for such deliberate erasing or tam-
pering, which may be assessed in accordance with 
section 1155 and section 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, 
consistent with applicable law and regulations; 
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‘‘(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 recorder and National Transportation Safety 
Board have access to the software necessary to de-
termine the code in order to extract the deleted re-
corded data; and 
‘‘(5) ensure that data on such a cockpit voice 
recorder or a flight data recorder, through technical 
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 dis-
closed for use other than for accident or incident in-
vestigation 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 
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‘‘(2) required by regulation to have a cockpit 
voice recorder or a flight data recorder. 
‘‘(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to affect— 
‘‘(1) the confidentiality of recordings and tran-
scripts under section 1114(c); 
‘‘(2) the ban on recordings for civil penalty or 
certificate action under section 121.359(h) of title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations; or 
‘‘(3) the prohibition against use of data from 
flight operational quality assurance programs for en-
forcement purposes under section 13.401 of 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 447 of title 49, United States Code, is further amend-
ed 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 ‘‘Committee’’ in this section) to review regulations re-
garding flight data recovery for aircraft— 
(1) operated under part 121 of title 14, Code 
of Federal Regulations; and 
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