H. R. 1000—108
SEC. 728. AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVATION SYSTEM STATIONS.
The Administrator shall not terminate human weather
observers for Automated Surface Observation System stations
until—
(1) the Administrator determines that the system provides
consistent reporting of changing meteorological conditions and
notifies Congress in writing of that determination; and
(2) 60 days have passed since the report was transmitted
to Congress.
SEC. 729. AIRCRAFT SITUATIONAL DISPLAY DATA.
(a) IN GENERAL.—A memorandum of agreement between the
Administrator and any person that directly obtains aircraft situa-
tional display data from the Federal Aviation Administration shall
require that—
(1) the person demonstrate to the satisfaction of the
Administrator that the person is capable of selectively blocking
the display of any aircraft-situation-display-to-industry derived
data related to any identified aircraft registration number;
and
(2) the person agree to block selectively the aircraft reg-
istration numbers of any aircraft owner or operator upon the
Administration’s request.
(b) EXISTING MEMORANDA TO BE CONFORMED.—Not later than
30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator shall conform any memoranda of agreement, in effect on
such date of enactment, between the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion and a person under which that person obtains aircraft situa-
tional display data to incorporate the requirements of subsection
(a).
SEC. 730. ELIMINATION OF BACKLOG OF EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPOR-
TUNITY COMPLAINTS.
(a) HIRING OF ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL.—For fiscal year 2001,
the Secretary may hire or contract for such additional personnel
as may be necessary to eliminate the backlog of pending equal
employment opportunity complaints to the Department of Transpor-
tation and to ensure that investigations of complaints are completed
not later than 180 days after the date of initiation of the investiga-
tion.
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for fiscal
year 2001.
SEC. 731. GRANT OF EASEMENT, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.
The Department of Airports of the City of Los Angeles may
grant an easement to the California Department of Transportation
to lands required to provide sufficient right-of-way to facilitate
the construction of the California State Route 138 bypass, as pro-
posed by the California Department of Transportation, if the
Department of Airports can document or provide analysis that
granting the easement will benefit the Department of Airports
or local airport development to an extent equal to the value of
the easement being granted.
SEC. 732. REGULATION OF ALASKA GUIDE PILOTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date of the enactment of
this Act, flight operations conducted by Alaska guide pilots shall
H. R. 1000—109
be regulated under the general operating and flight rules contained
in part 91 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.
(b) RULEMAKING PROCEEDING.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall conduct a rule-
making proceeding and issue a final rule to modify the general
operating and flight rules referred to in subsection (a) by estab-
lishing special rules applicable to the flight operations con-
ducted by Alaska guide pilots.
(2) CONTENTS
OF
RULES.—A final rule issued by the
Administrator under paragraph (1) shall require Alaska guide
pilots—
(A) to operate aircraft inspected no less often than
after 125 hours of flight time;
(B) to participate in an annual flight review, as
described in section 61.56 of title 14, Code of Federal Regu-
lations;
(C) to have at least 500 hours of flight time as a
pilot;
(D) to have a commercial rating, as described in sub-
part F of part 61 of such title;
(E) to hold at least a second-class medical certificate,
as described in subpart C of part 67 of such title;
(F) to hold a current letter of authorization issued
by the Administrator; and
(G) to take such other actions as the Administrator
determines necessary for safety.
(3) CONSIDERATION.—In making a determination to impose
a requirement under paragraph (2)(G), the Administrator shall
take into account the unique conditions associated with air
travel in the State of Alaska to ensure that such requirements
are not unduly burdensome.
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following definitions
apply:
(1) LETTER
OF
AUTHORIZATION.—The term ‘‘letter of
authorization’’ means a letter issued by the Administrator once
every 5 years to an Alaska guide pilot certifying that the
pilot is in compliance with general operating and flight rules
applicable to the pilot. In the case of a multi-pilot operation,
at the election of the operating entity, a letter of authorization
may be issued by the Administrator to the entity or to each
Alaska guide pilot employed by the entity.
(2) ALASKA GUIDE PILOT.—The term ‘‘Alaska guide pilot’’
means a pilot who—
(A) conducts aircraft operations over or within the
State of Alaska;
(B) operates single engine, fixed-wing aircraft on floats,
wheels, or skis, providing commercial hunting, fishing, or
other guide services and related accommodations in the
form of camps or lodges; and
(C) transports clients by such aircraft incidental to
hunting, fishing, or other guide services.
SEC. 733. NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION DATA CENTER OF EXCEL-
LENCE.
Of 
the 
amounts 
made 
available 
pursuant 
to 
section
5117(b)(6)(B) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century
(23 U.S.C. 502 note; 112 Stat. 450), not to exceed $1,000,000 for
H. R. 1000—110
each of fiscal years 2000 and 2001 may be made available by
the Secretary to establish, at an Army depot that has been closed
or realigned, a national transportation data center of excellence
that will—
(1) serve as a satellite facility for the central data repository
that is hosted by the computer center of the Transportation
Administrative Service; and
(2) analyze transportation data collected by the Federal
Government, States, cities, and the transportation industry.
SEC. 734. AIRCRAFT REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE ADVISORY PANEL.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PANEL.—The Administrator—
(1) shall establish an aircraft repair and maintenance
advisory panel to review issues related to the use and oversight
of aircraft and aviation component repair and maintenance
facilities (in this section referred to as ‘‘aircraft repair facilities’’)
located within, or outside of, the United States; and
(2) may seek the advice of the panel on any issue related
to methods to increase safety by improving the oversight of
aircraft repair facilities.
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The panel shall consist of—
(1) nine members appointed by the Administrator as
follows:
(A) three representatives of labor organizations
representing aviation mechanics;
(B) one representative of cargo air carriers;
(C) one representative of passenger air carriers;
(D) one representative of aircraft repair facilities;
(E) one representative of aircraft manufacturers;
(F) one representative of on-demand passenger air
carriers and corporate aircraft operations; and
(G) one representative of regional passenger air
carriers;
(2) one representative from the Department of Commerce,
designated by the Secretary of Commerce;
(3) one representative from the Department of State,
designated by the Secretary of State; and
(4) one representative from the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration, designated by the Administrator.
(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The panel shall—
(1) determine the amount and type of work that is being
performed by aircraft repair facilities located within, and out-
side of, the United States; and
(2) provide advice and counsel to the Secretary with respect
to the aircraft and aviation component repair work performed
by aircraft repair facilities and air carriers, staffing needs,
and any balance of trade or safety issues associated with that
work.
(d) DOT TO REQUEST INFORMATION FROM AIR CARRIERS AND
REPAIR FACILITIES.—
(1) COLLECTION OF INFORMATION.—The Secretary, by regu-
lation, shall require air carriers, foreign air carriers, domestic
repair facilities, and foreign repair facilities to submit such
information as the Secretary may require in order to assess
balance of trade and safety issues with respect to work per-
formed on aircraft used by air carriers, foreign air carriers,
H. R. 1000—111
United States corporate operators, and foreign corporate opera-
tors.
(2) DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING INFORMATION.—Included
in the information the Secretary requires under paragraph
(1) shall be information on the existence and administration
of employee drug and alcohol testing programs in place at
the foreign repair facilities, if applicable. The Secretary, if
necessary, shall work with the International Civil Aviation
Organization to increase the number and improve the adminis-
tration of employee drug and alcohol testing programs at the
foreign repair facilities.
(3) DESCRIPTION OF WORK DONE.—Included in the informa-
tion the Secretary requires under paragraph (1) shall be
information on the amount and type of work performed on
aircraft registered in and outside of the United States.
(e) DOT TO FACILITATE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION ABOUT
AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE.—The Secretary shall facilitate the collec-
tion of information from the National Transportation Safety Board,
the Federal Aviation Administration, and other appropriate agen-
cies regarding maintenance performed by aircraft repair facilities.
(f ) DOT TO MAKE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC.—The
Secretary shall make any relevant information received under sub-
section (d) available to the public, consistent with the authority
to withhold trade secrets or commercial, financial, and other propri-
etary information under section 552 of title 5, United States Code.
(g) TERMINATION.—The panel established under subsection (a)
shall terminate on the earlier of—
(1) the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment
of this Act; or
(2) December 31, 2001.
(h) DEFINITIONS.—The definitions contained in section 40102
of title 49, United States Code, shall apply to this section.
SEC. 735. OPERATIONS OF AIR TAXI INDUSTRY.
(a) STUDY.—The Administrator, in consultation with the
National Transportation Safety Board and other interested persons,
shall conduct a study of air taxi operators regulated under part
135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.
(b) CONTENTS.—The study shall include an analysis of the
size and type of the aircraft fleet, relevant aircraft equipment,
hours flown, utilization rates, safety record by various categories
of use and aircraft type, sales revenues, and airports served by
the air taxi fleet.
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit to Congress
a report on the results of the study.
SEC. 736. NATIONAL AIRSPACE REDESIGN.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The national airspace, comprising more than 29 million
square miles, handles more than 55,000 flights per day.
(2) Almost 2,000,000 passengers per day traverse the
United States through 20 major en route centers, including
more than 700 different sectors.
(3) Redesign and review of the national airspace may
produce benefits for the travelling public by increasing the
efficiency and capacity of the air traffic control system and
reducing delays.