2813 
holder of an organization designation au-
thorization or the Administration. 
(iii) Interviewing employees of such 
holder of an organization designation au-
thorization or the Administration as nec-
essary for the panel to complete its work. 
(B) DISCLOSURE
OF
FINANCIAL
INTER-
ESTS.—Each individual serving on the review 
panel shall disclose to the Administrator any fi-
nancial interest held by such individual, or a 
spouse or dependent of such individual, in a 
business enterprise engaged in the design or pro-
duction of transport airplanes, aircraft engines 
designed for transport airplanes, or major sys-
tems, components, or parts thereof. 
(C) PROTECTION OF PROPRIETARY INFOR-
MATION; TRADE SECRETS.— 
(i) MARKING.—The custodian of a 
record accessed under subparagraph (A) 
may mark such record as proprietary or 
containing a trade secret. A marking under 
this subparagraph shall not be dispositive 
with respect to whether such record contains 
any information subject to legal protections 
from public disclosure. 
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(ii) NONDISCLOSURE
FOR
NON-FED-
ERAL GOVERNMENT PARTICIPANTS.— 
(I) NON-FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT 
PARTICIPANTS.—Prior to participating 
on the review panel, each individual 
serving on the review panel rep-
resenting a non-Federal entity, includ-
ing a labor union, shall execute an 
agreement with the Administrator in 
which the individual shall be prohib-
ited from disclosing at any time, ex-
cept as required by law, to any person, 
foreign or domestic, any non-public in-
formation made accessible to the panel 
under subparagraph (A). 
(II) FEDERAL
EMPLOYEE
PAR-
TICIPANTS.—Federal employees serving 
on the review panel as representatives 
of the Federal Government and who 
are required to protect proprietary in-
formation and trade secrets under sec-
tion 1905 of title 18, United States 
Code, shall not be required to execute 
agreements under this subparagraph. 
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(iii) PROTECTION
OF
VOLUNTARILY 
SUBMITTED
SAFETY
INFORMATION.—Infor-
mation subject to protection from disclosure 
by the Administration in accordance with 
sections 40123 and 44735 of title 49, United 
States Code, is deemed voluntarily sub-
mitted to the Administration under such 
sections when shared with the review panel 
and retains its protection from disclosure 
(including 
protection 
under 
section 
552(b)(3) of title 5, United States Code). 
The custodian of a record subject to such 
protection may mark such record as subject 
to statutory protections. A marking under 
this subparagraph shall not be dispositive 
with respect to whether such record contains 
any information subject to legal protections 
from public disclosure. Members of the re-
view panel will protect voluntarily sub-
mitted safety information and other other-
wise exempt information to the extent per-
mitted under applicable law. 
(iv) PROTECTION OF PROPRIETARY IN-
FORMATION
AND
TRADE
SECRETS.—Mem-
bers of the review panel will protect propri-
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2816 
etary information, trade secrets, and other 
otherwise exempt information to the extent 
permitted under applicable law. 
(v) RESOLVING CLASSIFICATION OF IN-
FORMATION.—If the review panel and a 
holder of an organization designation au-
thorization subject to review under this sec-
tion disagree as to the proper classification 
of information described in this subpara-
graph, then an employee of the Administra-
tion who is not a political appointee shall 
determine the proper classification of such 
information and whether such information 
will be withheld, in part or in full, from re-
lease to the public. 
(D) APPLICABLE LAW.—Public Law 92–463 
shall not apply to the panel established under 
this subsection. 
(E) FINANCIAL
INTEREST
DEFINED.—In 
this paragraph, the term ‘‘financial interest’’— 
(i) excludes securities held in an index 
fund; and 
(ii) includes— 
(I) any current or contingent 
ownership, equity, or security interest; 
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2817 
(II) an indebtedness or com-
pensated employment relationship; or 
(III) any right to purchase or ac-
quire any such interest, including a 
stock option or commodity future. 
(b) FAA AUTHORITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—After reviewing the findings 
of the review panel submitted under subsection (a)(5), 
the Administrator may limit, suspend, or terminate 
an organization designation authorization subject to 
review under this section. 
(2) REINSTATEMENT.—The Administrator may 
condition reinstatement of a limited, suspended, or 
terminated organization designation authorization on 
the holder’s implementation of any corrective actions 
determined necessary by the Administrator. 
(3) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
subsection shall be construed to limit the Administra-
tor’s authority to take any action with respect to an 
organization designation authorization, including 
limitation, suspension, or termination of such author-
ization. 
(c) ORGANIZATION
DESIGNATION
AUTHORIZATION 
PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS.—Not later than 1 year after re-
ceipt of the recommendations submitted under subsection 
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(a)(5), the Administrator shall report to the congressional 
committees of jurisdiction on— 
(1) whether the Administrator has concluded that 
such holder is able to safely and reliably perform all 
delegated functions in accordance with all applicable 
provisions of chapter 447 of title 49, United States 
Code, title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, and other 
orders or requirements of the Administrator, and, if 
not, the Administrator shall outline— 
(A) the risk mitigations or other corrective 
actions, including the implementation timelines 
of such mitigations or actions, the Administrator 
has established for or required of such holder as 
prerequisites for a conclusion by the Adminis-
trator under this paragraph; or 
(B) the status of any ongoing investigatory 
actions; 
(2) the status of implementation of each of the 
recommendations of the review panel, if any, with 
which the Administrator concurs; 
(3) the status of procedures under which the Ad-
ministrator will conduct focused oversight of such 
holder’s processes for performing delegated functions 
with respect to the design of new and derivative 
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2819 
transport airplanes and the production of such air-
planes; and 
(4) the Administrator’s efforts, to the maximum 
extent practicable and subject to appropriations, to 
increase the number of engineers, inspectors, and 
other qualified technical experts, as necessary to fulfill 
the requirements of this section, in— 
(A) each office of the Administration re-
sponsible for dedicated oversight of such holder; 
and 
(B) the System Oversight Division, or any 
successor division, of the Aircraft Certification 
Service. 
(d) NON-CONCURRENCE WITH RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
Not later than 6 months after receipt of the recommenda-
tions submitted under subsection (a)(5), with respect to each 
recommendation of the review panel with which the Admin-
istrator does not concur, if any, the Administrator shall 
publish on the website of the Administration and submit 
to the congressional committees of jurisdiction a detailed 
explanation as to why, including if the Administrator be-
lieves implementation of such recommendation would not 
improve aviation safety. 
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SEC. 104. CERTIFICATION OVERSIGHT STAFF. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator 
$27,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023 to 
recruit and retain engineers, safety inspectors, human fac-
tors specialists, chief scientific and technical advisors, soft-
ware and cybersecurity experts, and other qualified tech-
nical experts who perform duties related to the certification 
of aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, appliances, and new 
and emerging technologies, and perform other regulatory 
activities. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of enactment of this title, and without duplicating any 
recently completed or ongoing reviews, the Administrator 
shall initiate a review of— 
(1) the inspectors, human factors specialists, 
flight test pilots, engineers, managers, and executives 
in the FAA who are responsible for the certification 
of the design, manufacture, and operation of aircraft 
intended for air transportation for purposes of deter-
mining whether the FAA has the expertise and capa-
bility to adequately understand the safety implica-
tions of, and oversee the adoption of, new or innova-
tive technologies, materials, and procedures used by 
designers and manufacturers of such aircraft; and 
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2821 
(2) the Senior Technical Experts Program to de-
termine whether the program should be enhanced or 
expanded to bolster and support the programs of the 
FAA’s Office of Aviation Safety, with particular focus 
placed on the Aircraft Certification Service and the 
Flight Standards Service (or any successor organiza-
tions), particularly with respect to understanding the 
safety implications of new or innovative technologies, 
materials, aircraft operations, and procedures used by 
designers and manufacturers of such aircraft. 
(c) DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION.—Not later than 270 
days after the date of enactment of this title, the Adminis-
trator shall complete the review required by subsection (b). 
(d) BRIEFING.—Not later than 30 days after the com-
pletion of the review required by subsection (b), the Admin-
istrator shall brief the congressional committees of jurisdic-
tion on the results of the review. The briefing shall include 
the following: 
(1) An analysis of the Administration’s ability 
to hire safety inspectors, human factors specialists, 
flight test pilots, engineers, managers, executives, sci-
entists, and technical advisors, who have the requisite 
expertise to oversee new developments in aerospace de-
sign and manufacturing. 
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(2) A plan for the Administration to improve the 
overall expertise of the FAA’s personnel who are re-
sponsible for the oversight of the design and manufac-
ture of aircraft. 
(e) CONSULTATION REQUIREMENT.—In completing the 
review under subsection (b), the Administrator shall consult 
and collaborate with appropriate stakeholders, including 
labor organizations (including those representing aviation 
workers, FAA aviation safety engineers, human factors spe-
cialists, flight test pilots, and FAA aviation safety inspec-
tors), and aerospace manufacturers. 
(f) RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.— 
(1) BARGAINING UNITS.—Not later than 30 days 
after the date of enactment of this title, the Adminis-
trator shall begin collaboration with the exclusive bar-
gaining representatives of engineers, safety inspectors, 
systems safety specialists, and other qualified tech-
nical experts certified under section 7111 of title 5, 
United States Code, to improve recruitment of em-
ployees for, and to implement retention incentives for 
employees holding, positions with respect to the cer-
tification of aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and 
appliances. If the Administrator and such representa-
tives are unable to reach an agreement collabo-
ratively, the Administrator and such representatives 
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2823 
shall negotiate in accordance with section 40122(a) of 
title 49, United States Code, to improve recruitment 
and implement retention incentives for employees de-
scribed in subsection (a) who are covered under a col-
lective bargaining agreement. 
(2) OTHER EMPLOYEES.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, not later than 30 days after 
the date of enactment of this title, the Administrator 
shall initiate actions to improve recruitment of, and 
implement retention incentives for, any individual 
described in subsection (a) who is not covered under 
a collective bargaining agreement. 
(3) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
section shall be construed to vest in any exclusive bar-
gaining representative any management right of the 
Administrator, as such right existed on the day before 
the date of enactment of this title. 
(4) AVAILABILITY OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Any ac-
tion taken by the Administrator under this section 
shall be subject to the availability of appropriations 
authorized under subsection (a). 
SEC. 105. DISCLOSURE OF SAFETY CRITICAL INFORMATION. 
(a) DISCLOSURE.—Section 44704 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by striking subsection (e) and in-
serting the following: 
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‘‘(e) DISCLOSURE
OF SAFETY CRITICAL INFORMA-
TION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding a delega-
tion described in section 44702(d), the Administrator 
shall require an applicant for, or holder of, a type 
certificate for a transport category airplane covered 
under part 25 of title 14, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, to submit safety critical information with re-
spect to such airplane to the Administrator in such 
form, manner, or time as the Administrator may re-
quire. Such safety critical information shall in-
clude— 
‘‘(A) any design and operational details, in-
tended functions, and failure modes of any sys-
tem that, without being commanded by the flight 
crew, commands the operation of any safety crit-
ical function or feature required for control of an 
airplane during flight or that otherwise changes 
the flight path or airspeed of an airplane; 
‘‘(B) the design and operational details, in-
tended functions, failure modes, and mode 
annunciations of autopilot and autothrottle sys-
tems, if applicable; 
‘‘(C) any failure or operating condition that 
the applicant or holder anticipates or has con-
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2825 
cluded would result in an outcome with a sever-
ity level of hazardous or catastrophic, as defined 
in the appropriate Administration airworthiness 
requirements and guidance applicable to trans-
port category airplanes defining risk severity; 
‘‘(D) any adverse handling quality that 
fails to meet the requirements of applicable regu-
lations without the addition of a software system 
to augment the flight controls of the airplane to 
produce compliant handling qualities; and 
‘‘(E) a system safety assessment with re-
spect to a system described in subparagraph (A) 
or (B) or with respect to any component or other 
system for which failure or erroneous operation 
of such component or system could result in an 
outcome with a severity level of hazardous or cat-
astrophic, as defined in the appropriate Admin-
istration airworthiness requirements and guid-
ance applicable to transport category airplanes 
defining risk severity. 
‘‘(2) ONGOING COMMUNICATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) NEWLY DISCOVERED INFORMATION.— 
The Administrator shall require that an appli-
cant for, or holder of, a type certificate disclose 
to the Administrator, in such form, manner, or 
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time as the Administrator may require, any 
newly discovered information or design or anal-
ysis change that would materially alter any sub-
mission to the Administrator under paragraph 
(1). 
‘‘(B) SYSTEM
DEVELOPMENT
CHANGES.— 
The Administrator shall establish multiple mile-
stones throughout the certification process at 
which a proposed airplane system will be as-
sessed to determine whether any change to such 
system during the certification process is such 
that such system should be considered novel or 
unusual by the Administrator. 
‘‘(3) FLIGHT
MANUALS.—The Administrator 
shall ensure that an airplane flight manual and a 
flight crew operating manual (as appropriate or ap-
plicable) for an airplane contains a description of the 
operation of a system described in paragraph (1)(A) 
and flight crew procedures for responding to a failure 
or aberrant operation of such system. 
‘‘(4) CIVIL PENALTY.— 
‘‘(A) 
AMOUNT.—Notwithstanding 
section 
46301, an applicant for, or holder of, a type cer-
tificate that knowingly violates paragraph (1), 
(2), or (3) of this subsection shall be liable to the 
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Administrator for a civil penalty of not more 
than $1,000,000 for each violation. 
‘‘(B) PENALTY CONSIDERATIONS.—In deter-
mining the amount of a civil penalty under sub-
paragraph (A), the Administrator shall con-
sider— 
‘‘(i) the nature, circumstances, extent, 
and gravity of the violation, including the 
length of time that such safety critical in-
formation was known but not disclosed; and 
‘‘(ii) with respect to the violator, the 
degree of culpability, any history of prior 
violations, and the size of the business con-
cern. 
‘‘(5) REVOCATION AND CIVIL PENALTY FOR INDI-
VIDUALS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator 
shall revoke any airline transport pilot certifi-
cate issued under section 44703 held by any in-
dividual who, while acting on behalf of an appli-
cant for, or holder of, a type certificate, know-
ingly makes a false statement with respect to 
any of the matters described in subparagraphs 
(A) through (E) of paragraph (1). 
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‘‘(B) AUTHORITY
TO
IMPOSE
CIVIL
PEN-
ALTY.—The Administrator may impose a civil 
penalty under section 46301 for each violation 
described in subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(6) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
subsection shall be construed to affect or otherwise in-
hibit the authority of the Administrator to deny an 
application by an applicant for a type certificate or 
to revoke or amend a type certificate of a holder of 
such certificate. 
‘‘(7) DEFINITION
OF
TYPE
CERTIFICATE.—In 
this subsection, the term ‘type certificate’— 
‘‘(A) means a type certificate issued under 
subsection (a) or an amendment to such certifi-
cate; and 
‘‘(B) does not include a supplemental type 
certificate issued under subsection (b).’’. 
(b) CIVIL PENALTY AUTHORITY.—Section 44704 of 
title 49, United States Code, is further amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) HEARING REQUIREMENT.—The Administrator 
may find that a person has violated subsection (a)(6) or 
paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (e) and impose a 
civil penalty under the applicable subsection only after no-
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tice and an opportunity for a hearing. The Administrator 
shall provide a person— 
‘‘(1) written notice of the violation and the 
amount of penalty; and 
‘‘(2) the opportunity for a hearing under subpart 
G of part 13 of title 14, Code of Federal Regula-
tions.’’. 
(c) REQUIRED SUBMISSION OF OUTLINE OF SYSTEM 
CHANGES
AT
THE BEGINNING
OF
THE CERTIFICATION 
PROCESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this title, the Administrator 
shall initiate a process to revise procedures to require 
an applicant for an amendment to a type certificate 
for a transport category aircraft to disclose to the Ad-
ministrator, in a single document submitted at the 
beginning of the process for amending such certificate, 
all new systems and intended changes to existing sys-
tems then known to such applicant. The Adminis-
trator shall finalize the revision of such procedures 
not later than 18 months after initiating such proc-
ess. 
(2) APPLICATION.—Compliance with the proce-
dures revised pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not 
preclude an applicant from making additional 
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changes to aircraft systems as the design and applica-
tion process proceeds. 
(3) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this sub-
section may be construed to limit the obligations of 
an applicant for an amended type certificate for a 
transport category airplane under section 44704(e) of 
title 49, United States Code, as amended in this title. 
SEC. 106. LIMITATION ON DELEGATION. 
Section 44702(d) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4)(A) With respect to a critical system design feature 
of a transport category airplane, the Administrator may 
not delegate any finding of compliance with applicable air-
worthiness standards or review of any system safety assess-
ment required for the issuance of a certificate, including 
a type certificate, or amended or supplemental type certifi-
cate, under section 44704, until the Administrator has re-
viewed and validated any underlying assumptions related 
to human factors. 
‘‘(B) The requirement under subparagraph (A) shall 
not apply if the Administrator determines the matter in-
volved is a routine task. 
‘‘(C) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term crit-
ical system design feature includes any feature (including 
a novel or unusual design feature) for which the failure of 
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such feature, either independently or in combination with 
other failures, could result in catastrophic or hazardous 
failure conditions, as those terms are defined by the Admin-
istrator.’’. 
SEC. 107. OVERSIGHT OF ORGANIZATION DESIGNATION AU-
THORIZATION UNIT MEMBERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 447 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 44741. Approval of organization designation au-
thorization unit members 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning January 1, 2022, each 
individual who is selected on or after such date to become 
an ODA unit member by an ODA holder engaged in the 
design of an aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller, or appli-
ance and performs an authorized function pursuant to a 
delegation by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration under section 44702(d)— 
‘‘(1) shall be— 
‘‘(A) an employee, a contractor, or a con-
sultant of the ODA holder; or 
‘‘(B) the employee of a supplier of the ODA 
holder; and 
‘‘(2) may not become a member of such unit un-
less approved by the Administrator pursuant to this 
section. 
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‘‘(b) PROCESS AND TIMELINE.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator shall 
maintain an efficient process for the review and ap-
proval of an individual to become an ODA unit mem-
ber under this section. 
‘‘(2) PROCESS.—An ODA holder described in 
subsection (a) may submit to the Administrator an 
application for an individual to be approved to be-
come an ODA unit member under this section. The 
application shall be submitted in such form and man-
ner as the Administrator determines appropriate. The 
Administrator shall require an ODA holder to submit 
with such an application information sufficient to 
demonstrate an individual’s qualifications under sub-
section (c). 
‘‘(3) TIMELINE.—The Administrator shall ap-
prove or reject an individual that is selected by an 
ODA holder to become an ODA unit member under 
this section not later than 30 days after the receipt 
of an application by an ODA holder. 
‘‘(4) DOCUMENTATION OF APPROVAL.—Upon ap-
proval of an individual to become an ODA unit mem-
ber under this section, the Administrator shall pro-
vide such individual a letter confirming that such in-
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dividual has been approved by the Administrator 
under this section to be an ODA unit member. 
‘‘(5) REAPPLICATION.—An ODA holder may sub-
mit an application under this subsection for an indi-
vidual to become an ODA unit member under this 
section regardless of whether an application for such 
individual was previously rejected by the Adminis-
trator. 
‘‘(c) QUALIFICATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator shall 
issue minimum qualifications for an individual to be-
come an ODA unit member under this section. In 
issuing such qualifications, the Administrator shall 
consider existing qualifications for Administration 
employees with similar duties and whether such indi-
vidual— 
‘‘(A) is technically proficient and qualified 
to perform the authorized functions sought; 
‘‘(B) has no recent record of serious enforce-
ment action, as determined by the Adminis-
trator, taken by the Administrator with respect 
to any certificate, approval, or authorization 
held by such individual; 
‘‘(C) is of good moral character (as such 
qualification is applied to an applicant for an 
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airline transport pilot certificate issued under 
section 44703); 
‘‘(D) possesses the knowledge of applicable 
design or production requirements in this chap-
ter and in title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, 
necessary for performance of the authorized func-
tions sought; 
‘‘(E) possesses a high degree of knowledge of 
applicable design or production principles, sys-
tem safety principles, or safety risk management 
processes appropriate for the authorized func-
tions sought; and 
‘‘(F) meets such testing, examination, train-
ing, or other qualification standards as the Ad-
ministrator determines are necessary to ensure 
the individual is competent and capable of per-
forming the authorized functions sought. 
‘‘(2) PREVIOUSLY REJECTED APPLICATION.—In 
reviewing an application for an individual to become 
an ODA unit member under this section, if an appli-
cation for such individual was previously rejected, the 
Administrator shall ensure that the reasons for the 
prior rejection have been resolved or mitigated to the 
Administrator’s satisfaction before making a deter-
mination on the individual’s reapplication. 
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2835 
‘‘(d) RESCISSION OF APPROVAL.—The Administrator 
may rescind an approval of an individual as an ODA unit 
member granted pursuant to this section at any time and 
for any reason the Administrator considers appropriate. 
The Administrator shall develop procedures to provide for 
notice and opportunity to appeal rescission decisions made 
by the Administrator. Such decisions by the Administrator 
are not subject to judicial review. 
‘‘(e) CONDITIONAL SELECTIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the requirements 
of this subsection, the Administrator may authorize 
an ODA holder to conditionally designate an indi-
vidual to perform the functions of an ODA unit mem-
ber for a period of not more than 30 days (beginning 
on the date an application for such individual is sub-
mitted under subsection (b)(2)). 
‘‘(2) REQUIRED DETERMINATION.—The Adminis-
trator may not make an authorization under para-
graph (1) unless— 
‘‘(A) the ODA holder has instituted, to the 
Administrator’s satisfaction, systems and proc-
esses to ensure the integrity and reliability of de-
terminations by conditionally-designated ODA 
unit members; and 
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from performing an authorized function at any time 
for any reason the Administrator considers appro-
priate. 
‘‘(f) RECORDS AND BRIEFINGS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date de-
scribed in subsection (a), an ODA holder shall main-
tain, for a period to be determined by the Adminis-
trator and with proper protections to ensure the secu-
rity of sensitive and personal information— 
‘‘(A) any data, applications, records, or 
manuals required by the ODA holder’s approved 
procedures manual, as determined by the Admin-
istrator; 
‘‘(B) the names, responsibilities, qualifica-
tions, and example signature of each member of 
the ODA unit who performs an authorized func-
tion pursuant to a delegation by the Adminis-
trator under section 44702(d); 
‘‘(C) training records for ODA unit mem-
bers and ODA administrators; and 
‘‘(D) any other data, applications, records, 
or manuals determined appropriate by the Ad-
ministrator. 
‘‘(2) CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING.—Not later than 
90 days after the date of enactment of this section, 
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and every 90 days thereafter through September 30, 
2023, the Administrator shall provide a briefing to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
on the implementation and effects of this section, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(A) the Administration’s performance in 
completing reviews of individuals and approving 
or denying such individuals within the timeline 
required under subsection (b)(3); 
‘‘(B) for any individual rejected by the Ad-
ministrator under subsection (b) during the pre-
ceding 90-day period, the reasoning or basis for 
such rejection; and 
‘‘(C) any resource, staffing, or other chal-
lenges within the Administration associated with 
implementation of this section. 
‘‘(g) SPECIAL REVIEW OF QUALIFICATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after 
the issuance of minimum qualifications under sub-
section (c), the Administrator shall initiate a review 
of the qualifications of each individual who on the 
date on which such minimum qualifications are 
issued is an ODA unit member of a holder of a type 
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certificate for a transport airplane to ensure such in-
dividual meets the minimum qualifications issued by 
the Administrator under subsection (c). 
‘‘(2) UNQUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL.—For any indi-
vidual who is determined by the Administrator not to 
meet such minimum qualifications pursuant to the 
review conducted under paragraph (1), the Adminis-
trator— 
‘‘(A) shall determine whether the lack of 
qualification may be remedied and, if so, provide 
such individual with an action plan or schedule 
for such individual to meet such qualifications; 
or 
‘‘(B) may, if the Administrator determines 
the lack of qualification may not be remedied, 
take appropriate action, including prohibiting 
such individual from performing an authorized 
function. 
‘‘(3) DEADLINE.—The Administrator shall com-
plete the review required under paragraph (1) not 
later than 18 months after the date on which such re-
view was initiated. 
‘‘(4) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—An individual approved 
to become an ODA unit member of a holder of a type 
certificate for a transport airplane under subsection 
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2840 
(a) shall not be subject to the review under this sub-
section. 
‘‘(h) PROHIBITION.—The Administrator may not au-
thorize an organization or ODA holder to approve an indi-
vidual selected by an ODA holder to become an ODA unit 
member under this section. 
‘‘(i) DEFINITIONS.— 
‘‘(1) GENERAL APPLICABILITY.—The definitions 
contained in section 44736(c) shall apply to this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(2) TRANSPORT AIRPLANE.—The term ‘trans-
port airplane’ means a transport category airplane 
designed for operation by an air carrier or foreign air 
carrier type-certificated with a passenger seating ca-
pacity of 30 or more or an all-cargo or combi deriva-
tive of such an airplane. 
‘‘(j) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023. 
‘‘§ 44742. Interference with the duties of organization 
designation authorization unit members 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall continuously seek to elimi-
nate or minimize interference by an ODA holder that affects 
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2841 
the performance of authorized functions by ODA unit mem-
bers. 
‘‘(b) PROHIBITION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—It shall be unlawful for any 
individual who is a supervisory employee of an ODA 
holder that manufactures a transport category air-
plane to commit an act of interference with an ODA 
unit member’s performance of authorized functions. 
‘‘(2) CIVIL PENALTY.— 
‘‘(A) INDIVIDUALS.—An individual shall be 
subject 
to 
a 
civil 
penalty 
under 
section 
46301(a)(1) for each violation under paragraph 
(1). 
‘‘(B) SAVINGS
CLAUSE.—Nothing in this 
paragraph shall be construed as limiting or con-
stricting any other authority of the Adminis-
trator to pursue an enforcement action against 
an individual or organization for violation of 
applicable Federal laws or regulations of the Ad-
ministration. 
‘‘(c) REPORTING.— 
‘‘(1) REPORTS TO ODA HOLDER.—An ODA unit 
member of an ODA holder that manufactures a trans-
port category airplane shall promptly report any in-
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stances of interference to the office of the ODA holder 
that is designated to receive such reports. 
‘‘(2) REPORTS TO THE FAA.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The ODA holder office 
described in paragraph (1) shall investigate re-
ports and submit to the office of the Administra-
tion designated by the Administrator to accept 
and review such reports any instances of inter-
ference reported under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(B) CONTENTS.—The Administrator shall 
prescribe parameters for the submission of re-
ports to the Administration under this para-
graph, including the manner, time, and form of 
submission. Such report shall include the results 
of any investigation conducted by the ODA hold-
er in response to a report of interference, a de-
scription of any action taken by the ODA holder 
as a result of the report of interference, and any 
other information or potentially mitigating fac-
tors the ODA holder or the Administrator deems 
appropriate. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.— 
‘‘(1) GENERAL APPLICABILITY.—The definitions 
contained in section 44736(c) shall apply to this sec-
tion. 
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‘‘(2) INTERFERENCE.—In this section, the term 
‘interference’ means— 
‘‘(A) blatant or egregious statements or be-
havior, such as harassment, beratement, or 
threats, that a reasonable person would conclude 
was intended to improperly influence or preju-
dice an ODA unit member’s performance of his 
or her duties; or 
‘‘(B) the presence of non-ODA unit duties 
or activities that conflict with the performance of 
authorized functions by ODA unit members.’’. 
(b) ODA PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 44736 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(d) AUDITS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall per-
form a periodic audit of each ODA unit and its pro-
cedures. 
‘‘(2) DURATION.—An audit required under para-
graph (1) shall be performed with respect to an ODA 
holder once every 7 years (or more frequently as de-
termined appropriate by the Administrator). 
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‘‘(3) RECORDS.—The ODA holder shall main-
tain, for a period to be determined by the Adminis-
trator, a record of— 
‘‘(A) each audit conducted under this sub-
section; and 
‘‘(B) any corrective actions resulting from 
each such audit. 
‘‘(e) FEDERAL AVIATION SAFETY ADVISORS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In the case of an ODA hold-
er, the Administrator shall assign FAA aviation safe-
ty personnel with appropriate expertise to be advisors 
to the ODA unit members that are authorized to make 
findings of compliance on behalf of the Administrator. 
The advisors shall— 
‘‘(A) communicate with assigned unit mem-
bers on an ongoing basis to ensure that the as-
signed unit members are knowledgeable of rel-
evant FAA policies and acceptable methods of 
compliance; and 
‘‘(B) monitor the performance of the as-
signed unit members to ensure consistency with 
such policies. 
‘‘(2) APPLICABILITY.—Paragraph (1) shall only 
apply to an ODA holder that is— 
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‘‘(A) a manufacturer that holds both a type 
and a production certificate for— 
‘‘(i) transport category airplanes with 
a maximum takeoff gross weight greater 
than 150,000 pounds; or 
‘‘(ii) airplanes produced and delivered 
to operators operating under part 121 of 
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, for 
air carrier service under such part 121; or 
‘‘(B) a manufacturer of engines for an air-
plane described in subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(f) COMMUNICATION WITH THE FAA.—Neither the 
Administrator nor an ODA holder may prohibit— 
‘‘(1) an ODA unit member from communicating 
with, or seeking the advice of, the Administrator or 
FAA staff; or 
‘‘(2) the Administrator or FAA staff from com-
municating with an ODA unit member.’’. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than September 30, 
2022, the Administrator shall submit to the congres-
sional committees of jurisdiction a report on the im-
plementation of subsections (d) and (e) of section 
44736 of title 49, United States Code, as added by 
subsection (b). 
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(c) ADDITIONAL ODA PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS.— 
Section 44736 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A) by striking the 
semicolon and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
(ii) by striking subparagraph (B); 
(iii) in subparagraph (C) by striking 
‘‘; and’’ and inserting a period; 
(iv) by striking subparagraph (D); and 
(v) by redesignating subparagraph (C) 
as subparagraph (B); and 
(B) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘shall— 
’’ and all that follows through the end and in-
serting ‘‘shall conduct regular oversight activities 
by inspecting the ODA holder’s delegated func-
tions and taking action based on validated in-
spection findings.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)(3)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by striking clause (i) and redesig-
nating clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv) as clauses 
(i), (ii), and (iii), respectively; 
(ii) in clause (i) as redesignated by in-
serting ‘‘, as appropriate,’’ after ‘‘require’’; 
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(iii) in clause (ii) as redesignated by 
inserting ‘‘, as appropriate,’’ after ‘‘re-
quire’’; and 
(iv) in clause (iii) as redesignated by 
inserting ‘‘when appropriate,’’ before ‘‘make 
a reassessment’’; 
(B) by striking subparagraph (B); 
(C) in subparagraph (F) by inserting ‘‘, 
when appropriate,’’ before ‘‘approve’’; and 
(D) by redesignating subparagraphs (C), 
(D), (E), and (F) as subparagraphs (B), (C), 
(D), and (E), respectively. 
(d) TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.— 
(1) SECTION
44737.—Chapter 447 of title 49, 
United States Code, is further amended by redesig-
nating the second section 44737 (as added by section 
581 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) as sec-
tion 44740. 
(2) ANALYSIS.—The analysis for chapter 447 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking the item relating to the sec-
ond section 44737 (as added by section 581 of 
the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018); and 
(B) by inserting after the item relating to 
section 44739 the following new items: 
‘‘44740. Special rule for certain aircraft operations. 
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‘‘44741. Approval of organization designation authorization unit members. 
‘‘44742. Interference with the duties of organization designation authorization 
unit members.’’. 
(3) SPECIAL RULE FOR CERTAIN AIRCRAFT OP-
ERATIONS.—Section 44740 of title 49, United States 
Code (as redesignated by paragraph (1)), is amend-
ed— 
(A) in the heading by striking the period at 
the end; 
(B) in subsection (a)(1) by striking ‘‘chap-
ter’’ and inserting ‘‘section’’; 
(C) in subsection (b)(1) by striking ‘‘(1)’’ 
the second time it appears; and 
(D) in subsection (c)(2) by adding a period 
at the end. 
SEC. 108. INTEGRATED PROJECT TEAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Upon receipt of an application for 
a type certificate for a transport category airplane, the Ad-
ministrator shall convene an interdisciplinary integrated 
project team responsible for coordinating review and pro-
viding advice and recommendations, as appropriate, to the 
Administrator on such application. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—In convening an interdisciplinary 
integrated project team under subsection (a), the Adminis-
trator shall appoint employees of the Administration or 
other Federal agencies, such as the Air Force, Volpe Na-
tional Transportation Systems Center, or the National Aer-
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2849 
onautics and Space Administration (with the concurrence 
of the head of such other Federal agency), with specialized 
expertise and experience in the fields of engineering, systems 
design, human factors, and pilot training, including, at a 
minimum— 
(1) not less than 1 designee of the Associate Ad-
ministrator for Aviation Safety whose duty station is 
in the Administration’s headquarters; 
(2) representatives of the Aircraft Certification 
Service of the Administration; 
(3) representatives of the Flight Standards Serv-
ice of the Administration; 
(4) experts in the fields of human factors, aero-
dynamics, flight controls, software, and systems de-
sign; and 
(5) any other subject matter expert whom the 
Administrator determines appropriate. 
(c) AVAILABILITY.—In order to carry out its duties 
with respect to the areas specified in subsection (d), a 
project team shall be available to the Administrator, upon 
request, at any time during the certification process. 
(d) DUTIES.—A project team shall advise the Adminis-
trator and make written recommendations to the Adminis-
trator, to be retained in the certification project file, includ-
ing recommendations for any plans, analyses, assessments, 
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and reports required to support and document the certifi-
cation project, in the following areas associated with a new 
technology or novel design: 
(1) Initial review of design proposals proposed 
by the applicant and the establishment of the certifi-
cation basis. 
(2) Identification of new technology, novel de-
sign, or safety critical design features or systems that 
are potentially catastrophic, either alone or in com-
bination with another failure. 
(3) Determination of compliance findings, sys-
tem safety assessments, and safety critical functions 
the Administration should retain in terms of new 
technology, novel design, or safety critical design fea-
tures or systems. 
(4) Evaluation of the Administration’s expertise 
or experience necessary to support the project. 
(5) Review and evaluation of an applicant’s re-
quest for exceptions or exemptions from compliance 
with airworthiness standards codified in title 14 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the 
date of application for the change. 
(6) Conduct of design reviews, procedure evalua-
tions, and training evaluations. 
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(7) Review of the applicant’s final design docu-
mentation and other data to evaluate compliance 
with all relevant Administration regulations. 
(e) DOCUMENTATION OF FAA RESPONSE.—The Ad-
ministrator shall provide a written response to each rec-
ommendation of each project team and shall retain such 
response in the certification project file. 
(f) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this section, and annually thereafter through 
fiscal year 2023, the Administrator shall submit to the con-
gressional committees of jurisdiction a report on the estab-
lishment of each integrated project team in accordance with 
this section during such fiscal year, including the role and 
composition of each such project team. 
SEC. 109. OVERSIGHT INTEGRITY BRIEFING. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this title, the Administrator shall brief the congressional 
committees of jurisdiction on specific measures the Admin-
istrator has taken to reinforce that each employee of the Ad-
ministration responsible for overseeing an organization des-
ignation authorization with respect to the certification of 
aircraft perform such responsibility in accordance with 
safety management principles and in the public interest of 
aviation safety. 
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2852 
SEC. 110. APPEALS OF CERTIFICATION DECISIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 44704, of title 49, United 
States Code, as amended by section 105(b), is further 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) CERTIFICATION DISPUTE RESOLUTION.— 
‘‘(1) DISPUTE
RESOLUTION
PROCESS
AND
AP-
PEALS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date of enactment of this subsection, the 
Administrator shall issue an order estab-
lishing— 
‘‘(i) an effective, timely, and milestone- 
based issue resolution process for type cer-
tification activities under subsection (a); 
and 
‘‘(ii) a process by which a decision, 
finding of compliance or noncompliance, or 
other act of the Administration, with re-
spect to compliance with design require-
ments, may be appealed by a covered person 
directly involved with the certification ac-
tivities in dispute on the basis that such de-
cision, finding, or act is erroneous or incon-
sistent with this chapter, regulations, or 
guidance materials promulgated by the Ad-
ministrator, or other requirements. 
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‘‘(B) ESCALATION.—The order issued under 
subparagraph (A) shall provide processes 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 Admin-
istration and the type certificate applicant 
of any major certification process milestone 
that is not completed or resolved within a 
specific period of time agreed to by the Ad-
ministrator and the type certificate appli-
cant; 
‘‘(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; 
‘‘(iv) initial review by appropriate Ad-
ministration employees of any appeal de-
scribed in subparagraph (A)(ii); and 
‘‘(v) subsequent review of any further 
appeal by appropriate management per-
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sonnel of the Administration and the Asso-
ciate Administrator for Aviation Safety. 
‘‘(C) DISPOSITION.— 
‘‘(i) WRITTEN
DECISION.—The Asso-
ciate Administrator for Aviation Safety 
shall issue a written decision that states the 
grounds for the decision of the Associate Ad-
ministrator on— 
‘‘(I) each appeal submitted under 
subparagraph (A)(ii); and 
‘‘(II) An appeal to the Associate 
Administrator submitted under sub-
paragraph (B)(v). 
‘‘(ii) REPORT
TO
CONGRESS.—Not 
later than December 31 of each calendar 
year through calendar year 2025, 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 report summarizing each 
appeal resolved under this subsection. 
‘‘(D) FINAL REVIEW.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—A written decision 
of the Associate Administrator under sub-
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2855 
paragraph (C) may be appealed to the Ad-
ministrator for a final review and deter-
mination. 
‘‘(ii) DECLINE TO REVIEW.—The Ad-
ministrator may decline to review an ap-
peal initiated pursuant to clause (i). 
‘‘(iii) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—No decision 
under this paragraph (including a decision 
to decline to review an appeal) shall be sub-
ject to judicial review. 
‘‘(2) PROHIBITED CONTACTS.— 
‘‘(A) PROHIBITION
GENERALLY.—During 
the course of an appeal under this subsection, no 
covered official may engage in an ex parte com-
munication (as defined in section 551 of title 5) 
with an individual representing or acting on be-
half of an applicant for, or holder of, a certifi-
cate under this section in relation to such appeal 
unless such communication is disclosed pursuant 
to subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(B) DISCLOSURE.—If, during the course of 
an appeal under this subsection, a covered offi-
cial engages in, receives, or is otherwise made 
aware of an ex parte communication, the covered 
official shall disclose such communication in the 
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2856 
public record at the time of the issuance of the 
written decision under paragraph (1)(C), includ-
ing the time and date of the communication, 
subject of communication, and all persons en-
gaged in such communication. 
‘‘(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) COVERED PERSON.—The term ‘covered 
person’ means either— 
‘‘(i) an employee of the Administration 
whose responsibilities relate to the certifi-
cation of aircraft, engines, propellers, or ap-
pliances; or 
‘‘(ii) an applicant for, or holder of, a 
type certificate or amended type certificate 
issued under this section. 
‘‘(B) COVERED OFFICIAL.—The term ‘cov-
ered official’ means the following officials: 
‘‘(i) The Executive Director or any 
Deputy Director of the Aircraft Certifi-
cation Service. 
‘‘(ii) The Deputy Executive Director 
for Regulatory Operations of the Aircraft 
Certification Service. 
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‘‘(iii) The Director or Deputy Director 
of the Compliance and Airworthiness Divi-
sion of the Aircraft Certification Service. 
‘‘(iv) The Director or Deputy Director 
of the System Oversight Division of the Air-
craft Certification Service. 
‘‘(v) The Director or Deputy Director 
of the Policy and Innovation Division of the 
Aircraft Certification Service. 
‘‘(vi) The Executive Director or any 
Deputy Executive Director of the Flight 
Standards Service. 
‘‘(vii) The Associate Administrator or 
Deputy Associate Administrator for Avia-
tion Safety. 
‘‘(viii) The Deputy Administrator of 
the Federal Aviation Administration. 
‘‘(ix) The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration. 
‘‘(x) Any similarly situated or suc-
cessor FAA management position to those 
described in clauses (i) through (ix), as de-
termined by the Administrator. 
‘‘(C) MAJOR CERTIFICATION PROCESS MILE-
STONE.—The term ‘major certification process 
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2858 
milestone’ means a milestone related to the type 
certification basis, type certification plan, type 
inspection authorization, issue paper, or other 
major type certification activity agreed to by the 
Administrator and the type certificate applicant. 
‘‘(4) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
subsection shall apply to the communication of a 
good-faith complaint by any individual alleging— 
‘‘(A) gross misconduct; 
‘‘(B) a violation of title 18; or 
‘‘(C) a violation of any of the provisions of 
part 2635 or 6001 of title 5, Code of Federal 
Regulations.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 44704(a) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking para-
graph (6). 
SEC. 111. EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS. 
(a) DISQUALIFICATION BASED
ON PRIOR EMPLOY-
MENT.—An employee of the Administration with super-
visory responsibility may not direct, conduct, or otherwise 
participate in oversight of a holder of a certificate issued 
under section 44704 of title 49, United States Code, that 
previously employed such employee in the preceding 1-year 
period. 
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2859 
(b) 
POST-EMPLOYMENT
RESTRICTIONS.—Section 
44711(d) of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(d) POST-EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS FOR INSPEC-
TORS AND ENGINEERS.— 
‘‘(1) PROHIBITION.—A person holding a certifi-
cate issued under part 21 or 119 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations, may not knowingly employ, or 
make a contractual arrangement that permits, an in-
dividual to act as an agent or representative of such 
person in any matter before the Administration if the 
individual, in the preceding 2-year period— 
‘‘(A) served as, or was responsible for over-
sight of— 
‘‘(i) a flight standards inspector of the 
Administration; or 
‘‘(ii) an employee of the Administra-
tion with responsibility for certification 
functions with respect to a holder of a cer-
tificate issued under section 44704(a); and 
‘‘(B) had responsibility to inspect, or over-
see inspection of, the operations of such person. 
‘‘(2) WRITTEN
AND
ORAL
COMMUNICATIONS.— 
For purposes of paragraph (1), an individual shall be 
considered to be acting as an agent or representative 
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of a certificate holder in a matter before the Adminis-
tration if the individual makes any written or oral 
communication on behalf of the certificate holder to 
the Administration (or any of its officers or employ-
ees) in connection with a particular matter, whether 
or not involving a specific party and without regard 
to whether the individual has participated in, or had 
responsibility for, the particular matter while serving 
as an individual covered under paragraph (1).’’. 
SEC. 
112. 
PROFESSIONAL 
DEVELOPMENT, 
SKILLS 
EN-
HANCEMENT, CONTINUING EDUCATION AND 
TRAINING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 445 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 44519. Certification personnel continuing edu-
cation and training 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall— 
‘‘(1) develop a program for regular recurrent 
training of engineers, inspectors, and other subject- 
matter experts employed in the Aircraft Certification 
Service of the Administration in accordance with the 
training strategy developed pursuant to section 231 of 
the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 
115–254; 132 Stat. 3256); 
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‘‘(2) to the maximum extent practicable, imple-
ment measures, including assignments in multiple di-
visions of the Aircraft Certification Service, to ensure 
that such engineers and other subject-matter experts 
in the Aircraft Certification Service have access to di-
verse professional opportunities that expand their 
knowledge and skills; 
‘‘(3) develop a program to provide continuing 
education and training to Administration personnel 
who hold positions involving aircraft certification 
and flight standards, including human factors spe-
cialists, engineers, flight test pilots, inspectors, and, 
as determined appropriate by the Administrator, in-
dustry personnel who may be responsible for compli-
ance activities including designees; and 
‘‘(4) in consultation with outside experts, de-
velop— 
‘‘(A) an education and training curriculum 
on current and new aircraft technologies, human 
factors, project management, and the roles and 
responsibilities associated with oversight of des-
ignees; and 
‘‘(B) recommended practices for compliance 
with Administration regulations. 
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‘‘(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Administrator shall, to 
the maximum extent practicable, ensure that actions taken 
pursuant to subsection (a)— 
‘‘(1) permit engineers, inspectors, and other sub-
ject matter experts to continue developing knowledge 
of, and expertise in, new and emerging technologies in 
systems design, flight controls, principles of aviation 
safety, system oversight, and certification project 
management; 
‘‘(2) minimize the likelihood of an individual de-
veloping an inappropriate bias toward a designer or 
manufacturer of aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, 
or appliances; 
‘‘(3) are consistent with any applicable collective 
bargaining agreements; and 
‘‘(4) account for gaps in knowledge and skills (as 
identified by the Administrator in consultation with 
the exclusive bargaining representatives certified 
under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code) be-
tween Administration employees and private-sector 
employees for each group of Administration employees 
covered under this section. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator, 
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023 to 
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carry out this section. Amounts appropriated under the pre-
ceding sentence for any fiscal year shall remain available 
until expended.’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The analysis for chapter 
445 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 44518 the following: 
‘‘44519. Certification personnel continuing education and training.’’. 
SEC. 113. VOLUNTARY SAFETY REPORTING PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this title, the Administrator shall establish 
a voluntary safety reporting program for engineers, safety 
inspectors, systems safety specialists, and other subject mat-
ter experts certified under section 7111 of title 5, United 
States Code, to confidentially report instances where they 
have identified safety concerns during certification or over-
sight processes. 
(b) SAFETY REPORTING PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.— 
In establishing the safety reporting program under sub-
section (a), the Administrator shall ensure the following: 
(1) The FAA maintains a reporting culture that 
encourages human factors specialists, engineers, flight 
test pilots, inspectors, and other appropriate FAA em-
ployees to voluntarily report safety concerns. 
(2) The safety reporting program is non-puni-
tive, confidential, and protects employees from adverse 
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employment actions related to their participation in 
the program. 
(3) The safety reporting program identifies ex-
clusionary criteria for the program. 
(4) Collaborative development of the program 
with bargaining representatives of employees under 
section 7111 of title 5, United States Code, who are 
employed in the Aircraft Certification Service or 
Flight Standards Service of the Administration (or, if 
unable to reach an agreement collaboratively, the Ad-
ministrator shall negotiate with the representatives in 
accordance with section 40122(a) of title 49, United 
States Code, regarding the development of the pro-
gram). 
(5) Full and collaborative participation in the 
program by the bargaining representatives of employ-
ees described in paragraph (4). 
(6) The Administrator thoroughly reviews safety 
reports to determine whether there is a safety issue, 
including a hazard, defect, noncompliance, non-
conformance, or process error. 
(7) The Administrator thoroughly reviews safety 
reports to determine whether any aircraft certifi-
cation process contributed to the safety concern being 
raised. 
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(8) The creation of a corrective action process in 
order to address safety issues that are identified 
through the program. 
(c) OUTCOMES.—Results of safety report reviews under 
this section may be used to— 
(1) improve— 
(A) safety systems, hazard control, and risk 
reduction; 
(B) certification systems; 
(C) FAA oversight; 
(D) compliance and conformance; and 
(E) any other matter determined necessary 
by the Administrator; and 
(2) implement lessons learned. 
(d) REPORT FILING.—The Administrator shall estab-
lish requirements for when in the certification process re-
ports may be filed to— 
(1) ensure that identified issues can be addressed 
in a timely manner; and 
(2) foster open dialogue between applicants and 
FAA employees throughout the certification process. 
(e) INTEGRATION WITH OTHER SAFETY REPORTING 
PROGRAMS.—The Administrator shall implement the safety 
reporting program established under subsection (a) and the 
reporting requirements established pursuant to subsection 
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(d) in a manner that is consistent with other voluntary 
safety reporting programs administered by the Adminis-
trator. 
(f) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this title, and annually there-
after through fiscal year 2023, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the congressional committees of jurisdiction a report 
on the effectiveness of the safety reporting program estab-
lished under subsection (a). 
SEC. 114. COMPENSATION LIMITATION. 
Section 106(l) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN PERFORMANCE- 
BASED INCENTIVES.—No employee of the Administra-
tion shall be given an award, financial incentive, or 
other compensation, as a result of actions to meet per-
formance goals related to meeting or exceeding sched-
ules, quotas, or deadlines for certificates issued under 
section 44704.’’. 
SEC. 115. SYSTEM SAFETY ASSESSMENTS AND OTHER RE-
QUIREMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this title, the Administrator shall issue 
such regulations as are necessary to amend part 25 of title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations, and any associated advi-
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sory circular, guidance, or policy of the Administration, in 
accordance with this section. 
(b) SYSTEM SAFETY ASSESSMENTS AND OTHER RE-
QUIREMENTS.—In developing regulations under subsection 
(a), the Administrator shall— 
(1) require an applicant for an amended type 
certificate for a transport airplane to— 
(A) perform a system safety assessment with 
respect to each proposed design change that the 
Administrator determines is significant, with 
such assessment considering the airplane-level ef-
fects of individual errors, malfunctions, or fail-
ures and realistic pilot response times to such er-
rors, malfunctions, or failures; 
(B) update such assessment to account for 
each subsequent proposed design change that the 
Administrator determines is significant; 
(C) provide appropriate employees of the 
Administration with the data and assumptions 
underlying each assessment and amended assess-
ment; and 
(D) provide for document traceability and 
clarity of explanations for changes to aircraft 
type designs and system safety assessment certifi-
cation documents; and 
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(2) work with other civil aviation authorities 
representing states of design to ensure such regula-
tions remain harmonized internationally. 
(c) GUIDANCE.—Guidance or an advisory circular 
issued under subsection (a) shall, at minimum— 
(1) emphasize the importance of clear docu-
mentation of the technical details and failure modes 
and effects of a design change described in subsection 
(b)(1); and 
(2) ensure appropriate review of any change that 
results in a functional hazard assessment classifica-
tion of major or greater, as such term is defined in 
FAA Advisory Circular 25.1309-1A (or any successor 
or replacement document). 
(d) FAA REVIEW.—Appropriate employees of the Air-
craft Certification Service and the Flight Standards Service 
of the Administration shall review each system safety assess-
ment required under subsection (b)(1)(A), updated assess-
ment required under subsection (b)(1)(B), and supporting 
data and assumptions required under subsection (b)(1)(C), 
to ensure that each such assessment sufficiently addresses 
the considerations listed in subsection (b)(1)(A). 
SEC. 116. FLIGHT CREW ALERTING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this title, the Administrator shall imple-
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ment National Transportation Safety Board recommenda-
tions A–19–11 and A–19–12 (as contained in the safety rec-
ommendation report adopted on September 9, 2019). 
(b) PROHIBITION.—Beginning on the date that is 2 
years after the date of enactment of this title, the Adminis-
trator may not issue a type certificate for a transport cat-
egory aircraft unless— 
(1) in the case of a transport airplane, such air-
plane incorporates a flight crew alerting system that, 
at a minimum, displays and differentiates among 
warnings, cautions, and advisories, and includes 
functions to assist the flight crew in prioritizing cor-
rective actions and responding to systems failures; or 
(2) in the case of a transport category aircraft 
other than a transport airplane, the type certificate 
applicant provides a means acceptable to the Admin-
istrator to assist the flight crew in prioritizing correc-
tive actions and responding to systems failures (in-
cluding by cockpit or flight manual procedures). 
(c) EXISTING AIRPLANE DESIGNS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that the FAA shall ensure that any system safety 
assessment with respect to the Boeing 737-7, 737-8, 737- 
9, and 737-10 airplanes, as described in National Trans-
portation Safety Board recommendation A-19-10, is con-
ducted in accordance with such recommendation. 
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SEC. 117. CHANGED PRODUCT RULE. 
(a) REVIEW AND REEVALUATION OF AMENDED TYPE 
CERTIFICATES.— 
(1) INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP.—The Admin-
istrator shall exercise leadership in the creation of 
international policies and standards relating to the 
issuance of amended type certificates within the Cer-
tification Management Team. 
(2) REEVALUATION OF AMENDED TYPE CERTIFI-
CATES.—In carrying out this subsection, the Admin-
istrator shall— 
(A) encourage Certification Management 
Team members to examine and address any rel-
evant covered recommendations (as defined in 
section 121(c)) relating to the issuance of amend-
ed type certificates; 
(B) reevaluate existing assumptions and 
practices inherent in the amended type certifi-
cate process and assess whether such assumptions 
and practices are valid; and 
(C) ensure, to the greatest extent prac-
ticable, that Federal regulations relating to the 
issuance of amended type certificates are har-
monized with the regulations of other inter-
national states of design. 
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(b) AMENDED TYPE CERTIFICATE REPORT AND RULE-
MAKING.— 
(1) BRIEFINGS.—Not later than 12 months after 
the date of enactment of this title, and annually 
thereafter through fiscal year 2023, the Administrator 
shall brief the congressional committees of jurisdiction 
on the work and status of the development of such rec-
ommendations by the Certification Management 
Team. 
(2) INITIATION OF ACTION.—Not later than 2 
years after the date of enactment of this title, the Ad-
ministrator shall take action to revise and improve 
the process of issuing amended type certificates in ac-
cordance with this section. Such action shall include, 
at minimum— 
(A) initiation of a rulemaking proceeding; 
and 
(B) development or revision of guidance 
and training materials. 
(3) CONTENTS.—In taking actions required 
under paragraph (2), the Administrator shall do the 
following: 
(A) Ensure that proposed changes to an air-
craft are evaluated from an integrated whole air-
craft system perspective that examines the inte-
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gration of proposed changes with existing sys-
tems and associated impacts. 
(B) Define key terms used for the changed 
product process under sections 21.19 and 21.101 
of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(C) Consider— 
(i) the findings and work of the Cer-
tification Management Team and other 
similar international harmonization efforts; 
(ii) any relevant covered recommenda-
tions (as defined in section 121(c)); and 
(iii) whether a fixed time beyond 
which a type certificate may not be amend-
ed would improve aviation safety. 
(D) Establish the extent to which the fol-
lowing design characteristics should preclude the 
issuance of an amended type certificate: 
(i) A new or revised flight control sys-
tem. 
(ii) Any substantial changes to aero-
dynamic stability resulting from a physical 
change that may require a new or modified 
software system or control law in order to 
produce positive and acceptable stability 
and handling qualities. 
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(iii) A flight control system or aug-
mented software to maintain aerodynamic 
stability in any portion of the flight enve-
lope that was not required for a previously 
certified derivative. 
(iv) A change in structural components 
(other than a stretch or shrink of the fuse-
lage) that results in a change in structural 
load paths or the magnitude of structural 
loads attributed to flight maneuvers or 
cabin pressurization. 
(v) A novel or unusual system, compo-
nent, or other feature whose failure would 
present a hazardous or catastrophic risk. 
(E) Develop objective criteria for helping to 
determine what constitutes a substantial change 
and a significant change. 
(F) Implement mandatory aircraft-level re-
views throughout the certification process to vali-
date the certification basis and assumptions. 
(G) Require maintenance of relevant records 
of agreements between the FAA and an applicant 
that affect certification documentation and 
deliverables. 
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(H) Ensure appropriate documentation of 
any exception or exemption from airworthiness 
requirements codified in title 14 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of 
application for the change. 
(4) GUIDANCE MATERIALS.—The Administrator 
shall consider the following when developing orders 
and regulatory guidance, including advisory circu-
lars, where appropriate: 
(A) Early FAA involvement and feedback 
paths in the aircraft certification process to en-
sure the FAA is aware of changes to design as-
sumptions and product design impacting a 
changed product assessment. 
(B) Presentation to the FAA of new tech-
nology, novel design, or safety critical features or 
systems, initially and throughout the certifi-
cation process, when development and certifi-
cation prompt design or compliance method revi-
sion. 
(C) Examples of key terms used for the 
changed product process under sections 21.19 
and 21.101 of title 14, Code of Federal Regula-
tions. 
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(D) Type certificate data sheet improve-
ments to accurately state which regulations and 
amendment level the aircraft complies to and 
when compliance is limited to a subset of the 
aircraft. 
(E) Policies to guide applicants on proper 
visibility, clarity, and consistency of key design 
and compliance information that is submitted 
for certification, particularly with new design 
features. 
(F) The creation, validation, and imple-
mentation of analytical tools appropriate for the 
analysis of complex system for the FAA and ap-
plicants. 
(G) Early coordination processes with the 
FAA for the functional hazard assessments vali-
dation and preliminary system safety assess-
ments review. 
(5) TRAINING
MATERIALS.—The Administrator 
shall— 
(A) develop training materials for estab-
lishing the certification basis for changed aero-
nautical products pursuant to section 21.101 of 
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, applica-
tions for a new type certificate pursuant to sec-
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tion 21.19 of such title, and the regulatory guid-
ance developed as a result of the rulemaking con-
ducted pursuant to paragraph (2); and 
(B) procedures for disseminating such mate-
rials to implementing personnel of the FAA, des-
ignees, and applicants. 
(6) CERTIFICATION
MANAGEMENT
TEAM
DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘Certification Man-
agement Team’’ means the team framework under 
which the FAA, the European Aviation Safety Agen-
cy, the Transport Canada Civil Aviation, and the Na-
tional Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil, manage the 
technical, policy, certification, manufacturing, export, 
and continued airworthiness issues common among 
the 4 authorities. 
(7) DEADLINE.—The Administrator shall final-
ize the actions initiated under paragraph (2) not 
later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this 
title. 
(c) INTERNATIONAL
LEADERSHIP.—The Adminis-
trator shall exercise leadership within the ICAO and among 
other civil aviation regulators representing states of aircraft 
design to advocate for the adoption of an amended changed 
product rule on a global basis, consistent with ICAO stand-
ards. 
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SEC. 118. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS. 
Section 42121 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION.—A holder of a 
certificate under section 44704 or 44705 of this title, or a 
contractor, subcontractor, or supplier of such holder, may 
not discharge an employee or otherwise discriminate 
against an employee with respect to compensation, terms, 
conditions, or privileges of employment because the em-
ployee (or any person acting pursuant to a request of the 
employee)— 
‘‘(1) provided, caused to be provided, or is about 
to provide (with any knowledge of the employer) or 
cause to be provided to the employer or Federal Gov-
ernment information relating to any violation or al-
leged violation of any order, regulation, or standard 
of the Federal Aviation Administration or any other 
provision of Federal law relating to aviation safety 
under this subtitle or any other law of the United 
States; 
‘‘(2) has filed, caused to be filed, or is about to 
file (with any knowledge of the employer) or cause to 
be filed a proceeding relating to any violation or al-
leged violation of any order, regulation, or standard 
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of the Federal Aviation Administration or any other 
provision of Federal law relating to aviation safety 
under this subtitle or any other law of the United 
States; 
‘‘(3) testified or is about to testify in such a pro-
ceeding; or 
‘‘(4) assisted or participated or is about to assist 
or participate in such a proceeding.’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(d) NONAPPLICABILITY
TO
DELIBERATE
VIOLA-
TIONS.—Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to an 
employee of a holder of a certificate issued under section 
44704 or 44705, or a contractor or subcontractor thereof, 
who, acting without direction from such certificate-holder, 
contractor, or subcontractor (or such person’s agent), delib-
erately causes a violation of any requirement relating to 
aviation safety under this subtitle or any other law of the 
United States.’’; and 
(3) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(e) CONTRACTOR DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘contractor’ means— 
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‘‘(1) a person that performs safety-sensitive func-
tions by contract for an air carrier or commercial op-
erator; or 
‘‘(2) a person that performs safety-sensitive func-
tions related to the design or production of an air-
craft, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or compo-
nent thereof by contract for a holder of a certificate 
issued under section 44704.’’. 
SEC. 119. DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL PILOT TRAIN-
ING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 447 of title 49, United 
States Code, as amended by section 107, is further amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 44743. Pilot training requirements 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(1) ADMINISTRATOR’S DETERMINATION.—In es-
tablishing any pilot training requirements with re-
spect to a new transport airplane, the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration shall inde-
pendently review any proposal by the manufacturer 
of such airplane with respect to the scope, format, or 
minimum level of training required for operation of 
such airplane. 
‘‘(2) ASSURANCES AND MARKETING REPRESEN-
TATIONS.—Before the Administrator has established 
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applicable training requirements, an applicant for a 
new or amended type certificate for an airplane de-
scribed in paragraph (1) may not, with respect to the 
scope, format, or magnitude of pilot training for such 
airplane— 
‘‘(A) make any assurance or other contrac-
tual commitment, whether verbal or in writing, 
to a potential purchaser of such airplane unless 
a clear and conspicuous disclaimer (as defined 
by the Administrator) is included regarding the 
status of training required for operation of such 
airplane; or 
‘‘(B) provide financial incentives (including 
rebates) to a potential purchaser of such airplane 
regarding the scope, format, or magnitude of 
pilot training for such airplane. 
‘‘(b) PILOT RESPONSE TIME.—Beginning on the day 
after the date on which regulations are issued under section 
119(c)(6) of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Account-
ability Act, the Administrator may not issue a new or 
amended type certificate for an airplane described in sub-
section (a) unless the applicant for such certificate has dem-
onstrated to the Administrator that the applicant has ac-
counted for realistic assumptions regarding the time for 
pilot responses to non-normal conditions in designing the 
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systems and instrumentation of such airplane. Such as-
sumptions shall— 
‘‘(1) be based on test data, analysis, or other 
technical validation methods; and 
‘‘(2) account for generally accepted scientific 
consensus among experts in human factors regarding 
realistic pilot response time. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘transport 
airplane’ means a transport category airplane designed for 
operation by an air carrier or foreign air carrier type-cer-
tificated with a passenger seating capacity of 30 or more 
or an all-cargo or combi derivative of such an airplane.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
chapter 447 of title 49, United States Code, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘44743. Pilot training requirements.’’. 
(c) EXPERT SAFETY REVIEW.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date of enactment of this title, the Administrator 
shall initiate an expert safety review of assumptions 
relied upon by the Administration and manufacturers 
of transport category aircraft in the design and cer-
tification of such aircraft. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The expert safety review re-
quired under paragraph (1) shall include— 
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(A) a review of Administration regulations, 
guidance, and directives related to pilot response 
assumptions relied upon by the FAA and manu-
facturers of transport category aircraft in the de-
sign and certification of such aircraft, and 
human factors and human system integration, 
particularly those related to pilot and aircraft 
interfaces; 
(B) a focused review of the assumptions re-
lied on regarding the time for pilot responses to 
non-normal conditions in designing such air-
craft’s systems and instrumentation, including 
responses to safety-significant failure conditions 
and failure scenarios that trigger multiple, and 
possibly conflicting, warnings and alerts; 
(C) a review of human factors assumptions 
with applicable operational data, human factors 
research and the input of human factors experts 
and FAA operational data, and as appropriate, 
recommendations for modifications to existing 
assumptions; 
(D) a review of revisions made to the air-
man certification standards for certificates over 
the last 4 years, including any possible effects on 
pilot competency in basic manual flying skills; 
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(E) consideration of the global nature of the 
aviation marketplace, varying levels of pilot 
competency, and differences in pilot training 
programs worldwide; 
(F) a process for aviation stakeholders, in-
cluding pilots, airlines, inspectors, engineers, test 
pilots, human factors experts, and other aviation 
safety experts, to provide and discuss any obser-
vations, feedback, and best practices; 
(G) a review of processes currently in place 
to ensure that when carrying out the certifi-
cation of a new aircraft type, or an amended 
type, the cumulative effects that new technologies, 
and the interaction between new technologies and 
unchanged systems for an amended type certifi-
cate, may have on pilot interactions with air-
craft systems are properly assessed through sys-
tem safety assessments or otherwise; and 
(H) a review of processes currently in place 
to account for any necessary adjustments to sys-
tem safety assessments, pilot procedures and 
training requirements, or design requirements 
when there are changes to the assumptions relied 
upon by the Administration and manufacturers 
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of transport category aircraft in the design and 
certification of such aircraft. 
(3) REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later 
than 30 days after the conclusion of the expert safety 
review pursuant to paragraph (1), the Administrator 
shall submit to the congressional committees of juris-
diction a report on the results of the review, including 
any recommendations for actions or best practices to 
ensure the FAA and the manufacturers of transport 
category aircraft have accounted for pilot response as-
sumptions to be relied upon in the design and certifi-
cation of transport category aircraft and tools or 
methods identified to better integrate human factors 
throughout the process for such certification. 
(4) INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT.—The Admin-
istrator shall notify other international regulators 
that certify transport category aircraft type designs of 
the expert panel report and encourage them to review 
the report and evaluate their regulations and proc-
esses in light of the recommendations included in the 
report. 
(5) TERMINATION.—The expert safety review 
shall end upon submission of the report required pur-
suant to paragraph (3). 
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(6) REGULATIONS.—The Administrator shall 
issue or update such regulations as are necessary to 
implement the recommendations of the expert safety 
review that the Administrator determines are nec-
essary to improve aviation safety. 
(d) CALL
TO ACTION
ON AIRMAN CERTIFICATION 
STANDARDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date of enactment of this title, the Administrator 
shall initiate a call to action safety review of pilot 
certification standards in order to bring stakeholders 
together to share lessons learned, best practices, and 
implement actions to address any safety issues identi-
fied. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The call to action safety review 
required under paragraph (1) shall include— 
(A) a review of Administration regulations, 
guidance, and directives related to the pilot cer-
tification standards, including the oversight of 
those processes; 
(B) a review of revisions made to the pilot 
certification standards for certificates over the 
last 5 years, including any possible effects on 
pilot competency in manual flying skills and ef-
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fectively managing automation to improve safe-
ty; and 
(C) a process for aviation stakeholders, in-
cluding aviation students, instructors, designated 
pilot examiners, pilots, airlines, labor, and avia-
tion safety experts, to provide and discuss any 
observations, feedback, and best practices. 
(3) REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later 
than 90 days after the conclusion of the call to action 
safety review pursuant to paragraph (1), the Admin-
istrator shall submit to the congressional committees 
of jurisdiction a report on the results of the review, 
any recommendations for actions or best practices to 
ensure pilot competency in basic manual flying skills 
and in effective management of automation, and ac-
tions the Administrator will take in response to the 
recommendations. 
(e) INTERNATIONAL PILOT TRAINING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation, the Administrator, and other appropriate offi-
cials of the Government shall exercise leadership in 
setting global standards to improve air carrier pilot 
training and qualifications for— 
(A) monitoring and managing the behavior 
and performance of automated systems; 
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(B) controlling the flightpath of aircraft 
without autoflight systems engaged; 
(C) effectively utilizing and managing 
autoflight systems, when appropriate; 
(D) effectively identifying situations in 
which the use of autoflight systems is appro-
priate and when such use is not appropriate; 
and 
(E) recognizing and responding appro-
priately to non-normal conditions. 
(2) INTERNATIONAL
LEADERSHIP.—The Sec-
retary, the Administrator, and other appropriate offi-
cials of the Government shall exercise leadership 
under paragraph (1) by working with— 
(A) foreign counterparts of the Adminis-
trator in the ICAO and its subsidiary organiza-
tions; 
(B) other international organizations and 
fora; and 
(C) the private sector. 
(3) CONSIDERATIONS.—In exercising leadership 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary, the Adminis-
trator, and other appropriate officials of the Govern-
ment shall consider— 
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(A) the latest information relating to 
human factors; 
(B) aircraft manufacturing trends, includ-
ing those relating to increased automation in the 
cockpit; 
(C) the extent to which cockpit automation 
improves aviation safety and introduces novel 
risks; 
(D) the availability of opportunities for pi-
lots to practice manual flying skills; 
(E) the need for consistency in maintaining 
and enhancing manual flying skills worldwide; 
(F) recommended practices of other coun-
tries that enhance manual flying skills and auto-
mation management; and 
(G) whether a need exists for initial and re-
current training standards for improve pilots’ 
proficiency in manual flight and in effective 
management of autoflight systems. 
(4) CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING.—The Secretary, 
the Administrator, and other appropriate officials of 
the Government shall provide to the congressional 
committees of jurisdiction regular briefings on the 
status of efforts undertaken pursuant to this sub-
section. 
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(f) 
INTERNATIONAL
AVIATION
SAFETY.—Section 
40104(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The Administrator shall’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator shall’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) BILATERAL
AND
MULTILATERAL
ENGAGE-
MENT; TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Administrator 
shall— 
‘‘(A) in consultation with the Secretary of 
State, engage bilaterally and multilaterally, in-
cluding with the International Civil Aviation 
Organization, on an ongoing basis to bolster 
international collaboration, data sharing, and 
harmonization of international aviation safety 
requirements including through— 
‘‘(i) sharing of continued operational 
safety information; 
‘‘(ii) prioritization of pilot training 
deficiencies, including manual flying skills 
and flight crew training, to discourage over 
reliance on automation, further bolstering 
the components of airmanship; 
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‘‘(iii) encouraging the consideration of 
the safety advantages of appropriate Fed-
eral regulations, which may include rel-
evant Federal regulations pertaining to 
flight crew training requirements; and 
‘‘(iv) prioritizing any other flight crew 
training areas that the Administrator be-
lieves will enhance all international avia-
tion safety; and 
‘‘(B) seek to expand technical assistance 
provided by the Federal Aviation Administration 
in support of enhancing international aviation 
safety, including by— 
‘‘(i) promoting and enhancing effective 
oversight systems, including operational 
safety enhancements identified through data 
collection and analysis; 
‘‘(ii) promoting and encouraging com-
pliance with international safety standards 
by counterpart civil aviation authorities; 
‘‘(iii) minimizing cybersecurity threats 
and vulnerabilities across the aviation eco-
system; 
‘‘(iv) supporting the sharing of safety 
information, best practices, risk assess-
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ments, and mitigations through established 
international aviation safety groups; and 
‘‘(v) providing technical assistance on 
any other aspect of aviation safety that the 
Administrator determines is likely to en-
hance international aviation safety.’’. 
(3) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Admin-
istrator, $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 
through 2023, to carry out section 40104(b)(2) of title 
49, United States Code (as added by paragraph (2)). 
(g) ASSISTANCE
TO FOREIGN AVIATION AUTHORI-
TIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 40113(e)(1) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘The 
Administrator may also provide technical assistance 
related to all aviation safety-related training and 
operational services in connection with bilateral and 
multilateral agreements, including further bolstering 
the components of airmanship.’’ after the first sen-
tence. 
(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Sec-
tion 40113(e) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(5) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Admin-
istrator, $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 
through 2023, to carry out this subsection. Amounts 
appropriated under the preceding sentence for any 
fiscal year shall remain available until expended.’’. 
(h) SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING INTERNATIONAL 
PILOT TRAINING STANDARDS.— 
(1) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following 
findings: 
(A) Increased reliance on automation in 
commercial aviation risks a degradation of pilot 
skills in flight path management using manual 
flight control. 
(B) Manual flight skills are essential for 
pilot confidence and competence. 
(C) During the 40th Assembly of ICAO, the 
United States, Canada, Peru, and Trinidad and 
Tobago presented a working paper titled, ‘‘Pilot 
Training Improvements to Address Automation 
Dependency’’. 
(D) The working paper outlines rec-
ommendations for the Assembly to mitigate the 
consequences of automation dependency, includ-
ing identifying competency requirements for 
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flight path management using manual flight 
control and assessing the need for new or amend-
ed international standards or guidance. 
(2) SENSE
OF
CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that, as soon as practicable— 
(A) the recommendations included in the 
working paper titled ‘‘Pilot Training Improve-
ments to Address Automation Dependency’’ of-
fered by the United States at the 40th Assembly 
of ICAO should be made a priority by the As-
sembly; and 
(B) the United States should work with 
ICAO and other international aviation safety 
groups, further bolstering the components of 
airmanship. 
SEC. 120. NONCONFORMITY WITH APPROVED TYPE DESIGN. 
Section 44704(d) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) NONCONFORMITY WITH APPROVED TYPE DE-
SIGN.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Consistent with the re-
quirements of paragraph (1), a holder of a pro-
duction certificate for an aircraft may not 
present a nonconforming aircraft, either directly 
or through the registered owner of such aircraft 
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or a person described in paragraph (2), to the 
Administrator for issuance of an initial air-
worthiness certificate. 
‘‘(B) CIVIL PENALTY.—Notwithstanding sec-
tion 46301, a production certificate holder who 
knowingly violates subparagraph (A) shall be 
liable to the Administrator for a civil penalty of 
not more than $1,000,000 for each noncon-
forming aircraft. 
‘‘(C) PENALTY CONSIDERATIONS.—In deter-
mining the amount of a civil penalty under sub-
paragraph (B), the Administrator shall con-
sider— 
‘‘(i) the nature, circumstances, extent, 
and gravity of the violation, including the 
length of time the nonconformity was 
known by the holder of a production certifi-
cate but not disclosed; and 
‘‘(ii) with respect to the violator, the 
degree of culpability, any history of prior 
violations, and the size of the business con-
cern. 
‘‘(D) 
NONCONFORMING
AIRCRAFT
DE-
FINED.—In this paragraph, the term ‘noncon-
forming aircraft’ means an aircraft that does not 
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conform to the approved type design for such 
aircraft type.’’. 
SEC. 121. IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this title, the Administrator shall submit 
a report to the congressional committees of jurisdiction on 
the status of the Administration’s implementation of cov-
ered recommendations. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report required under subsection 
(a) shall contain, at a minimum— 
(1) a list and description of all covered rec-
ommendations; 
(2) a determination of whether the Adminis-
trator concurs, concurs in part, or does not concur 
with each covered recommendation; 
(3) an implementation plan and schedule for all 
covered recommendations the Administrator concurs 
or concurs in part with; and 
(4) for each covered recommendation with which 
the Administrator does not concur (in whole or in 
part), a detailed explanation as to why. 
(c) COVERED RECOMMENDATIONS DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘covered recommendations’’ means rec-
ommendations made by the following entities in any review 
initiated in response to the accident of Lion Air flight 610 
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on October 29, 2018, or Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 on 
March 10, 2019, that recommend Administration action: 
(1) The National Transportation Safety Board. 
(2) The Joint Authorities Technical Review. 
(3) The inspector general of the Department of 
Transportation. 
(4) The Safety Oversight and Certification Advi-
sory Committee, or any special committee thereof. 
(5) Any other entity the Administrator may des-
ignate. 
SEC. 122. OVERSIGHT OF FAA COMPLIANCE PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this title, the Administrator shall es-
tablish an Executive Council within the Administration to 
oversee the use and effectiveness across program offices of 
the Administration’s Compliance Program, described in 
Order 8000.373A dated October 31, 2018. 
(b) COMPLIANCE PROGRAM OVERSIGHT.—The Execu-
tive Council established under this section shall— 
(1) monitor, collect, and analyze data on the use 
of the Compliance Program across program offices of 
the Administration, including data on enforcement 
actions and compliance actions pursued against regu-
lated entities by such program offices; 
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(2) conduct an evaluation of the Compliance 
Program, not less frequently than annually each cal-
endar year through 2023, to assess the functioning 
and effectiveness of such program in meeting the stat-
ed goals and purpose of the program; 
(3) provide reports to the Administrator con-
taining the results of any evaluation conducted under 
paragraph (2), including identifying in such report 
any nonconformities or deficiencies in the implemen-
tation of the program and compliance of regulated en-
tities with safety standards of the Administration; 
(4) make recommendations to the Administrator 
on regulations, guidance, performance standards or 
metrics, or other controls that should be issued by the 
Administrator to improve the effectiveness of the Com-
pliance Program in meeting the stated goals and pur-
pose of the program and to ensure the highest levels 
of aviation safety; and 
(5) carry out any other oversight duties with re-
spect to implementation of the Compliance Program 
and assigned by the Administrator. 
(c) EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.— 
(1) EXECUTIVE
COUNCIL
MEMBERSHIP.—The 
Executive Council shall be comprised of representa-
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tives from each program office with regulatory re-
sponsibility as provided in Order 8000.373A. 
(2) CHAIRPERSON.—The Executive Council shall 
be chaired by a person, who shall be appointed by the 
Administrator and shall report directly to the Admin-
istrator. 
(3) INDEPENDENCE.—The Secretary of Trans-
portation, the Administrator, or any officer or em-
ployee of the Administration may not prevent or pro-
hibit the chair of the Executive Council from per-
forming the activities described in this section or from 
reporting to Congress on such activities. 
(4) DURATION.—The Executive Council shall ter-
minate on October 1, 2023. 
(d) ANNUAL BRIEFING.—Each calendar year through 
2023, the chair of the Executive Council shall provide a 
briefing to the congressional committees of jurisdiction on 
the effectiveness of the Administration’s Compliance Pro-
gram in meeting the stated goals and purpose of the pro-
gram and the activities of the office described in subsection 
(b), including any reports and recommendations made by 
the office during the preceding calendar year. 
SEC. 123. SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that the Administrator should fully exercise all rights and 
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pursue all remedies available to the Administrator under 
any settlement agreement between the Administration and 
the holder of a type certificate and production certificate 
for transport airplanes executed on December 18, 2015, in-
cluding a demand for full payment of any applicable civil 
penalties deferred under such agreement, if the Adminis-
trator concludes that such holder has not fully performed 
all obligations incurred under such agreement. 
(b) CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING.—Not later than 60 
days after the date of enactment of this title, and every 6 
months thereafter until a certificate holder described in sub-
section (a) has fully performed all obligations incurred by 
such certificate holder under such settlement agreement, the 
Administrator shall brief the congressional committees of 
jurisdiction on action taken consistent with subsection (a). 
SEC. 124. HUMAN FACTORS EDUCATION PROGRAM. 
(a) HUMAN FACTORS EDUCATION PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall de-
velop a human factors education program that ad-
dresses the effects of modern flight deck systems, in-
cluding automated systems, on human performance 
for transport airplanes and the approaches for better 
integration of human factors in aircraft design and 
certification. 
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(2) TARGET
AUDIENCE.—The human factors 
education program shall be integrated into the train-
ing protocols (as in existence as of the date of enact-
ment of this title) for, and be routinely administered 
to, the following: 
(A) Appropriate employees within the 
Flight Standards Service. 
(B) Appropriate employees within the Air-
craft Certification Service. 
(C) Other employees or authorized rep-
resentatives determined to be necessary by the 
Administrator. 
(b) TRANSPORT AIRPLANE MANUFACTURER INFORMA-
TION SHARING.—The Administrator shall— 
(1) require each transport airplane manufac-
turer to provide the Administrator with the informa-
tion or findings necessary for flight crew to be trained 
on flight deck systems; 
(2) ensure the information or findings under 
paragraph (1) adequately includes consideration of 
human factors; and 
(3) ensure that each transport airplane manufac-
turer identifies any technical basis, justification or 
rationale for the information and findings under 
paragraph (1). 
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2901 
SEC. 125. BEST PRACTICES FOR ORGANIZATION DESIGNA-
TION AUTHORIZATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 213 of the FAA Reauthor-
ization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–254, 132 Stat. 3249) 
is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (g); 
(2) by redesignating subsections (c) through (f) 
as subsections (d) through (g), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after subsection (b), the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) BEST PRACTICES REVIEW.—In addition to con-
ducting the survey required under subsection (b), the Panel 
shall conduct a review of a sampling of ODA holders to 
identify and develop best practices. At a minimum, the best 
practices shall address preventing and deterring instances 
of undue pressure on or by an ODA unit member, within 
an ODA, or by an ODA holder, or failures to maintain 
independence between the FAA and an ODA holder or an 
ODA unit member. In carrying out such review, the Panel 
shall— 
‘‘(1) examine other government regulated indus-
tries to gather lessons learned, procedures, or processes 
that address undue pressure of employees, perceived 
regulatory coziness, or other failures to maintain 
independence; 
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‘‘(2) identify ways to improve communications 
between an ODA Administrator, ODA unit members, 
and FAA engineers and inspectors, consistent with 
section 44736(g) of title 49, United States Code, in 
order to enable direct communication of technical 
concerns that arise during a certification project 
without fear of reprisal to the ODA Administrator or 
ODA unit member; and 
‘‘(3) examine FAA designee programs, including 
the assignment of FAA advisors to designees, to deter-
mine which components of the program may improve 
the FAA’s oversight of ODA units, ODA unit mem-
bers, and the ODA program.’’; 
(4) in subsection (d) (as redesignated by para-
graph (2))— 
(A) by striking paragraph (3) and redesig-
nating paragraphs (4) through (6) as para-
graphs (3) through (5), respectively; 
(B) in paragraph (4) (as redesignated by 
subparagraph (A)), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(C) in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated), 
by striking the period at the end and inserting 
‘‘; and’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(6) the results of the review conducted under 
subsection (c).’’; and 
(5) by inserting after subsection (g) (as redesig-
nated by paragraph (2)), the following: 
‘‘(h) BEST PRACTICES ADOPTION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date on which the Administrator receives the 
report required under subsection (e), the Adminis-
trator shall establish best practices that are generally 
applicable to all ODA holders and require such prac-
tices to be incorporated, as appropriate, into each 
ODA holder’s approved procedures manual. 
‘‘(2) NOTICE AND COMMENT PERIOD.—The Ad-
ministrator shall publish the established best practices 
for public notice and comment for not fewer than 60 
days prior to requiring the practices, as appropriate, 
be incorporated into each ODA holder’s approved pro-
cedures manual. 
‘‘(i) SUNSET.—The Panel shall terminate on the ear-
lier of— 
‘‘(1) the date of submission of the report under 
subsection (e); or 
‘‘(2) the date that is 2 years after the date on 
which the Panel is first convened under subsection 
(a).’’. 
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2904 
(b) PROCEDURES MANUAL.—Section 44736(b)(3) of 
title 49, United States Code, as amended by subsection 
(c)(2)(D) of section 107), is further amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (D) (as redesignated by 
such subsection), by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semi-
colon at the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (E) (as so redesignated), by 
striking the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(F) ensure the ODA holders procedures 
manual contains procedures and policies based 
on best practices established by the Adminis-
trator.’’. 
SEC. 126. HUMAN FACTORS RESEARCH. 
(a) HUMAN FACTORS.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this title, the Administrator, in 
consultation with aircraft manufacturers, operators, and 
pilots, and in coordination with the head of such other Fed-
eral agency that the Administrator determines appropriate, 
shall develop research requirements to address the integra-
tion of human factors in the design and certification of air-
craft that are intended for use in air transportation. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In developing such research re-
quirements, the Administrator shall— 
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(1) establish goals for research in areas of study 
relevant to advancing technology, improving design 
engineering and certification practices, and facili-
tating better understanding of human factors concepts 
in the context of the growing development and reli-
ance on automated or complex flight deck systems in 
aircraft operations, including the development of tools 
to validate pilot recognition and response assump-
tions and diagnostic tools to improve the clarity of 
failure indications presented to pilots; 
(2) take into consideration and leverage any ex-
isting or planned research that is conducted by, or 
conducted in partnership with, the FAA; and 
(3) focus on— 
(A) preventing a recurrence of the types of 
accidents that have involved transport category 
airplanes designed and manufactured in the 
United States; and 
(B) increasingly complex aircraft systems 
and designs. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—In implementing the research 
requirements developed under this section, the Adminis-
trator shall work with appropriate organizations and au-
thorities with expertise including, to the maximum extent 
practicable, the Center of Excellence for Technical Training 
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and Human Performance and the Center of Excellence de-
veloped or expanded pursuant to section 127. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator 
$7,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023, out 
of funds made available under section 48102(a) of title 49, 
United States Code, to carry out this section. 
SEC. 127. FAA CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR AUTOMATED 
SYSTEMS AND HUMAN FACTORS IN AIR-
CRAFT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall develop or 
expand a Center of Excellence focused on automated systems 
and human factors in transport category aircraft. 
(b) DUTIES.—The Center of Excellence shall, as appro-
priate— 
(1) facilitate collaboration among academia, the 
FAA, and the aircraft and airline industries, includ-
ing aircraft, engine, and equipment manufacturers, 
air carriers, and representatives of the pilot commu-
nity; 
(2) establish goals for research in areas of study 
relevant to advancing technology, improving engineer-
ing practices, and facilitating better understanding of 
human factors concepts in the context of the growing 
development and reliance on automated or complex 
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systems in commercial aircraft, including continuing 
education and training; 
(3) examine issues related to human system inte-
gration and flight crew and aircraft interfaces, in-
cluding tools and methods to support the integration 
of human factors considerations into the aircraft de-
sign and certification process; and 
(4) review safety reports to identify potential 
human factors issues for research. 
(c) AVOIDING DUPLICATION OF WORK.—In developing 
or expanding the Center of Excellence, the Administrator 
shall ensure the work of the Center of Excellence does not 
duplicate or overlap with the work of any other established 
center of excellence. 
(d) MEMBER PRIORITIZATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, when de-
veloping or expanding the Center of Excellence, shall 
prioritize the inclusion of subject-matter experts whose 
professional experience enables them to be objective 
and impartial in their contributions to the greatest 
extent possible. 
(2) REPRESENTATION.—The Administrator shall 
require that the membership of the Center of Excel-
lence reflect a balanced viewpoint across broad dis-
ciplines in the aviation industry. 
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(3) DISCLOSURE.—Any member of the Center of 
Excellence who is a Boeing Company or FAA em-
ployee who participated in the certification of the Ma-
neuvering Characteristics Augmentation System for 
the 737 MAX-8 airplane must disclose such involve-
ment to the FAA prior to performing any work on be-
half of the FAA. 
(4) TRANSPARENCY.—In developing or expand-
ing the Center of Excellence, the Administrator shall 
develop procedures to facilitate transparency and ap-
propriate maintenance of records to the maximum ex-
tent practicable. 
(5) COORDINATION.—Nothing in this section 
shall preclude coordination and collaboration between 
the Center of Excellence developed or expanded under 
this section and any other established center of excel-
lence. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator 
$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023, out 
of funds made available under section 48102(a) of title 49, 
United States Code, to carry out this section. Amounts ap-
propriated under the preceding sentence for any fiscal year 
shall remain available until expended. 
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SEC. 128. PILOT OPERATIONAL EVALUATIONS. 
(a) PILOT OPERATIONAL EVALUATIONS.—Not later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of this title, the 
Administrator shall revise existing policies for manufactur-
ers of transport airplanes to ensure that pilot operational 
evaluations for airplane types that are submitted for certifi-
cation utilize pilots from air carriers that are expected to 
operate such airplanes. 
(b) REQUIREMENT.—Such manufacturer shall ensure, 
to the satisfaction of the Administrator, that the air carrier 
and foreign air carrier pilots used for such evaluations in-
clude pilots of varying levels of experience. 
SEC. 129. ENSURING APPROPRIATE RESPONSIBILITY OF 
AIRCRAFT 
CERTIFICATION 
AND 
FLIGHT 
STANDARDS 
PERFORMANCE 
OBJECTIVES 
AND METRICS. 
(a) REPEALS.—Sections 211 and 221 of the FAA Re-
authorization Act of 2018 (49 U.S.C. 44701 note) are re-
pealed. 
(b) CONFORMING REPEALS.—Paragraphs (8) and (9) 
of section 202(c) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 
(49 U.S.C. 44701 note) are repealed. 
SEC. 130. TRANSPORT AIRPLANE RISK ASSESSMENT METH-
ODOLOGY. 
(a) DEADLINES.— 
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(1) AGREEMENT.—Not later than 15 days after 
the date of enactment of this title, the Administrator 
shall enter into an agreement with the National Acad-
emies of Sciences to develop a report regarding the 
methodology and effectiveness of the Transport Air-
plane Risk Assessment Methodology (TARAM) process 
used by the FAA. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this title, the National Academies 
of Sciences shall deliver such report to the congres-
sional committees of jurisdiction. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report under subsection (a) shall 
include the following elements: 
(1) An assessment of the TARAM analysis proc-
ess. 
(2) An assessment of the effectiveness of the 
TARAM for the purposes of improving aviation safe-
ty. 
(3) Recommendations to improve the method-
ology and effectiveness of the TARAM as an element 
of aviation safety. 
(c) REQUIRED NOTICE.—The Administrator shall pro-
vide notice to the congressional committees of jurisdiction 
on the findings and recommendations of a TARAM con-
ducted following a transport airplane accident— 
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2911 
(1) in which a loss of life occurred; and 
(2) for which the Administrator determines that 
the issuance of an airworthiness directive will likely 
be necessary to correct an unsafe condition associated 
with the design of the relevant aircraft type. 
SEC. 131. NATIONAL AIR GRANT FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. 
(a) PROGRAM.— 
(1) PROGRAM
MAINTENANCE.—The Adminis-
trator shall maintain within the FAA a program to 
be known as the ‘‘National Air Grant Fellowship Pro-
gram’’. 
(2) PROGRAM
ELEMENTS.—The National Air 
Grant Fellowship Program shall provide support for 
the fellowship program under subsection (b). 
(3) RESPONSIBILITIES OF ADMINISTRATOR.— 
(A) GUIDELINES.—The Administrator shall 
establish guidelines related to the activities and 
responsibilities of air grant fellowships under 
subsection (b). 
(B) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Administrator 
shall by regulation prescribe the qualifications 
required for designation of air grant fellowships 
under subsection (b). 
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(C) AUTHORITY.—In order to carry out the 
provisions of this section, the Administrator 
may— 
(i) appoint, assign the duties, transfer, 
and fix the compensation of such personnel 
as may be necessary, in accordance with 
civil service laws; 
(ii) make appointments with respect to 
temporary and intermittent services to the 
extent authorized by section 3109 of title 5, 
United States Code; 
(iii) enter into contracts, cooperative 
agreements, and other transactions without 
regard to section 6101 of title 41, United 
States Code; 
(iv) notwithstanding section 1342 of 
title 31, United States Code, accept dona-
tions and voluntary and uncompensated 
services; 
(v) accept funds from other Federal de-
partments and agencies, including agencies 
within the FAA, to pay for and add to ac-
tivities authorized by this section; and 
(vi) promulgate such rules and regula-
tions as may be necessary and appropriate. 
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(4) DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL AIR GRANT FELLOW-
SHIP PROGRAM.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall 
appoint, as the Director of the National Air 
Grant Fellowship Program, a qualified indi-
vidual who has appropriate administrative expe-
rience and knowledge or expertise in fields re-
lated to aerospace. The Director shall be ap-
pointed and compensated, without regard to the 
provisions of title 5 governing appointments in 
the competitive service, at a rate payable under 
section 5376 of title 5, United States Code. 
(B) DUTIES.—Subject to the supervision of 
the Administrator, the Director shall administer 
the National Air Grant Fellowship Program. In 
addition to any other duty prescribed by law or 
assigned by the Administrator, the Director 
shall— 
(i) cooperate with institutions of higher 
education that offer degrees in fields related 
to aerospace; 
(ii) encourage the participation of 
graduate and post-graduate students in the 
National Air Grant Fellowship Program; 
and 
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(iii) cooperate and coordinate with 
other Federal activities in fields related to 
aerospace. 
(b) FELLOWSHIPS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall sup-
port a program of fellowships for qualified individ-
uals at the graduate and post-graduate level. The fel-
lowships shall be in fields related to aerospace and 
awarded pursuant to guidelines established by the Ad-
ministrator. The Administrator shall strive to ensure 
equal access for minority and economically disadvan-
taged students to the program carried out under this 
paragraph. 
(2) AEROSPACE POLICY FELLOWSHIP.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall 
award aerospace policy fellowships to support 
the placement of individuals at the graduate 
level of education in fields related to aerospace in 
positions with— 
(i) the executive branch of the United 
States Government; and 
(ii) the legislative branch of the United 
States Government. 
(B) PLACEMENT PRIORITIES FOR LEGISLA-
TIVE FELLOWSHIPS.— 
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(i) IN GENERAL.—In considering the 
placement of individuals receiving a fellow-
ship for a legislative branch position under 
subparagraph (A)(ii), the Administrator 
shall give priority to placement of such in-
dividuals in the following: 
(I) Positions in offices of, or with 
Members on, committees of Congress 
that have jurisdiction over the FAA. 
(II) Positions in offices of Mem-
bers of Congress that have a dem-
onstrated interest in aerospace policy. 
(ii) 
EQUITABLE
DISTRIBUTION.—In 
placing fellows in positions described under 
clause (i), the Administrator shall ensure 
that placements are equally distributed 
among the political parties. 
(C) 
DURATION.—A 
fellowship 
awarded 
under this paragraph shall be for a period of not 
more than 1 year. 
(3) RESTRICTION ON USE OF FUNDS.—Amounts 
available for fellowships under this subsection, includ-
ing amounts accepted under subsection (a)(3)(C)(v) or 
appropriated under subsection (d) to carry out this 
subsection, shall be used only for award of such fel-
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2916 
lowships and administrative costs of implementing 
this subsection. 
(c) INTERAGENCY COOPERATION.—Each department, 
agency, or other instrumentality of the Federal Government 
that is engaged in or concerned with, or that has authority 
over, matters relating to aerospace— 
(1) may, upon a written request from the Ad-
ministrator, make available, on a reimbursable basis 
or otherwise, any personnel (with their consent and 
without prejudice to their position and rating), serv-
ice, or facility that the Administrator deems necessary 
to carry out any provision of this section; 
(2) shall, upon a written request from the Ad-
ministrator, furnish any available data or other in-
formation that the Administrator deems necessary to 
carry out any provision of this section; and 
(3) shall cooperate with the FAA and duly au-
thorized officials thereof. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator 
$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to 
carry out this section. Amounts appropriated under the pre-
ceding sentence shall remain available until expended. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means the 
Director of the National Air Grant Fellowship Pro-
gram, appointed pursuant to subsection (a)(4). 
(2) FIELDS RELATED TO AEROSPACE.—The term 
‘‘fields related to aerospace’’ means any discipline or 
field that is concerned with, or likely to improve, the 
development, assessment, operation, safety, or repair 
of aircraft and other airborne objects and systems, in-
cluding the following: 
(A) Aerospace engineering. 
(B) Aerospace physiology. 
(C) Aeronautical engineering. 
(D) Airworthiness engineering. 
(E) Electrical engineering. 
(F) Human factors. 
(G) Software engineering. 
(H) Systems engineering. 
SEC. 132. EMERGING SAFETY TRENDS IN AVIATION. 
(a) GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this title, the Administrator shall enter into 
an agreement with the Transportation Research Board for 
the purposes of developing an annual report identifying, 
categorizing, and analyzing emerging safety trends in air 
transportation. 
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2918 
(b) FACTORS.—The emerging safety trends report 
should be based on the following data: 
(1) The National Transportation Safety Board’s 
investigation of accidents under section 1132 of title 
49, United States Code. 
(2) The Administrator’s investigations of acci-
dents and incidents under section 40113 of title 49, 
United States Code. 
(3) Information provided by air operators pur-
suant to safety management systems. 
(4) International investigations of accidents and 
incidents, including reports, data, and information 
from foreign authorities and ICAO. 
(5) Other sources deemed appropriate for estab-
lishing emerging safety trends in the aviation sector, 
including the FAA’s annual safety culture assessment 
required under subsection (c). 
(c) SAFETY CULTURE ASSESSMENT.—The Adminis-
trator shall conduct an annual safety culture assessment 
through fiscal year 2031, which shall include surveying all 
employees in the FAA’s Aviation Safety organization (AVS) 
to determine the employees’ collective opinion regarding, 
and to assess the health of, AVS’ safety culture and imple-
mentation of any voluntary safety reporting program. 
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(d) EXISTING REPORTING SYSTEMS.—The Executive 
Director of the Transportation Research Board, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Transportation and Adminis-
trator, may take into account and, as necessary, harmonize 
data and sources from existing reporting systems within the 
Department of Transportation and FAA. 
(e) BIENNIAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.—One year after 
the Administrator enters into the agreement with the Trans-
portation Research Board as set forth in subsection (a), and 
biennially thereafter through fiscal year 2031, the Executive 
Director, in consultation with the Secretary and Adminis-
trator, shall submit to the congressional committees of juris-
diction a report identifying the emerging safety trends in 
air transportation. 
SEC. 133. FAA ACCOUNTABILITY ENHANCEMENT. 
(a) ENHANCEMENT OF THE AVIATION SAFETY WHIS-
TLEBLOWER INVESTIGATION OFFICE
IN
THE FEDERAL 
AVIATION ADMINISTRATION.— 
(1) RENAMING OF THE OFFICE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 106(t)(1) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by striking 
‘‘an Aviation Safety Whistleblower Investigation 
Office’’ and inserting ‘‘the Office of Whistle-
blower Protection and Aviation Safety Investiga-
tions’’. 
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2920 
(B) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The head-
ing of subsection (t) of section 106 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking 
‘‘AVIATION
SAFETY
WHISTLEBLOWER
INVES-
TIGATION OFFICE’’ and inserting ‘‘OFFICE OF 
WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION
AND AVIATION 
SAFETY INVESTIGATIONS’’. 
(2) DUTIES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 106(t)(3)(A) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(i) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘(if the 
certificate holder does not have a similar in- 
house whistleblower or safety and regulatory 
noncompliance reporting process)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘(if the certificate holder does not 
have a similar in-house whistleblower or 
safety and regulatory noncompliance re-
porting process established under or pursu-
ant to a safety management system)’’; 
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(iii) in clause (iii), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting a semicolon; 
and 
(iv) by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(iv) receive allegations of whistle-
blower retaliation by employees of the Agen-
cy; 
‘‘(v) coordinate with and provide all 
necessary assistance to the Office of Inves-
tigations and Professional Responsibility, 
the inspector general of the Department of 
Transportation, and the Office of Special 
Counsel on investigations relating to whis-
tleblower retaliation by employees of the 
Agency; and 
‘‘(vi) investigate allegations of whistle-
blower retaliation by employees of the Agen-
cy that have been delegated to the Office by 
the Office of Investigations and Professional 
Responsibility, the inspector general of the 
Department of Transportation, or the Office 
of Special Counsel.’’. 
(B) LIMITATION.—Section 106(t)(2) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(E) LIMITATION OF DUTIES.— The Direc-
tor may only perform duties of the Director de-
scribed in paragraph (3)(A).’’. 
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2922 
(C) CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—Section 
106(t)(7) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘October 1’’ and in-
serting ‘‘November 15’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘paragraph (3)(A)(i) in the preceding 12- 
month period’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph 
(3)(A)(i) in the preceding fiscal year’’. 
(3) REPORT.—Section 106(t)(7) of title 49, 
United States Code, as amended by paragraph (2)(C), 
is further amended— 
(A) in subparagraph (C)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘the resolution of those 
submissions, including any’’ before ‘‘fur-
ther’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semi-
colon; 
(B) in subparagraph (D) by striking ‘‘rec-
ommendations.’’ and inserting ‘‘recommenda-
tions; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(E) A summary of the activities of the 
Whistleblower Ombudsman, including— 
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‘‘(i) the number of employee consulta-
tions conducted by the Whistleblower Om-
budsman in the preceding 12-month period 
and a summary of such consultations and 
their resolution (in a de-identified or 
anonymized form); and 
‘‘(ii) the number of reported incidents 
of retaliation during such period and, if ap-
plicable, a description of the disposition of 
such incidents during such period.’’. 
(b) WHISTLEBLOWER OMBUDSMAN.—Section 106(t) of 
title 49, United States Code, is further amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) WHISTLEBLOWER OMBUDSMAN.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Within the Office, there 
shall be established the position of Whistleblower 
Ombudsman. 
‘‘(B) OMBUDSMAN
QUALIFICATIONS.—The 
individual selected as Ombudsman shall have 
knowledge of Federal labor law and dem-
onstrated government experience in human re-
source management, and conflict resolution. 
‘‘(C) 
DUTIES.—The 
Ombudsman 
shall 
carry out the following duties: 
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‘‘(i) Educate Administration employees 
about prohibitions against materially ad-
verse acts of retaliation and any specific 
rights or remedies with respect to those re-
taliatory actions. 
‘‘(ii) Serve as an independent con-
fidential resource for Administration em-
ployees to discuss any specific retaliation 
allegation and available rights or remedies 
based on the circumstances, as appropriate. 
‘‘(iii) Coordinate with Human Re-
source Management, the Office of Account-
ability and Whistleblower Protection, the 
Office of Professional Responsibility, and 
the Office of the Chief Counsel, as necessary. 
‘‘(iv) Coordinate with the Office of the 
Inspector General of the Department of 
Transportation’s Whistleblower Protection 
Coordinator and the Office of the Special 
Counsel, as necessary. 
‘‘(v) Conduct outreach and assist in 
the development of training within the 
Agency to mitigate the potential for retalia-
tion and promote timely and appropriate 
processing of any protected disclosure or al-
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2925 
legation of materially adverse acts of retal-
iation.’’. 
(c) OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL 
RESPONSIBILITY.—The Administrator shall take such ac-
tion as may be necessary to redesignate the Office of Inves-
tigations of the Administration as the Office of Investiga-
tions and Professional Responsibility. 
(d) MISCONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall re-
view and revise the Administration’s existing inves-
tigative policies that govern the investigation of mis-
conduct by a manager of the Administration con-
ducted by the FAA (in this subsection referred to as 
the ‘‘Agency’’). 
(2) PRESERVATION OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING 
AGREEMENTS.—The investigative policy established 
under paragraph (1) shall not apply to, or in the fu-
ture, be extended by the Administrator to apply to, 
any employee who is not a manager or is covered by 
or eligible to be covered by a collective bargaining 
agreement entered into by the Agency. 
(3) REQUIREMENTS.—In revising the investiga-
tive policies, the Administrator shall ensure such poli-
cies require— 
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2926 
(A) the utilization of investigative best 
practices to ensure independent and objective in-
vestigation and accurate recording and reporting 
of such investigation; 
(B) the management of case files to ensure 
the integrity of the information contained in 
such case files; 
(C) interviews be conducted in a manner 
that ensures, to the greatest extent possible, 
truthful answers and accurate records of such 
interviews; 
(D) coordination with the Office of the In-
spector General of the Department of Transpor-
tation, the Office of the Special Counsel, and the 
Attorney General, as appropriate; and 
(E) the completion of investigations in a 
timely manner. 
(4) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this sub-
section, the term ‘‘manager’’ means an employee of 
the Agency who is a supervisor or management offi-
cial, as defined in section 7103(a) of title 5, United 
States Code. 
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2927 
SEC. 134. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE 
ADVANCED MATERIALS CENTER OF EXCEL-
LENCE. 
Section 44518 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Out of 
amounts appropriated under section 48102(a), the Admin-
istrator may expend not more than $10,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2021 through 2023 to carry out this section. 
Amounts appropriated under the preceding sentence for 
each fiscal year shall remain available until expended.’’. 
SEC. 135. PROMOTING AVIATION REGULATIONS FOR TECH-
NICAL TRAINING. 
(a) NEW REGULATIONS REQUIRED.— 
(1) INTERIM
FINAL
REGULATIONS.—Not later 
than 90 days after the date of enactment of this sec-
tion, the Administrator shall issue interim final regu-
lations to establish requirements for issuing aviation 
maintenance technician school certificates and associ-
ated ratings and the general operating rules for the 
holders of those certificates and ratings in accordance 
with the requirements of this section. 
(2) REPEAL OF CURRENT REGULATIONS.—Upon 
the effective date of the interim final regulations re-
quired under paragraph (1), part 147 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date 
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of enactment of this title) and any regulations issued 
under section 624 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 
2018 (Public Law 115–254) shall have no force or ef-
fect on or after the effective date of such interim final 
regulations. 
(b) AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN SCHOOL 
CERTIFICATION REQUIRED.—No person may operate an 
aviation maintenance technician school without, or in vio-
lation of, an aviation maintenance technician school certifi-
cate and the operations specifications issued under the in-
terim final regulations required under subsection (a)(1), the 
requirements of this section, or in a manner that is incon-
sistent with information in the school’s operations specifica-
tions under subsection (c)(5). 
(c) CERTIFICATE AND OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS 
REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—An application for a 
certificate or rating to operate an aviation 
maintenance technician school shall include the 
following: 
(i) A description of the facilities, in-
cluding the physical address of the certifi-
cate holder’s primary location for operation 
of the school, any additional fixed locations 
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where training will be provided, and the 
equipment and materials to be used at each 
location. 
(ii) A description of the manner in 
which the school’s curriculum will ensure 
the student has the knowledge and skills 
necessary for attaining a mechanic certifi-
cate and associated ratings under subpart 
D of part 65 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or any successor regulation). 
(iii) A description of the manner in 
which the school will ensure it provides the 
necessary qualified instructors to meet the 
requirements of subsection (d)(4). 
(B) DOCUMENTED IN THE SCHOOL’S OPER-
ATIONS SPECIFICATIONS.—Upon issuance of the 
school’s certificate or rating, the information re-
quired under subparagraph (A) shall be docu-
mented in the school’s operations specifications. 
(2) CHANGE APPLICATIONS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—An application for an 
additional rating or amended certificate shall 
include only the information necessary to sub-
stantiate the reason for the requested additional 
rating or change. 
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(B) APPROVED
CHANGES.—Any approved 
changes shall be documented in the school’s oper-
ations specifications. 
(3) DURATION.—An aviation maintenance tech-
nician school certificate or rating issued under the in-
terim final regulations required under subsection 
(a)(1) shall be effective from the date of issue until the 
certificate or rating is surrendered, suspended, or re-
voked. 
(4) CERTIFICATE RATINGS.—An aviation main-
tenance technician school certificate issued under the 
interim final regulations required under subsection 
(a)(1) shall specify which of the following ratings are 
held by the aviation maintenance technician school: 
(A) Airframe. 
(B) Powerplant. 
(C) Airframe and Powerplant. 
(5) OPERATIONS
SPECIFICATIONS.—A certifi-
cated aviation maintenance technician school shall 
operate in accordance with operations specifications 
that include the following: 
(A) The certificate holder’s name. 
(B) The certificate holder’s air agency cer-
tificate number. 
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(C) The name and contact information of 
the certificate holder’s primary point of contact. 
(D) The physical address of the certificate 
holder’s primary location, as provided under 
paragraph (1)(A). 
(E) The physical address of any additional 
location of the certificate holder, as provided 
under subsection (d)(2). 
(F) The ratings held, as provided under 
paragraph (4). 
(G) Any regulatory exemption granted to 
the school by the Administrator. 
(d) OPERATIONS REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT, AND MATERIAL RE-
QUIREMENTS.—Each certificated aviation mainte-
nance technician school shall provide and maintain 
the facilities, equipment, and materials that are ap-
propriate to the 1 or more ratings held by the school 
and the number of students taught. 
(2) TRAINING
PROVIDED
AT
ANOTHER
LOCA-
TION.—A certificated aviation maintenance techni-
cian school may provide training at any additional 
location that meets the requirements of the interim 
final regulations required under subsection (a)(1) and 
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is listed in the certificate holder’s operations speci-
fications. 
(3) TRAINING
REQUIREMENTS.—Each certifi-
cated aviation maintenance technician school shall— 
(A) establish, maintain, and utilize a cur-
riculum designed to continually align with me-
chanic airman certification standards as appro-
priate for the ratings held; 
(B) provide training of a quality that meets 
the requirements of subsection (f)(1); and 
(C) ensure students have the knowledge and 
skills necessary to be eligible to test for a me-
chanic certificate and associated ratings under 
subpart D of part 65 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or any successor regulation). 
(4) INSTRUCTOR REQUIREMENTS.—Each certifi-
cated aviation maintenance technician school shall— 
(A) provide qualified instructors to teach in 
a manner that ensures positive educational out-
comes are achieved; 
(B) ensure instructors hold a mechanic cer-
tificate with 1 or more appropriate ratings (or, 
with respect to instructors who are not certified 
mechanics, ensure instructors are otherwise spe-
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cifically qualified to teach their assigned con-
tent); and 
(C) ensure the student-to-instructor ratio 
does not exceed 25:1 for any shop class. 
(5) CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION.—Each certifi-
cated aviation maintenance technician school shall 
provide authenticated documentation to each grad-
uating student, indicating the student’s date of grad-
uation and curriculum completed, as described in 
paragraph (3)(A). 
(e) QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEM.— 
(1) ACCREDITATION.—Each aviation mainte-
nance technician school shall— 
(A) be accredited as meeting the definition 
of an institution of higher education provided for 
in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001); or 
(B) establish and maintain a quality con-
trol system that meets the requirements specified 
in paragraph (2) and is approved by the Admin-
istrator. 
(2) FAA-APPROVED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS.— 
In the case of an aviation maintenance technician 
school that is not accredited as set forth in paragraph 
(1), the Administrator shall approve a quality control 
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system that provides procedures for recordkeeping, as-
sessment, issuing credit, issuing of final course 
grades, attendance, ensuring sufficient number of in-
structors, granting of graduation documentation, and 
corrective action for addressing deficiencies. 
(f) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) MINIMUM
PASSAGE
RATE.—A certificated 
aviation maintenance technician school shall main-
tain a pass rate of at least 70 percent of students who 
took a written, oral, or practical (or any combination 
thereof) FAA mechanic tests within 60 days of grad-
uation for the most recent 3-year period . 
(2) FAA INSPECTION.—A certificated aviation 
maintenance technician school shall allow the Admin-
istrator such access as the Administrator determines 
necessary to inspect the 1 or more locations of the 
school for purposes of determining the school’s compli-
ance with the interim final regulations required 
under subsection (a)(1), the procedures and informa-
tion outlined in the school’s operations specifications 
according to subsection (c)(5), and the aviation main-
tenance technician school certificate issued for the 
school. 
(3) DISPLAY
OF
CERTIFICATE.—A certificated 
aviation maintenance technician school shall display 
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its aviation maintenance technician school certificate 
at a location in the school that is visible by and nor-
mally accessible to the public. 
(4) EARLY
TESTING.—A certificated aviation 
maintenance technician school may issue authenti-
cated documentation demonstrating a student’s satis-
factory progress, completion of corresponding portions 
of the curriculum, and preparedness to take the avia-
tion mechanic written general knowledge test, even if 
the student has not met the experience requirements 
of section 65.77 of title 14, Code of Federal Regula-
tions (or any successor regulation). Any such docu-
mentation shall specify the curriculum the student 
completed and the completion date. 
SEC. 136. INDEPENDENT STUDY ON TYPE CERTIFICATION 
REFORM. 
(a) REPORT AND DEADLINES.—Not later than 30 days 
after the date of enactment of this title, the Administrator 
shall enter into an agreement with an appropriate Feder-
ally-funded research and development center to review, de-
velop, and submit a report to the Administrator in accord-
ance with the requirements and elements set forth in this 
section. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The review and report under sub-
section (a) shall set forth analyses, assessments, and rec-
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ommendations addressing the following elements for trans-
port category airplanes: 
(1) Whether or not aviation safety would im-
prove as the result of institution of a fixed time be-
yond which a type certificate may not be amended. 
(2) Requiring the Administrator, when issuing 
an amended or supplemental type certificate for a de-
sign that does not comply with the latest amendments 
to the applicable airworthiness standards, to docu-
ment any exception from the latest amendment to an 
applicable regulation, issue an exemption in accord-
ance with section 44701 of title 14, United States 
Code, or make a finding of an equivalent level of safe-
ty in accordance with section 21.21(a)(1) of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations. 
(3) Safety benefits and costs for certification of 
transport category airplanes resulting from the imple-
mentation of paragraphs (1) and (2). 
(4) Effects on the development and introduction 
of advancements in new safety enhancing design and 
technologies, and continued operation and operational 
safety support of products in service in the United 
States and worldwide, resulting from the implementa-
tion of paragraphs (1) and (2). 
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(c) INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTS.—The review and 
report under subsection (a) shall take into consideration in-
vestigations, reports, and assessments regarding the Boeing 
737 MAX, including but not limited to investigations, re-
ports, and assessments by the Joint Authorities Technical 
Review, the National Transportation Safety Board, the De-
partment of Transportation Office of the Inspector General, 
the Department of Transportation Special Committee, the 
congressional committees of jurisdiction and other congres-
sional committees, and foreign authorities. The review and 
report under subsection (a) also shall consider the impact 
of changes made by this title and the amendments made 
by this title. 
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 270 days 
after the report developed under subsection (a) is submitted 
to the Administrator, the Administrator shall submit a re-
port to the congressional committees of jurisdiction regard-
ing the FAA’s response to the findings and recommenda-
tions of the report, what actions the FAA will take as a 
result of such findings and recommendations, and the FAA 
rationale for not taking action on any specific recommenda-
tion 
SEC. 137. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
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(1) The Office of the Director of National Intel-
ligence. 
(2) The Central Intelligence Agency. 
(3) The Department of Defense. 
(4) The Defense Intelligence Agency. 
(5) The National Security Agency. 
(6) The Department of the Army, the Depart-
ment of the Navy, and the Department of the Air 
Force. 
(7) The Coast Guard. 
(8) The Department of State. 
(9) The Department of the Treasury. 
(10) The Department of Energy. 
(11) The Department of Justice. 
(12) The Federal Bureau of Investigation. 
(13) The Drug Enforcement Administration. 
(14) The National Reconnaissance Office. 
(15) The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agen-
cy. 
(16) The Department of Homeland Security. 
SEC. 102. CLASSIFIED SCHEDULE OF AUTHORIZATIONS. 
(a) SPECIFICATIONS OF AMOUNTS.—The amounts au-
thorized to be appropriated under section 101 for the con-
duct of the intelligence activities of the elements listed in 
paragraphs (1) through (16) of section 101, are those speci-
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