(3) applies to the Administrator in a timely 
fashion; 
(4) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Ad-
ministrator that the institution is qualified to con-
duct the study; 
(5) agrees to submit to the Administrator, not 
later than 3 years after entering into an agreement 
under subsection (a), the results of the study, in-
cluding any source materials used; and 
(6) meets such other requirements as the Ad-
ministrator determines necessary. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the Ad-
ministrator receives the results of the study, the Adminis-
trator shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate a report containing the results. 
SEC. 158. ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION PILOT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall carry out a pilot program involving not more than 
6 projects at public-use airports in accordance with this 
section. 
(b) GRANTS.—In carrying out the program, the Sec-
retary may make grants to sponsors of public-use airports 
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from funds apportioned under section 47117(e)(1)(A) of 
title 49, United States Code. 
(c) USE OF FUNDS.—Amounts from a grant received 
by the sponsor of a public-use airport under the program 
shall be used for environmental mitigation projects that 
will measurably reduce or mitigate aviation impacts on 
noise, air quality, or water quality at the airport or within 
5 miles of the airport. 
(d) ELIGIBILITY.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of chapter 471 of title 49, United States Code, an 
environmental mitigation project approved under this sec-
tion shall be treated as eligible for assistance under that 
chapter. 
(e) SELECTION CRITERIA.—In selecting from among 
applicants for participation in the program, the Secretary 
may give priority consideration to projects that— 
(1) will achieve the greatest reductions in air-
craft noise, airport emissions, or airport water qual-
ity impacts either on an absolute basis or on a per 
dollar of funds expended basis; and 
(2) will be implemented by an eligible consor-
tium. 
(f) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost 
of a project carried out under the program shall be 50 
percent. 
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(g) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—Not more than $2,500,000 
may be made available by the Secretary in grants under 
the program for any single project. 
(h) IDENTIFYING BEST PRACTICES.—The Secretary 
may establish and publish information identifying best 
practices for reducing or mitigating aviation impacts on 
noise, air quality, and water quality at airports or in the 
vicinity of airports based on the projects carried out under 
the program. 
(i) SUNSET.—The program shall terminate 5 years 
after the Secretary makes the first grant under the pro-
gram. 
(j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
(1) ELIGIBLE CONSORTIUM.—The term ‘‘eligi-
ble consortium’’ means a consortium that is com-
prised of 2 or more of the following entities: 
(A) Businesses incorporated in the United 
States. 
(B) Public or private educational or re-
search organizations located in the United 
States. 
(C) Entities of State or local governments 
in the United States. 
(D) Federal laboratories. 
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(2) ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION PROJECT.— 
The term ‘‘environmental mitigation project’’ means 
a project that— 
(A) introduces new environmental mitiga-
tion techniques or technologies that have been 
proven in laboratory demonstrations; 
(B) proposes methods for efficient adapta-
tion or integration of new concepts into airport 
operations; and 
(C) will demonstrate whether new tech-
niques or technologies for environmental mitiga-
tion are— 
(i) practical to implement at or near 
multiple public-use airports; and 
(ii) capable of reducing noise, airport 
emissions, or water quality impacts in 
measurably significant amounts. 
SEC. 159. AIRCRAFT NOISE EXPOSURE. 
(a) REVIEW.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall conduct a review of the rela-
tionship between aircraft noise exposure and its effects on 
communities around airports. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
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shall submit to Congress a report containing the re-
sults of the review. 
(2) PRELIMINARY
RECOMMENDATIONS.—The 
report shall contain such preliminary recommenda-
tions as the Administrator determines appropriate 
for revising the land use compatibility guidelines in 
part 150 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, 
based on the results of the review and in coordina-
tion with other agencies. 
SEC. 160. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN FAA NEXTGEN 
PROJECTS LOCATED IN METROPLEXES. 
(a) COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT POLICY.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall complete a review of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration’s community involvement practices for Next Gen-
eration Air Transportation System (NextGen) projects lo-
cated in metroplexes identified by the Administration. The 
review shall include, at a minimum, a determination of 
how and when to engage airports and communities in per-
formance-based navigation proposals. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after comple-
tion of the review, the Administrator shall submit to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
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merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
on— 
(1) how the Administration will improve com-
munity involvement practices for NextGen projects 
located in metroplexes; 
(2) how and when the Administration will en-
gage airports and communities in performance-based 
navigation proposals; and 
(3) lessons learned from NextGen projects and 
pilot programs and how those lessons learned are 
being integrated into community involvement prac-
tices for future NextGen projects located in 
metroplexes. 
SEC. 161. CRITICAL HABITAT ON OR NEAR AIRPORT PROP-
ERTY. 
(a) FEDERAL AGENCY REQUIREMENTS.—The Sec-
retary of Transportation, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, shall work with the heads of appropriate Federal 
agencies to ensure that designations of critical habitat, as 
that term is defined in section 3 of the Endangered Spe-
cies 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 where 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 Secretary, to the 
maximum extent practicable, shall work with the State in 
the same manner as the Secretary works with the heads 
of Federal agencies under subsection (a). 
SEC. 162. CLARIFICATION OF REIMBURSABLE ALLOWED 
COSTS OF FAA MEMORANDA OF AGREEMENT. 
Section 47504(c)(2) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (D) by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
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(2) in subparagraph (E) by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(F) to an airport operator of a congested air-
port (as defined in section 47175) and a unit of 
local government referred to in paragraph (1)(B) to 
carry out a project to mitigate noise, if the project— 
‘‘(i) consists of— 
‘‘(I) replacement windows, doors, and 
the installation of through-the-wall air-con-
ditioning units; or 
‘‘(II) a contribution of the equivalent 
costs to be used for reconstruction, if re-
construction is the preferred local solution; 
‘‘(ii) is located at a school near the airport; 
and 
‘‘(iii) is included in a memorandum of 
agreement entered into before September 30, 
2002, even if the airport has not met the re-
quirements of part 150 of title 14, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations, and only if the financial limi-
tations of the memorandum are applied.’’. 
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TITLE II—FAA SAFETY 
CERTIFICATION REFORM 
Subtitle A—General Provisions 
SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title, the following definitions apply: 
(1) FAA.—The term ‘‘FAA’’ means the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration. 
(2) SAFETY
OVERSIGHT
AND
CERTIFICATION 
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Safety Over-
sight and Certification Advisory Committee’’ means 
the Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory 
Committee established under section 202. 
(3) SYSTEMS
SAFETY
APPROACH.—The term 
‘‘systems safety approach’’ means the application of 
specialized technical and managerial skills to the 
systematic, forward-looking identification and con-
trol of hazards throughout the lifecycle of a project, 
program, or activity. 
SEC. 202. SAFETY OVERSIGHT AND CERTIFICATION ADVI-
SORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall establish a Safety Oversight and Certification 
Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the 
‘‘Advisory Committee’’). 
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(b) DUTIES.—The Advisory Committee shall provide 
advice to the Secretary on policy-level issues facing the 
aviation community that are related to FAA certification 
and safety oversight programs and activities, including, at 
a minimum, the following: 
(1) Aircraft and flight standards certification 
processes, including efforts to streamline those proc-
esses. 
(2) Implementation and oversight of safety 
management systems. 
(3) Risk-based oversight efforts. 
(4) Utilization of delegation and designation au-
thorities. 
(5) Regulatory interpretation standardization 
efforts. 
(6) Training programs. 
(7) Expediting the rulemaking process and giv-
ing priority to rules related to safety. 
(c) FUNCTIONS.—The Advisory Committee shall 
carry out the following functions (as the functions relate 
to FAA certification and safety oversight programs and 
activities): 
(1) Foster industry collaboration in an open 
and transparent manner. 
(2) Consult with, and ensure participation by— 
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(A) the private sector, including represent-
atives of— 
(i) general aviation; 
(ii) commercial aviation; 
(iii) aviation labor; 
(iv) aviation maintenance; 
(v) aviation, aerospace, and avionics 
manufacturing; 
(vi) unmanned aircraft systems opera-
tors and manufacturers; and 
(vii) the commercial space transpor-
tation industry; 
(B) members of the public; and 
(C) other interested parties. 
(3) Establish consensus national goals, strategic 
objectives, and priorities for the most efficient, 
streamlined, and cost-effective certification and over-
sight processes in order to maintain the safety of the 
aviation system and, at the same time, allow the 
FAA to meet future needs and ensure that aviation 
stakeholders remain competitive in the global mar-
ketplace. 
(4) Provide policy guidance for the FAA’s cer-
tification and safety oversight efforts. 
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(5) Provide ongoing policy reviews of the FAA’s 
certification and safety oversight efforts. 
(6) Make appropriate legislative, regulatory, 
and guidance recommendations for the air transpor-
tation system and the aviation safety regulatory en-
vironment. 
(7) Establish performance objectives for the 
FAA and industry. 
(8) Establish performance metrics and goals for 
the FAA and the regulated aviation industry to be 
tracked and reviewed as streamlining and certifi-
cation reform and regulation standardization efforts 
progress. 
(9) Provide a venue for tracking progress to-
ward national goals and sustaining joint commit-
ments. 
(10) Develop recruiting, hiring, training, and 
continuing education objectives for FAA aviation 
safety engineers and aviation safety inspectors. 
(11) Provide advice and recommendations to 
the FAA on how to prioritize safety rulemaking 
projects. 
(12) Improve the development of FAA regula-
tions by providing information, advice, and rec-
ommendations related to aviation issues. 
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(13) Facilitate the validation of United States 
products abroad. 
(d) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Advisory Committee 
shall be composed of the following members: 
(A) The Administrator of the FAA (or the 
Administrator’s designee). 
(B) Individuals appointed by the Secretary 
to represent the following interests: 
(i) Aircraft and engine manufacturers. 
(ii) Avionics and equipment manufac-
turers. 
(iii) Labor organizations, including 
collective bargaining representatives of 
FAA aviation safety inspectors and avia-
tion safety engineers. 
(iv) General aviation operators. 
(v) Air carriers. 
(vi) Business aviation operators. 
(vii) Unmanned aircraft systems man-
ufacturers and operators. 
(viii) Aviation safety management ex-
pertise. 
(ix) Aviation maintenance. 
(2) NONVOTING MEMBERS.— 
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(A) IN
GENERAL.—In addition to the 
members appointed under paragraph (1), the 
Advisory Committee shall be composed of non-
voting members appointed by the Secretary 
from among individuals representing FAA safe-
ty oversight program offices. 
(B) DUTIES.—The nonvoting members 
shall— 
(i) take part in deliberations of the 
Advisory Committee; and 
(ii) provide input with respect to any 
final reports or recommendations of the 
Advisory Committee. 
(C) LIMITATION.—The nonvoting members 
may not represent any stakeholder interest 
other than FAA safety oversight program of-
fices. 
(3) TERMS.—Each member and nonvoting 
member of the Advisory Committee appointed by the 
Secretary shall be appointed for a term of 2 years. 
(4) COMMITTEE CHARACTERISTICS.—The Advi-
sory Committee shall have the following characteris-
tics: 
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(A) An executive-level membership, with 
members who can represent and enter into com-
mitments for their organizations. 
(B) The ability to obtain necessary infor-
mation from experts in the aviation and aero-
space communities. 
(C) A membership size that enables the 
Committee to have substantive discussions and 
reach consensus on issues in a timely manner. 
(D) Appropriate expertise, including exper-
tise in certification and risked-based safety 
oversight processes, operations, policy, tech-
nology, labor relations, training, and finance. 
(5) LIMITATION
ON
STATUTORY
CONSTRUC-
TION.—Public Law 104–65 (2 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) 
may not be construed to prohibit or otherwise limit 
the appointment of any individual as a member of 
the Advisory Committee. 
(e) CHAIRPERSON.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the Ad-
visory Committee shall be appointed by the Sec-
retary from among those members of the Advisory 
Committee that are executive-level members of the 
aviation industry. 
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(2) TERM.—Each member appointed under 
paragraph (1) shall serve a term of 1 year as Chair-
person. 
(f) MEETINGS.— 
(1) FREQUENCY.—The Advisory Committee 
shall meet at least twice each year at the call of the 
Chairperson. 
(2) PUBLIC
ATTENDANCE.—The meetings of 
the Advisory Committee shall be open to the public. 
(g) SPECIAL COMMITTEES.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Advisory Com-
mittee may establish special committees composed of 
private sector representatives, members of the pub-
lic, labor representatives, and other interested par-
ties in complying with consultation and participation 
requirements under this section. 
(2) RULEMAKING
ADVICE.—A special com-
mittee established by the Advisory Committee may— 
(A) provide rulemaking advice and rec-
ommendations to the Administrator with re-
spect to aviation-related issues; 
(B) afford the FAA additional opportuni-
ties to obtain firsthand information and insight 
from those parties that are most affected by ex-
isting and proposed regulations; and 
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(C) expedite the development, revision, or 
elimination of rules without circumventing pub-
lic rulemaking processes and procedures. 
(3) APPLICABLE
LAW.—Public Law 92–463 
shall not apply to a special committee established by 
the Advisory Committee. 
(h) SUNSET.—The Advisory Committee shall termi-
nate on the last day of the 6-year period beginning on 
the date of the initial appointment of the members of the 
Advisory Committee. 
(i) TERMINATION OF AIR TRAFFIC PROCEDURES AD-
VISORY COMMITTEE.—The Air Traffic Procedures Advi-
sory Committee established by the FAA shall terminate 
on the date of the initial appointment of the members of 
the Advisory Committee. 
Subtitle B—Aircraft Certification 
Reform 
SEC. 211. AIRCRAFT CERTIFICATION PERFORMANCE OB-
JECTIVES AND METRICS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date on which the Safety Oversight and Certification Advi-
sory Committee is established under section 202, the Ad-
ministrator of the FAA shall establish performance objec-
tives and apply and track metrics for the FAA and the 
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aviation industry relating to aircraft certification in ac-
cordance with this section. 
(b) COLLABORATION.—The Administrator shall carry 
out this section in collaboration with the Safety Oversight 
and Certification Advisory Committee. 
(c) PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES.—In carrying out 
subsection (a), the Administrator shall establish perform-
ance objectives for the FAA and the aviation industry to 
ensure that, with respect to aircraft certification, progress 
is made toward, at a minimum— 
(1) eliminating certification delays and improv-
ing cycle times; 
(2) increasing accountability for both FAA and 
industry entities; 
(3) achieving full utilization of FAA delegation 
and designation authorities; 
(4) fully implementing risk management prin-
ciples and a systems safety approach; 
(5) reducing duplication of effort; 
(6) increasing transparency; 
(7) establishing and providing training, includ-
ing recurrent training, in auditing and a systems 
safety approach to certification oversight; 
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(8) improving the process for approving or ac-
cepting certification actions between the FAA and 
bilateral partners; 
(9) maintaining and improving safety; 
(10) streamlining the hiring process for— 
(A) qualified systems safety engineers to 
support FAA efforts to implement a systems 
safety approach; and 
(B) qualified systems engineers to guide 
the engineering of complex systems within the 
FAA; and 
(11) maintaining the leadership of the United 
States in international aviation and aerospace. 
(d) PERFORMANCE METRICS.—In carrying out sub-
section (a), the Administrator shall apply and track per-
formance metrics for the FAA and the regulated aviation 
industry established by the Safety Oversight and Certifi-
cation Advisory Committee. 
(e) DATA GENERATION.— 
(1) BASELINES.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date on which the Safety Oversight and Certifi-
cation Advisory Committee establishes initial per-
formance metrics for the FAA and the regulated 
aviation industry under section 202, the Adminis-
trator shall generate initial data with respect to each 
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of the metrics applied and tracked under this sec-
tion. 
(2) MEASURING PROGRESS TOWARD GOALS.— 
The Administrator shall use the metrics applied and 
tracked under this section to generate data on an 
ongoing basis and to measure progress toward the 
achievement of national goals established by the 
Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory Com-
mittee. 
(f) PUBLICATION.—The Administrator shall make 
data generated using the metrics applied and tracked 
under this section available to the public in a searchable, 
sortable, and downloadable format through the internet 
website of the FAA and other appropriate methods and 
shall ensure that the data is made available in a manner 
that— 
(1) does not provide identifying information re-
garding an individual or entity; and 
(2) protects proprietary information. 
SEC. 212. ORGANIZATION DESIGNATION AUTHORIZATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 447 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 44736. Organization designation authorizations 
‘‘(a) DELEGATIONS OF FUNCTIONS.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (3), when overseeing an ODA holder, the Ad-
ministrator of the FAA shall— 
‘‘(A) require, based on an application sub-
mitted by the ODA holder and approved by the 
Administrator (or the Administrator’s des-
ignee), a procedures manual that addresses all 
procedures and limitations regarding the func-
tions to be performed by the ODA holder; 
‘‘(B) delegate fully to the ODA holder each 
of the functions to be performed as specified in 
the procedures manual, unless the Adminis-
trator determines, after the date of the delega-
tion and as a result of an inspection or other 
investigation, that the public interest and safety 
of air commerce requires a limitation with re-
spect to 1 or more of the functions; and 
‘‘(C) conduct regular oversight activities by 
inspecting the ODA holder’s delegated functions 
and taking action based on validated inspection 
findings. 
‘‘(2) DUTIES
OF
ODA
HOLDERS.—An ODA 
holder shall— 
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‘‘(A) perform each function delegated to 
the ODA holder in accordance with the ap-
proved procedures manual for the delegation; 
‘‘(B) make the procedures manual avail-
able to each member of the appropriate ODA 
unit; and 
‘‘(C) cooperate fully with oversight activi-
ties conducted by the Administrator in connec-
tion with the delegation. 
‘‘(3) EXISTING ODA HOLDERS.—With regard to 
an ODA holder operating under a procedures man-
ual approved by the Administrator before the date of 
enactment of this section, the Administrator shall— 
‘‘(A) at the request of the ODA holder and 
in an expeditious manner, approve revisions to 
the ODA holder’s procedures manual; 
‘‘(B) delegate fully to the ODA holder each 
of the functions to be performed as specified in 
the procedures manual, unless the Adminis-
trator determines, after the date of the delega-
tion and as a result of an inspection or other 
investigation, that the public interest and safety 
of air commerce requires a limitation with re-
spect to one or more of the functions; and 
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‘‘(C) conduct regular oversight activities by 
inspecting the ODA holder delegated functions 
and taking action based on validated inspection 
findings. 
‘‘(b) ODA OFFICE.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Ad-
ministrator of the FAA shall identify, within the 
FAA Office of Aviation Safety, a centralized policy 
office to be known as the Organization Designation 
Authorization Office or the ODA Office. 
‘‘(2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the ODA Of-
fice shall be to oversee and ensure the consistency of 
the FAA’s audit functions under the ODA program 
across the FAA. 
‘‘(3) FUNCTIONS.—The ODA Office shall— 
‘‘(A) improve performance and ensure full 
utilization of the authorities delegated under 
the ODA program; 
‘‘(B) create a more consistent approach to 
audit priorities, procedures, and training under 
the ODA program; 
‘‘(C) review, in a timely fashion, a random 
sample of limitations on delegated authorities 
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under the ODA program to determine if the 
limitations are appropriate; 
‘‘(D) ensure national consistency in the in-
terpretation and application of the requirements 
of the ODA program, including any limitations, 
and in the performance of the ODA program; 
and 
‘‘(E) at the request of an ODA holder, re-
view and approve new limitations to ODA func-
tions. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following 
definitions apply: 
‘‘(1) FAA.—The term ‘FAA’ means the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration. 
‘‘(2) ODA HOLDER.—The term ‘ODA holder’ 
means an entity authorized to perform functions 
pursuant to a delegation made by the Administrator 
of the FAA under section 44702(d). 
‘‘(3) ODA 
UNIT.—The term ‘‘ODA unit’’ 
means a group of 2 or more individuals who per-
form, under the supervision of an ODA holder, au-
thorized functions under an ODA. 
‘‘(4) ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘organization’’ 
means a firm, partnership, corporation, company, 
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association, joint-stock association, or governmental 
entity. 
‘‘(5) ORGANIZATION DESIGNATION AUTHORIZA-
TION; ODA.—The term ‘Organization Designation 
Authorization’ or ‘ODA’ means an authorization by 
the FAA under section 44702(d) for an organization 
comprised of 1 or more ODA units to perform ap-
proved functions on behalf of the FAA.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 447 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘44736. Organization designation authorizations.’’. 
SEC. 213. ODA REVIEW. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF EXPERT REVIEW PANEL.— 
(1) EXPERT PANEL.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator of the FAA shall convene a multidisciplinary 
expert review panel (in this section referred to as the 
‘‘Panel’’). 
(2) COMPOSITION OF PANEL.— 
(A) APPOINTMENT
OF
MEMBERS.—The 
Panel shall be composed of not more than 20 
members appointed by the Administrator. 
(B) QUALIFICATIONS.—The members ap-
pointed to the Panel shall— 
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(i) each have a minimum of 5 years of 
experience in processes and procedures 
under the ODA program; and 
(ii) represent, at a minimum, ODA 
holders, aviation manufacturers, safety ex-
perts, and FAA labor organizations, in-
cluding labor representatives of FAA avia-
tion safety inspectors and aviation safety 
engineers. 
(b) SURVEY.—The Panel shall conduct a survey of 
ODA holders and ODA program applicants to document 
and assess FAA certification and oversight activities, in-
cluding use of the ODA program and the timeliness and 
efficiency of the certification process. 
(c) ASSESSMENT
AND
RECOMMENDATIONS.—The 
Panel shall assess and make recommendations con-
cerning— 
(1) the FAA’s processes and procedures under 
the ODA program and whether the processes and 
procedures function as intended; 
(2) the best practices of and lessons learned by 
ODA holders and individuals who provide oversight 
of ODA holders; 
(3) performance incentive policies related to the 
ODA program for FAA personnel; 
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(4) training activities related to the ODA pro-
gram for FAA personnel and ODA holders; 
(5) the impact, if any, that oversight of the 
ODA program has on FAA resources and the FAA’s 
ability to process applications for certifications out-
side of the ODA program; and 
(6) the results of the survey conducted under 
subsection (b). 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
the Panel is convened under subsection (a), the Panel shall 
submit to the Administrator, the Safety Oversight and 
Certification Advisory Committee, the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate a report on the findings 
and recommendations of the Panel. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—The definitions contained in sec-
tion 44736 of title 49, United States Code, as added by 
this Act, apply to this section. 
(f) APPLICABLE LAW.—Public Law 92–463 shall not 
apply to the Panel. 
(g) SUNSET.—The Panel shall terminate on the date 
of submission of the report under subsection (d), or on 
the date that is 1 year after the Panel is convened under 
subsection (a), whichever occurs first. 
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SEC. 214. TYPE CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION PROCESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 44704(a) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(6) TYPE CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION PROC-
ESS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 15 
months after the date of enactment of this 
paragraph, the Administrator shall establish an 
effective, timely, and milestone-based issue reso-
lution process for type certification activities 
under this subsection. 
‘‘(B) PROCESS REQUIREMENTS.—The res-
olution process shall provide for— 
‘‘(i) resolution of technical issues at 
pre-established stages of the certification 
process, as agreed to by the Administrator 
and the type certificate applicant; 
‘‘(ii) automatic elevation to appro-
priate management personnel of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration and the type 
certificate applicant of any major certifi-
cation process milestone that is not com-
pleted or resolved within a specific period 
of time agreed to by the Administrator and 
the type certificate applicant; and 
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‘‘(iii) resolution of a major certifi-
cation process milestone elevated pursuant 
to clause (ii) within a specific period of 
time agreed to by the Administrator and 
the type certificate applicant. 
‘‘(C) 
MAJOR
CERTIFICATION
PROCESS 
MILESTONE DEFINED.—In this paragraph, the 
term ‘major certification process milestone’ 
means a milestone related to a type certification 
basis, type certification plan, type inspection 
authorization, issue paper, or other major type 
certification activity agreed to by the Adminis-
trator and the type certificate applicant.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Section 44704 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended in the section 
heading by striking ‘‘airworthiness certificates,,’’ 
and inserting ‘‘airworthiness certificates,’’. 
SEC. 215. REVIEW OF CERTIFICATION PROCESS FOR SMALL 
GENERAL AVIATION AIRPLANES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of 
the Department of Transportation shall initiate a review 
of the Federal Aviation Administration’s implementation 
of the final rule titled ‘‘Revision of Airworthiness Stand-
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ards for Normal, Utility, Acrobatic, and Commuter Cat-
egory Airplanes’’ (81 Fed. Reg. 96572). 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out the review, 
the Inspector General shall assess— 
(1) how the rule puts into practice the Adminis-
tration’s efforts to implement performance and risk- 
based safety standards; 
(2) whether the Administration’s implementa-
tion of the rule has improved safety and reduced the 
regulatory cost burden for the Administration and 
the aviation industry; and 
(3) if there are lessons learned from, and best 
practices developed as a result of, the rule that could 
be applied to airworthiness standards for other cat-
egories of aircraft. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of initiation of the review, the Inspector General shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
a report on the results of the review, including findings 
and recommendations. 
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Subtitle C—Flight Standards 
Reform 
SEC. 231. FLIGHT STANDARDS PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES 
AND METRICS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date on which the Safety Oversight and Certification Advi-
sory Committee is established under section 202, the Ad-
ministrator of the FAA shall establish performance objec-
tives and apply and track metrics for the FAA and the 
aviation industry relating to flight standards activities in 
accordance with this section. 
(b) COLLABORATION.—The Administrator shall carry 
out this section in collaboration with the Safety Oversight 
and Certification Advisory Committee. 
(c) PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES.—In carrying out 
subsection (a), the Administrator shall establish perform-
ance objectives for the FAA and the aviation industry to 
ensure that, with respect to flight standards activities, 
progress is made toward, at a minimum— 
(1) eliminating delays with respect to such ac-
tivities; 
(2) increasing accountability for both FAA and 
industry entities; 
(3) achieving full utilization of FAA delegation 
and designation authorities; 
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(4) fully implementing risk management prin-
ciples and a systems safety approach; 
(5) reducing duplication of effort; 
(6) eliminating inconsistent regulatory interpre-
tations and inconsistent enforcement activities; 
(7) improving and providing greater opportuni-
ties for training, including recurrent training, in au-
diting and a systems safety approach to oversight; 
(8) developing and allowing utilization of a sin-
gle master source for guidance; 
(9) providing and utilizing a streamlined appeal 
process for the resolution of regulatory interpreta-
tion questions; 
(10) maintaining and improving safety; and 
(11) increasing transparency. 
(d) METRICS.—In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Administrator shall apply and track performance metrics 
for the FAA and the regulated aviation industry estab-
lished by the Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory 
Committee. 
(e) DATA GENERATION.— 
(1) BASELINES.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date on which the Safety Oversight and Certifi-
cation Advisory Committee establishes initial per-
formance metrics for the FAA and the regulated 
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aviation industry under section 202, the Adminis-
trator shall generate initial data with respect to each 
of the metrics applied and tracked under this sec-
tion. 
(2) MEASURING PROGRESS TOWARD GOALS.— 
The Administrator shall use the metrics applied and 
tracked under this section to generate data on an 
ongoing basis and to measure progress toward the 
achievement of national goals established by the 
Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory Com-
mittee. 
(f) PUBLICATION.—The Administrator shall make 
data generated using the metrics applied and tracked 
under this section available to the public in a searchable, 
sortable, and downloadable format through the internet 
website of the FAA and other appropriate methods and 
shall ensure that the data is made available in a manner 
that— 
(1) does not provide identifying information re-
garding an individual or entity; and 
(2) protects proprietary information. 
SEC. 232. FAA TASK FORCE ON FLIGHT STANDARDS RE-
FORM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of 
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the FAA shall establish the FAA Task Force on Flight 
Standards Reform (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Task 
Force’’). 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) APPOINTMENT.—The membership of the 
Task Force shall be appointed by the Administrator. 
(2) NUMBER.—The Task Force shall be com-
posed of not more than 20 members. 
(3) REPRESENTATION
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
membership of the Task Force shall include rep-
resentatives, with knowledge of flight standards reg-
ulatory processes and requirements, of— 
(A) air carriers; 
(B) general aviation; 
(C) business aviation; 
(D) repair stations; 
(E) unmanned aircraft systems operators; 
(F) flight schools; 
(G) labor unions, including those rep-
resenting FAA aviation safety inspectors; and 
(H) aviation safety experts. 
(c) DUTIES.—The duties of the Task Force shall in-
clude, at a minimum, identifying best practices and pro-
viding recommendations, for current and anticipated 
budgetary environments, with respect to— 
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(1) simplifying and streamlining flight stand-
ards regulatory processes; 
(2) reorganizing Flight Standards Services to 
establish an entity organized by function rather than 
geographic region, if appropriate; 
(3) FAA aviation safety inspector training op-
portunities; 
(4) FAA aviation safety inspector standards 
and performance; and 
(5) achieving, across the FAA, consistent— 
(A) regulatory interpretations; and 
(B) application of oversight activities. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Task Force 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 
detailing— 
(1) the best practices identified and rec-
ommendations provided by the Task Force under 
subsection (c); and 
(2) any recommendations of the Task Force for 
additional regulatory action or cost-effective legisla-
tive action. 
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(e) APPLICABLE LAW.—Public Law 92–463 shall not 
apply to the Task Force. 
(f) TERMINATION.—The Task Force shall terminate 
on the earlier of— 
(1) the date on which the Task Force submits 
the report required under subsection (d); or 
(2) the date that is 18 months after the date 
on which the Task Force is established under sub-
section (a). 
SEC. 233. CENTRALIZED SAFETY GUIDANCE DATABASE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of 
the FAA shall establish a centralized safety guidance data-
base that will— 
(1) encompass all of the regulatory guidance 
documents of the FAA Office of Aviation Safety; 
(2) contain, for each such guidance document, 
a link to the Code of Federal Regulations provision 
to which the document relates; and 
(3) be publicly available in a manner that— 
(A) does not provide identifying informa-
tion regarding an individual or entity; and 
(B) protects proprietary information. 
(b) DATA ENTRY TIMING.— 
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(1) EXISTING DOCUMENTS.—Not later than 14 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator shall begin entering into the database 
established under subsection (a) all of the regulatory 
guidance documents of the Office of Aviation Safety 
that are in effect and were issued before the date on 
which the Administrator begins such entry process. 
(2) NEW DOCUMENTS AND CHANGES.—On and 
after the date on which the Administrator begins the 
document entry process under paragraph (1), the 
Administrator shall ensure that all new regulatory 
guidance documents of the Office of Aviation Safety 
and any changes to existing documents are included 
in the database established under subsection (a). 
(c) CONSULTATION REQUIREMENT.—In establishing 
the database under subsection (a), the Administrator shall 
consult and collaborate with appropriate stakeholders, in-
cluding labor organizations (including those representing 
aviation workers and FAA aviation safety inspectors) and 
industry stakeholders. 
(d) REGULATORY
GUIDANCE
DOCUMENTS
DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘regulatory guidance 
documents’’ means all forms of written information issued 
by the FAA that an individual or entity may use to inter-
pret or apply FAA regulations and requirements, includ-
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ing information an individual or entity may use to deter-
mine acceptable means of compliance with such regula-
tions and requirements. 
SEC. 234. REGULATORY CONSISTENCY COMMUNICATIONS 
BOARD. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of 
the FAA shall establish a Regulatory Consistency Commu-
nications Board (in this section referred to as the 
‘‘Board’’). 
(b) CONSULTATION REQUIREMENT.—In establishing 
the Board, the Administrator shall consult and collaborate 
with appropriate stakeholders, including FAA labor orga-
nizations (including labor organizations representing FAA 
aviation safety inspectors) and industry stakeholders. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Board shall be composed of 
FAA representatives, appointed by the Administrator, 
from— 
(1) the Flight Standards Service; 
(2) the Aircraft Certification Service; and 
(3) the Office of the Chief Counsel. 
(d) FUNCTIONS.—The Board shall carry out the fol-
lowing functions: 
(1) Establish, at a minimum, processes by 
which— 
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(A) FAA personnel and regulated entities 
may submit anonymous regulatory interpreta-
tion questions without fear of retaliation; and 
(B) FAA personnel may submit written 
questions, and receive written responses, as to 
whether a previous approval or regulatory inter-
pretation issued by FAA personnel in another 
office or region is correct or incorrect. 
(2) Meet on a regular basis to discuss and re-
solve questions submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) 
and the appropriate application of regulations and 
policy with respect to each question. 
(3) Provide to an individual or entity that sub-
mitted a question pursuant to paragraph (1) a time-
ly response to the question. 
(4) Establish a process to make resolutions of 
common regulatory interpretation questions publicly 
available to FAA personnel and regulated entities 
without providing any identifying data of the indi-
viduals or entities that submitted the questions and 
in a manner that protects any proprietary informa-
tion. 
(5) Ensure the incorporation of resolutions of 
questions submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) into 
regulatory guidance documents. 
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(e) PERFORMANCE
METRICS, TIMELINES, 
AND 
GOALS.—Not later than 180 days after the date on which 
the Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory Com-
mittee establishes performance metrics for the FAA and 
the regulated aviation industry under section 202, the Ad-
ministrator, in collaboration with the Advisory Committee, 
shall— 
(1) establish performance metrics, timelines, 
and goals to measure the progress of the Board in 
resolving regulatory interpretation questions sub-
mitted pursuant to subsection (d)(1); and 
(2) implement a process for tracking the 
progress of the Board in meeting the metrics, 
timelines, and goals established under paragraph 
(1). 
Subtitle D—Safety Workforce 
SEC. 241. SAFETY WORKFORCE TRAINING STRATEGY. 
(a) SAFETY WORKFORCE TRAINING STRATEGY.— 
Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Administrator of the FAA shall establish a safety 
workforce training strategy that— 
(1) allows employees participating in organiza-
tion management teams or conducting ODA pro-
gram audits to complete, in a timely fashion, appro-
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priate training, including recurrent training, in au-
diting and a systems safety approach to oversight; 
(2) seeks knowledge-sharing opportunities be-
tween the FAA and the aviation industry regarding 
new equipment and systems, best practices, and 
other areas of interest; 
(3) functions within the current and anticipated 
budgetary environments; and 
(4) includes milestones and metrics for meeting 
the requirements of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3). 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date 
of establishment of the strategy required under subsection 
(a), the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate a report on the imple-
mentation of the strategy and progress in meeting any 
milestones and metrics included in the strategy. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
(1) ODA; ODA HOLDER.—The terms ‘‘ODA’’ 
and ‘‘ODA holder’’ have the meanings given those 
terms in section 44736 of title 49, United States 
Code, as added by this Act. 
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(2) ORGANIZATION MANAGEMENT TEAM.—The 
term ‘‘organization management team’’ means a 
team consisting of FAA aviation safety engineers, 
flight test pilots, and aviation safety inspectors over-
seeing an ODA holder and its certification activity. 
SEC. 242. WORKFORCE REVIEW. 
(a) WORKFORCE REVIEW.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
General of the United States shall conduct a review to as-
sess the workforce and training needs of the FAA Office 
of Aviation Safety in the anticipated budgetary environ-
ment. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The review required under sub-
section (a) shall include— 
(1) a review of current aviation safety inspector 
and aviation safety engineer hiring, training, and re-
current training requirements; 
(2) an analysis of the skills and qualifications 
required of aviation safety inspectors and aviation 
safety engineers for successful performance in the 
current and future projected aviation safety regu-
latory environment, including the need for a systems 
engineering discipline within the FAA to guide the 
engineering of complex systems, with an emphasis 
on auditing designated authorities; 
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(3) a review of current performance incentive 
policies of the FAA, as applied to the Office of Avia-
tion Safety, including awards for performance; 
(4) an analysis of ways the FAA can work with 
industry and labor, including labor groups rep-
resenting FAA aviation safety inspectors and avia-
tion safety engineers, to establish knowledge-sharing 
opportunities between the FAA and the aviation in-
dustry regarding new equipment and systems, best 
practices, and other areas of interest; and 
(5) recommendations on the most effective 
qualifications, training programs (including e-learn-
ing training), and performance incentive approaches 
to address the needs of the future projected aviation 
safety regulatory system in the anticipated budg-
etary environment. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, 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 the results of the review required under 
subsection (a). 
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Subtitle E—International Aviation 
SEC. 251. PROMOTION OF UNITED STATES AEROSPACE 
STANDARDS, 
PRODUCTS, 
AND 
SERVICES 
ABROAD. 
Section 40104 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) PROMOTION OF UNITED STATES AEROSPACE 
STANDARDS, PRODUCTS, AND SERVICES ABROAD.—The 
Administrator shall take appropriate actions to— 
‘‘(1) promote United States aerospace safety 
standards abroad; 
‘‘(2) facilitate and vigorously defend approvals 
of United States aerospace products and services 
abroad; 
‘‘(3) with respect to bilateral partners, utilize 
bilateral safety agreements and other mechanisms to 
improve validation of United States type certificated 
aeronautical products and appliances and enhance 
mutual 
acceptance 
in 
order 
to 
eliminate 
redundancies and unnecessary costs; and 
‘‘(4) with respect to foreign safety authorities, 
streamline validation and coordination processes.’’. 
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105 
(b) DISCLAIMER REQUIRED.—Any dissemination of 
a disclosure that was submitted and accepted under an 
aviation safety action program pursuant to the presump-
tion under subsection (a), but that has not undergone re-
view by an event review committee, shall be accompanied 
by a disclaimer stating that the disclosure— 
(1) has not been reviewed by an event review 
committee tasked with reviewing such disclosures; 
and 
(2) may subsequently be determined to be ineli-
gible for inclusion in the aviation safety action pro-
gram. 
(c) REJECTION OF DISCLOSURE.—A disclosure de-
scribed under subsection (a) shall be rejected from an 
aviation safety action program if, after a review of the dis-
closure, an event review committee tasked with reviewing 
such disclosures determines that the disclosure fails to 
meet the criteria for acceptance under such program. 
(d) AVIATION
SAFETY
ACTION
PROGRAM
DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘aviation safety action 
program’’ means a program established in accordance with 
Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular 120– 
66B, issued November 15, 2002 (including any similar 
successor advisory circular), to allow an individual to vol-
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243 
(1) POLICY.—Section 40101(a) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(17) preventing entry into United States mar-
kets by flag of convenience carriers.’’. 
(2) INTERNATIONAL
AIR
TRANSPORTATION.— 
Section 40101(e)(9) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(A) in subparagraph (D) by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (E) by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(F) erosion of labor standards associated 
with flag of convenience carriers.’’. 
(3) FLAG
OF
CONVENIENCE
CARRIER
DE-
FINED.—Section 40102(a) of title 49, United States 
Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(48) ‘flag of convenience carrier’ means a for-
eign air carrier that is established in a country other 
than the home country of its majority owner or own-
ers in order to avoid regulations of the home coun-
try.’’. 
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337 
SEC. 723. PROBABILISTIC ASSESSMENT OF RISKS. 
The Administrator shall conduct research and devel-
opment to enable a probabilistic assessment of risks to in-
form requirements for standards for operational certifi-
cation of public unmanned aircraft systems in the national 
airspace. 
SEC. 724. UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE-MANNED AIRCRAFT 
COLLISION RESEARCH. 
(a) RESEARCH.—The Administrator shall coordinate 
with NASA to conduct comprehensive testing of un-
manned aerial vehicles colliding with a manned aircraft, 
including— 
(1) collisions between unmanned aerial vehicles 
of various sizes, traveling at various speeds, and 
commercial jet airliners of various sizes, traveling at 
various speeds; 
(2) collisions between unmanned aerial vehicles 
of various sizes, traveling at various speeds, and pro-
peller planes of various sizes, traveling at various 
speeds; 
(3) collisions between unmanned aerial vehicles 
of various sizes, traveling at various speeds, and 
blimps of various sizes, traveling at various speeds; 
(4) collisions between unmanned aerial vehicles 
of various sizes, traveling at various speeds, and 
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