358 
telecommunications equipment utilized for the 
transmission or reception of voice data. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—The term ‘mobile com-
munications device’ does not include a phone in-
stalled on an aircraft.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 
417 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 41724 the following: 
‘‘41725. Prohibition on certain cell phone voice communications.’’. 
SEC. 404. IMPROVED NOTIFICATION OF INSECTICIDE USE. 
Section 42303(b) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) REQUIRED DISCLOSURES.—An air carrier, for-
eign air carrier, or ticket agent selling, in the United 
States, a ticket for a flight in foreign air transportation 
to a country listed on the internet website established under 
subsection (a) shall— 
‘‘(1) disclose, on its own internet website or 
through other means, that the destination country 
may require the air carrier or foreign air carrier to 
treat an aircraft passenger cabin with insecticides 
prior to the flight or to apply an aerosol insecticide 
in an aircraft cabin used for such a flight when the 
cabin is occupied with passengers; and
359 
‘‘(2) refer the purchaser of the ticket to the inter-
net website established under subsection (a) for addi-
tional information.’’. 
SEC. 405. CONSUMER COMPLAINTS HOTLINE. 
Section 42302 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES.—The Secretary 
shall periodically evaluate the benefits of using mobile 
phone applications or other widely used technologies to pro-
vide new means for air passengers to communicate com-
plaints in addition to the telephone number established 
under subsection (a) and shall provide such new means as 
the Secretary determines appropriate.’’. 
SEC. 406. CONSUMER INFORMATION ON ACTUAL FLIGHT 
TIMES. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Transportation shall 
conduct a study on the feasibility and advisability of modi-
fying regulations contained in section 234.11 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations, to ensure that— 
(1) a reporting carrier (including its contrac-
tors), during the course of a reservation or ticketing 
discussion or other inquiry, discloses to a consumer 
upon reasonable request the projected period between 
the actual wheels-off and wheels-on times for a report-
able flight; and
360 
(2) a reporting carrier displays, on the public 
internet website of the carrier, information on the ac-
tual wheels-off and wheels-on times during the most 
recent calendar month for a reportable flight. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms ‘‘report-
ing carrier’’ and ‘‘reportable flight’’ have the meanings 
given those terms in section 234.2 of title 14, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of 
this Act). 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary 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 on the 
results of the study. 
SEC. 407. TRAINING POLICIES REGARDING RACIAL, ETHNIC, 
AND RELIGIOUS NONDISCRIMINATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall submit to the appropriate com-
mittees of Congress and the Secretary of Transportation a 
report describing— 
(1) each air carrier’s training policy for its em-
ployees and contractors regarding racial, ethnic, and 
religious nondiscrimination; and
361 
(2) how frequently an air carrier is required to 
train new employees and contractors because of turn-
over in positions that require such training. 
(b) BEST PRACTICES.—After the date the report is sub-
mitted under subsection (a), the Secretary shall develop and 
disseminate to air carriers best practices necessary to im-
prove the training policies described in subsection (a), based 
on the findings of the report and in consultation with— 
(1) passengers of diverse racial, ethnic, and reli-
gious backgrounds; 
(2) national organizations that represent im-
pacted communities; 
(3) air carriers; 
(4) airport operators; and 
(5) contract service providers. 
SEC. 408. TRAINING ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING FOR CERTAIN 
STAFF. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 447 of title 49, United 
States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 44738. Training on human trafficking for certain 
staff 
‘‘In addition to other training requirements, each air 
carrier shall provide training to ticket counter agents, gate 
agents, and other air carrier workers whose jobs require reg-
362 
ular interaction with passengers on recognizing and re-
sponding to potential human trafficking victims.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 
447 of title 49, United States Code, as amended by this 
Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘44738. Training on human trafficking for certain staff.’’. 
SEC. 409. PROHIBITIONS AGAINST SMOKING ON PAS-
SENGER FLIGHTS. 
Section 41706 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection 
(e); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(d) ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES.— 
‘‘(1) INCLUSION.—The use of an electronic ciga-
rette shall be treated as smoking for purposes of this 
section. 
‘‘(2) ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘electronic cigarette’ means a device 
that delivers nicotine to a user of the device in the 
form of a vapor that is inhaled to simulate the experi-
ence of smoking.’’.
363 
SEC. 410. REPORT ON BAGGAGE REPORTING REQUIRE-
MENTS. 
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall— 
(1) study and publicize for comment a cost-ben-
efit analysis to air carriers and consumers of chang-
ing the baggage reporting requirements of section 
234.6 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, before 
the implementation of such requirements; and 
(2) submit a report on the findings of the cost- 
benefit analysis to the appropriate committees of Con-
gress. 
SEC. 411. ENFORCEMENT OF AVIATION CONSUMER PROTEC-
TION RULES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct a study to consider and evalu-
ate Department of Transportation enforcement of aviation 
consumer protection rules. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The study under subsection (a) shall 
include an evaluation of— 
(1) available enforcement mechanisms; 
(2) any obstacles to enforcement; and 
(3) trends in Department of Transportation en-
forcement actions. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit
364 
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the 
study, including the Comptroller General’s findings, conclu-
sions, and recommendations. 
SEC. 412. STROLLERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 417 of title 
49, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 41726. Strollers 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b), a covered air carrier shall not deny a passenger the 
ability to check a stroller at the departure gate if the stroller 
is being used by a passenger to transport a child traveling 
on the same flight as the passenger. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTION.—Subsection (a) shall not apply in 
instances where the size or weight of the stroller poses a 
safety or security risk. 
‘‘(c) COVERED AIR CARRIER DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘covered air carrier’ means an air carrier 
or a foreign air carrier as those terms are defined in section 
40102 of title 49, United States Code.’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The analysis for chapter 
417 of title 49, United States Code, is further amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 41725 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘41726. Strollers.’’.
365 
SEC. 413. CAUSES OF AIRLINE DELAYS OR CANCELLATIONS. 
(a) REVIEW.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation, in consultation with the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration, shall 
review the categorization of delays and cancellations 
with respect to air carriers that are required to report 
such data. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the review 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider, at 
a minimum— 
(A) whether delays and cancellations were 
the result of— 
(i) decisions or matters within the con-
trol or within the discretion of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, including ground 
stop or delay management programs in re-
sponse to adverse weather conditions; 
(ii) business decisions or other matters 
within the air carrier’s control or discretion 
in response to adverse weather conditions, 
including efforts to disrupt the travel of the 
fewest number of passengers; or 
(iii) other factors;
366 
(B) if the data indicate whether and to 
what extent delays and cancellations attributed 
by an air carrier to weather disproportionately 
impact service to smaller airports and commu-
nities; 
(C) whether it is an unfair or deceptive 
practice for an air carrier to inform a passenger 
that a flight is delayed or cancelled due to 
weather alone when other factors are involved; 
(D) limitations, if any, in the Federal 
Aviation Administration air traffic control sys-
tems that reduce the capacity or efficiency of the 
national airspace system during adverse weather 
events; and 
(E) relevant analytical work by academic 
institutions. 
(3) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary may consult 
air carriers and the Advisory Committee for Aviation 
Consumer Protection, established under section 411 of 
the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 
U.S.C. 42301 prec. note), to assist in conducting the 
review and providing recommendations on improving 
the quality and quantity of information provided to 
passengers adversely affected by a cancellation or 
delay.
367 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
the review under subsection (a) is complete, the Secretary 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
report on the review under subsection (a), including any 
recommendations. 
(c) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this section shall 
be construed as affecting or penalizing— 
(1) the decision of an air carrier to maximize its 
system capacity during weather-related events to ac-
commodate the greatest number of passengers; or 
(2) any decisions of an air carrier or the Federal 
Aviation Administration in any matter related to or 
affecting the safety of any person. 
SEC. 414. INVOLUNTARY CHANGES TO ITINERARIES. 
(a) REVIEW.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall review the rate at which air car-
riers change passenger itineraries more than 24 hours 
before departure, where the new itineraries involve 
additional stops or depart 3 hours earlier or later 
than originally scheduled and compensation or other 
suitable air transportation is not offered. In con-
ducting the review, the Secretary shall consider the
368 
compensation and alternative travel options provided 
or offered by the air carrier in such situations. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary may consult 
with air carriers and the Advisory Committee for 
Aviation Consumer Protection, established under sec-
tion 411 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act 
of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 42301 prec. note), to assist in con-
ducting the review and providing recommendations. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
the review under subsection (a) is complete, the Secretary 
shall submit to appropriate committees of Congress a report 
on the review under subsection (a). 
SEC. 415. EXTENSION OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR AVIA-
TION CONSUMER PROTECTION. 
Section 411 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act 
of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 42301 prec. note) is amended in sub-
section (h) by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 416. ONLINE ACCESS TO AVIATION CONSUMER PRO-
TECTION INFORMATION. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall— 
(1) complete an evaluation of the aviation con-
sumer protection portion of the Department of Trans-
portation’s public internet website to identify any 
changes to the user interface, including the interface
369 
presented to individuals accessing the website from a 
mobile device, that will improve usability, accessi-
bility, consumer satisfaction, and website perform-
ance; 
(2) in completing the evaluation under para-
graph (1)— 
(A) consider the best practices of other Fed-
eral agencies with effective websites; and 
(B) consult with the Federal Web Managers 
Council; 
(3) develop a plan, including an implementation 
timeline, for— 
(A) making the changes identified under 
paragraph (1); and 
(B) making any necessary changes to that 
portion of the website that will enable a con-
sumer, in a manner that protects the privacy of 
consumers and employees, to— 
(i) access information regarding each 
complaint filed with the Aviation Consumer 
Protection Division of the Department of 
Transportation; 
(ii) search the complaints described in 
clause (i) by the name of the air carrier, the 
dates of departure and arrival, the airports
370 
of origin and departure, and the type of 
complaint; and 
(iii) determine the date a complaint 
was filed and the date a complaint was re-
solved; and 
(4) submit the evaluation and plan to appro-
priate committees of Congress. 
SEC. 417. PROTECTION OF PETS ON AIRPLANES. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—Chapter 447 of title 49, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘§ 44739. Pets on airplanes 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—It shall be unlawful for any per-
son to place a live animal in an overhead storage compart-
ment of an aircraft operated under part 121 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations. 
‘‘(b) CIVIL PENALTY.—The Administrator may impose 
a civil penalty under section 46301 for each violation of 
this section.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
chapter 447 of title 49, United States Code, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘44739. Pets on airplanes.’’.
371 
SEC. 418. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON AIR AMBULANCE AND 
PATIENT BILLING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, shall establish an advisory committee for 
the purpose of reviewing options to improve the disclosure 
of charges and fees for air medical services, better inform 
consumers of insurance options for such services, and pro-
tect consumers from balance billing. 
(b) COMPOSITION OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
The advisory committee shall be composed of the following 
members: 
(1) The Secretary of Transportation, or the Sec-
retary’s designee. 
(2) The Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices, or the Secretary’s designee. 
(3) One representative, to be appointed by the 
Secretary of Transportation, of each of the following: 
(A) Each relevant Federal agency, as deter-
mined by the Secretary of Transportation. 
(B) State insurance regulators 
(C) Health insurance providers. 
(D) Patient advocacy groups. 
(E) Consumer advocacy groups.
372 
(F) Physician specializing in emergency, 
trauma, cardiac, or stroke. 
(4) Three representatives, to be appointed by the 
Secretary of Transportation, to represent the various 
segments of the air ambulance industry. 
(5) Additional three representatives not covered 
under paragraphs (1) through (4), as determined nec-
essary and appropriate by the Secretary. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—The advisory committee shall, as 
appropriate, consult with relevant experts and stakeholders 
not captured in (b) while conducting its review. 
(d) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The advisory committee 
shall make recommendations with respect to disclosure of 
charges and fees for air ambulance services and insurance 
coverage, consumer protection and enforcement authorities 
of both the Department of Transportation and State au-
thorities, and the prevention of balance billing to con-
sumers. The recommendations shall address, at a min-
imum— 
(1) the costs, benefits, practicability, and impact 
on all stakeholders of clearly distinguishing between 
charges for air transportation services and charges for 
non-air transportation services in bills and invoices, 
including the costs, benefits, and practicability of—
373 
(A) developing cost-allocation methodologies 
to separate charges for air transportation serv-
ices from charges for non-air transportation 
services; and 
(B) formats for bills and invoices that clear-
ly distinguish between charges for air transpor-
tation services and charges for non-air transpor-
tation services; 
(2) options, best practices, and identified stand-
ards to prevent instances of balance billing such as 
improving network and contract negotiation, dispute 
resolution between health insurance and air medical 
service providers, and explanation of insurance cov-
erage and subscription programs to consumers; 
(3) steps that can be taken by State legislatures, 
State insurance regulators, State attorneys general, 
and other State officials as appropriate, consistent 
with current legal authorities regarding consumer 
protection; 
(4) recommendations made by the Comptroller 
General study, GAO–17–637, including what addi-
tional data from air ambulance providers and other 
sources should be collected by the Department of 
Transportation to improve its understanding of the 
air ambulance market and oversight of the air ambu-
374 
lance industry for the purposes of pursuing action re-
lated to unfair or deceptive practices or unfair meth-
ods of competition, which may include— 
(A) cost data; 
(B) standard charges and payments re-
ceived per transport; 
(C) whether the provider is part of a hos-
pital-sponsored program, municipality-sponsored 
program, hospital-independent partnership (hy-
brid) program, or independent program; 
(D) number of transports per base and heli-
copter; 
(E) market shares of air ambulance pro-
viders inclusive of any parent or holding compa-
nies; 
(F) any data indicating the extent of com-
petition among air ambulance providers on the 
basis of price and service; 
(G) prices assessed to consumers and insur-
ers for air transportation and any non-transpor-
tation services provided by air ambulance pro-
viders; and 
(H) financial performance of air ambulance 
providers;
375 
(5) definitions of all applicable terms that are 
not defined in statute or regulations; and 
(6) other matters as determined necessary or ap-
propriate. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the first meeting of the advisory committee, the advisory 
committee shall submit to the Secretary of Transportation, 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the ap-
propriate committees of Congress a report containing the 
recommendations made under subsection (d). 
(f) RULEMAKING.—Upon receipt of the report under 
subsection (e), the Secretary of Transportation shall con-
sider the recommendations of the advisory committee and 
issue regulations or other guidance as deemed necessary— 
(1) to require air ambulance providers to regu-
larly report data to the Department of Transpor-
tation; 
(2) to increase transparency related to Depart-
ment of Transportation actions related to consumer 
complaints; and 
(3) to provide other consumer protections for cus-
tomers of air ambulance providers. 
(g) ELIMINATION OF ADVISORY COUNCIL ON TRANS-
PORTATION STATISTICS.—The Advisory Council on Trans-
376 
portation Statistics shall terminate on the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
SEC. 419. AIR AMBULANCE COMPLAINTS TO THE DEPART-
MENT OF TRANSPORTATION. 
(a) CONSUMER COMPLAINTS.—Section 42302 of title 
49, United States Code, is further amended— 
(1) in subsection (a) by inserting ‘‘(including 
transportation by air ambulance (as defined by the 
Secretary of Transportation))’’ after ‘‘air transpor-
tation’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) AIR AMBULANCE PROVIDERS.—Each air ambu-
lance provider shall include the hotline telephone number, 
link to the Internet website established under subsection (a), 
and contact information for the Aviation Consumer Advo-
cate established under section 425 on— 
‘‘(1) any invoice, bill, or other communication 
provided to a passenger or customer of the provider; 
and 
‘‘(2) its Internet Web site, and any related mo-
bile device application.’’. 
(b) UNFAIR AND DECEPTIVE PRACTICES AND UNFAIR 
METHODS OF COMPETITION.—Section 41712(a) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘air ambu-
lance consumer (as defined by the Secretary of Transpor-
377 
tation),’’ after ‘‘foreign air carrier,’’ in the first place it 
appears. 
SEC. 420. REPORT TO CONGRESS ON AIR AMBULANCE 
OVERSIGHT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after sub-
mission of the report required under section 418, the Sec-
retary of Transportation shall submit a report to the appro-
priate committees of Congress on air ambulance oversight. 
(b) CONTENTS
OF REPORT.—The report required 
under subsection (a) shall include— 
(1) a description of how the Secretary will con-
duct oversight of air ambulance providers, including 
the information sources the Secretary will use to con-
duct such oversight; and 
(2) a timeline for the issuance of any guidance 
concerning unfair and deceptive practices among air 
ambulance providers, including guidance for States 
and political subdivisions of States to refer such mat-
ters to the Secretary. 
SEC. 421. REFUNDS FOR OTHER FEES THAT ARE NOT HON-
ORED BY A COVERED AIR CARRIER. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall promulgate 
regulations that require each covered air carrier to prompt-
ly provide a refund to a passenger of any ancillary fees
378 
paid for services related to air travel that the passenger does 
not receive, including on the passenger’s scheduled flight, 
on a subsequent replacement itinerary if there has been a 
rescheduling, or for a flight not taken by the passenger. 
SEC. 422. ADVANCE BOARDING DURING PREGNANCY . 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall review air 
carrier policies regarding traveling during pregnancy and, 
if appropriate, may revise regulations, as the Secretary 
considers necessary, to require an air carrier to offer ad-
vance boarding of an aircraft to a pregnant passenger who 
requests such assistance. 
SEC. 423. CONSUMER COMPLAINT PROCESS IMPROVEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 42302(c) of title 49, United 
States Code is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘An air carrier or foreign air carrier pro-
viding scheduled air transportation using any air-
craft that as originally designed has a passenger ca-
pacity of 30 or more passenger seats’’ and inserting 
‘‘Each air carrier and foreign air carrier’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘air carrier’’ 
and inserting ‘‘carrier’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘air carrier’’ 
and inserting ‘‘carrier’’.
379 
(b) RULEMAKING.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation 
shall promulgate regulations to implement the requirements 
of section 42302 of title 49, United States Code, as amended 
by this Act. 
SEC. 424. AVIATION CONSUMER ADVOCATE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall review aviation consumer complaints received that al-
lege a violation of law and, as appropriate, pursue enforce-
ment or corrective actions that would be in the public inter-
est. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In considering which cases to 
pursue for enforcement or corrective action under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall consider— 
(1) the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 (Public 
Law 99–435; 100 Stat. 1080); 
(2) unfair and deceptive practices by air carriers 
(including air ambulance operators), foreign air car-
riers, and ticket agents; 
(3) the terms and conditions agreed to between 
passengers and air carriers (including air ambulance 
operators), foreign air carriers, or ticket agents; 
(4) aviation consumer protection and tarmac 
delay contingency planning requirements for both air-
ports and airlines;
380 
(5) protection of air ambulance consumers; and 
(6) any other applicable law. 
(c) AVIATION CONSUMER ADVOCATE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Within the Aviation Con-
sumer Protection Division of the Department of 
Transportation, there shall be an Aviation Consumer 
Advocate. 
(2) FUNCTIONS.—The Aviation Consumer Advo-
cate shall— 
(A) assist consumers in resolving carrier 
service complaints filed with the Aviation Con-
sumer Protection Division; 
(B) review the resolution by the Department 
of Transportation of carrier service complaints; 
(C) identify and recommend actions the De-
partment can take to improve the enforcement of 
aviation consumer protection rules, protection of 
air ambulance consumers, and resolution of car-
rier service complaints; and 
(D) identify and recommend regulations 
and policies that can be amended to more effec-
tively resolve carrier service complaints. 
(d) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The Secretary, through the 
Aviation Consumer Advocate, shall submit to the appro-
381 
priate committees of Congress an annual report summa-
rizing the following: 
(1) The total number of annual complaints re-
ceived by the Department, including the number of 
complaints by the name of each air carrier and for-
eign air carrier. 
(2) The total number of annual complaints by 
category of complaint. 
(3) The number of complaints referred in the 
preceding year for enforcement or corrective action by 
the Department. 
(4) Any recommendations under paragraphs 
(2)(C) and (2)(D) of subsection (c). 
(5) Such other data as the Aviation Consumer 
Advocate considers appropriate. 
(e) SUNSET ON REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—The re-
porting requirement of subsection (d) shall terminate on 
September 30, 2023. 
SEC. 425. TICKETS ACT. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘Transparency Improvements and Compensation to Keep 
Every Ticketholder Safe Act of 2018’’ or the ‘‘TICKETS 
Act’’. 
(b) BOARDED PASSENGERS.—Beginning on the date 
of enactment of this Act, a covered air carrier may not deny
382 
a revenue passenger traveling on a confirmed reservation 
permission to board, or involuntarily remove that passenger 
from the aircraft, once a revenue passenger has— 
(1) checked in for the flight prior to the check- 
in deadline; and 
(2) had their ticket or boarding pass collected or 
electronically scanned and accepted by the gate agent. 
(c) LIMITATIONS.—The prohibition pursuant to sub-
section (b) shall not apply when— 
(1) there is a safety, security, or health risk with 
respect to that revenue passenger or there is a safety 
or security issue requiring removal of a revenue pas-
senger; or 
(2) the revenue passenger is engaging in behavior 
that is obscene, disruptive, or otherwise unlawful. 
(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section 
may be construed to limit or otherwise affect the responsi-
bility or authority of a pilot in command of an aircraft 
under section 121.533 of title 14, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, or limit any penalty under section 46504 of title 49, 
United States Code. 
(e) INVOLUNTARY
DENIED
BOARDING
COMPENSA-
TION.—Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue a
383 
final rule to revise part 250 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations, to clarify that— 
(1) there is not a maximum level of compensa-
tion an air carrier or foreign air carrier may pay to 
a passenger who is involuntarily denied boarding as 
the result of an oversold flight; 
(2) the compensation levels set forth in that part 
are the minimum levels of compensation an air car-
rier or foreign air carrier must pay to a passenger 
who is involuntarily denied boarding as the result of 
an oversold flight; and 
(3) an air carrier or foreign air carrier must 
proactively offer to pay compensation to a passenger 
who is voluntarily or involuntarily denied boarding 
on an oversold flight, rather than waiting until the 
passenger requests the compensation. 
(f) GAO REPORT ON OVERSALES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of 
the United States shall review airline policies and 
practices related to oversales of flights. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the review 
under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall 
examine—
384 
(A) the impact on passengers as a result of 
an oversale, including increasing or decreasing 
the costs of passenger air transportation; 
(B) economic and operational factors which 
result in oversales; 
(C) whether, and if so how, the incidence of 
oversales varies depending on markets; 
(D) potential consequences on the limiting 
of oversales; and 
(E) best practices on how oversale policies 
can be communicated to passengers at airline 
check-in desks and airport gates. 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Con-
gress a report on the review under paragraph (2). 
(g) GATE NOTICE OF POLICIES.—The Secretary may 
provide guidance on how these policies should be commu-
nicated at covered air carrier check-in desks and airport 
gates. 
SEC. 426. REPORT ON AVAILABILITY OF LAVATORIES ON 
COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
385 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
report assessing— 
(1) the availability of functional lavatories on 
commercial aircraft 
(2) the extent to which flights take off without 
functional lavatories; 
(3) the ability of passengers with disabilities to 
access lavatories on commercial aircraft; 
(4) the extent of complaints to the Department of 
Transportation and air carriers related to lavatories 
and efforts they have taken to address complaints; 
and 
(5) the extent to which air carriers are reducing 
the size and number of lavatories to add more seats 
and whether this creates passenger lavatory access 
issues. 
SEC. 427. CONSUMER PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS RELAT-
ING TO LARGE TICKET AGENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall issue a final rule to require large ticket agents 
to adopt minimum customer service standards. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the final rule shall be 
to ensure that, to the extent feasible, there is a consistent
386 
level of consumer protection regardless of where consumers 
purchase air fares and related air transportation services. 
(c) STANDARDS.—In issuing the final rule, the Sec-
retary shall consider, to the extent feasible, establishing 
standards consistent with all customer service and disclo-
sure requirements applicable to covered air carriers under 
this title and associated regulations. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
(1) TICKET AGENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subparagraph 
(B), the term ‘‘ticket agent’’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 40102(a) of title 49, 
United States Code. 
(B) INCLUSION.—The term ‘‘ticket agent’’ 
includes a person who acts as an intermediary 
involved in the sale of air transportation directly 
or indirectly to consumers, including by oper-
ating an electronic airline information system, if 
the person— 
(i) holds the person out as a source of 
information about, or reservations for, the 
air transportation industry; and 
(ii) receives compensation in any way 
related to the sale of air transportation.
387 
(2) LARGE
TICKET
AGENT.—The term ‘‘large 
ticket agent’’ means a ticket agent with annual reve-
nues of $100,000,000 or more. 
(e) ENFORCEMENT.—No large ticket agent may be 
found in noncompliance of any standard or requirement 
adopted in the final rule required by this section if— 
(1) the large ticket agent is unable to meet the 
new standard or requirement due to the lack of infor-
mation or data from the covered air carrier and the 
information is required for the large ticket agent to 
comply with such standard or requirement; or 
(2) the sale of air transportation is made by a 
large ticket agent pursuant to a specific corporate or 
government fare management contract. 
SEC. 428. WIDESPREAD DISRUPTIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 423 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 42304. Widespread disruptions 
‘‘(a) GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.—In the event of a 
widespread disruption, a covered air carrier shall imme-
diately publish, via a prominent link on the air carrier’s 
public internet website, a clear statement indicating wheth-
er, with respect to a passenger of the air carrier whose trav-
el is interrupted as a result of the widespread disruption, 
the air carrier will—
388 
‘‘(1) provide for hotel accommodations; 
‘‘(2) arrange for ground transportation; 
‘‘(3) provide meal vouchers; 
‘‘(4) arrange for air transportation on another 
air carrier or foreign air carrier to the passenger’s 
destination; and 
‘‘(5) provide for sleeping facilities inside the air-
port terminal. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
‘‘(1) 
WIDESPREAD
DISRUPTION.—The 
term 
‘widespread disruption’ means, with respect to a cov-
ered air carrier, the interruption of all or the over-
whelming majority of the air carrier’s systemwide 
flight operations, including flight delays and cancella-
tions, as the result of the failure of 1 or more com-
puter systems or computer networks of the air carrier. 
‘‘(2) COVERED AIR CARRIER.—The term ‘covered 
air carrier’ means an air carrier that provides sched-
uled passenger air transportation by operating an 
aircraft that as originally designed has a passenger 
capacity of 30 or more seats. 
‘‘(c) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this section 
may be construed to modify, abridge, or repeal any obliga-
tion of an air carrier under section 42301.’’.
389 
(b) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
chapter 423 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘42304. Widespread disruptions.’’. 
SEC. 429. PASSENGER RIGHTS. 
(a) GUIDELINES.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall require each covered air carrier to submit a 
summarized 1-page document that describes the rights of 
passengers in air transportation, including guidelines for 
the following: 
(1) Compensation (regarding rebooking options, 
refunds, meals, and lodging) for flight delays of var-
ious lengths. 
(2) Compensation (regarding rebooking options, 
refunds, meals, and lodging) for flight diversions. 
(3) Compensation (regarding rebooking options, 
refunds, meals, and lodging) for flight cancellations. 
(4) Compensation for mishandled baggage, in-
cluding delayed, damaged, pilfered, or lost baggage. 
(5) Voluntary relinquishment of a ticketed seat 
due to overbooking or priority of other passengers. 
(6) Involuntary denial of boarding and forced 
removal for whatever reason, including for safety and 
security reasons.
390 
(b) FILING OF SUMMARIZED GUIDELINES.—Not later 
than 90 days after each air carrier submits its guidelines 
to the Secretary under subsection (a), the air carrier shall 
make available such 1-page document in a prominent loca-
tion on its website. 
Subtitle B—Aviation Consumers 
With Disabilities 
SEC. 
431. 
AVIATION 
CONSUMERS 
WITH 
DISABILITIES 
STUDY. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct a study that includes— 
(1) a review of airport accessibility best practices 
for individuals with disabilities, including best prac-
tices that improve infrastructure facilities and com-
munications methods, including those related to 
wayfinding, amenities, and passenger care; 
(2) a review of air carrier and airport training 
policies related to section 41705 of title 49, United 
States Code; 
(3) a review of air carrier training policies re-
lated to properly assisting passengers with disabil-
ities; and 
(4) a review of accessibility best practices that 
exceed those recommended under Public Law 90–480
391 
(popularly known as the Architectural Barriers Act of 
1968; 42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.), the Rehabilitation Act 
of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.), the Air Carrier Access 
Act of 1986 (Public Law 99–435; 100 Stat. 1080 et 
seq.), and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 
(42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.). 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date the 
Comptroller General initiates the study under subsection 
(a), the Comptroller General shall submit to the Secretary 
of Transportation and the appropriate committees of Con-
gress a report on the study, including findings and rec-
ommendations. 
SEC. 432. STUDY ON IN-CABIN WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINT 
SYSTEMS. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Architectural and Transportation 
Barriers Compliance Board, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Transportation, aircraft manufacturers, air car-
riers, and disability advocates, shall conduct a study to de-
termine— 
(1) the feasibility of in-cabin wheelchair re-
straint systems; and 
(2) if feasible, the ways in which individuals 
with significant disabilities using wheelchairs, includ-
392 
ing power wheelchairs, can be accommodated with in- 
cabin wheelchair restraint systems. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the initi-
ation of the study under subsection (a), the Architectural 
and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on 
the findings of the study. 
SEC. 433. IMPROVING WHEELCHAIR ASSISTANCE FOR INDI-
VIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES . 
Following the receipt of the report required under sec-
tion 2107 of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act 
of 2016 (Public Law 114–190; 130 Stat. 622), the Secretary 
of Transportation shall develop, if appropriate, specific rec-
ommendations regarding improvements to wheelchair as-
sistance provided by air carriers and recommendations on 
how training programs by air carriers can address con-
sumer complaints regarding wheelchair assistance. 
SEC. 434. AIRLINE PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES BILL 
OF RIGHTS. 
(a) AIRLINE PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES BILL 
OF RIGHTS.—The Secretary of Transportation shall develop 
a document, to be known as the ‘‘Airline Passengers with 
Disabilities Bill of Rights’’, using plain language to de-
scribe the basic protections and responsibilities of covered 
air carriers, their employees and contractors, and people
393 
with disabilities under the section 41705 of title 49, United 
States Code. 
(b) CONTENT.—In developing the Airline Passengers 
with Disabilities Bill of Rights under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall include, at a minimum, plain language de-
scriptions of protections and responsibilities provided in 
law related to the following: 
(1) The right of passengers with disabilities to be 
treated with dignity and respect. 
(2) The right of passengers with disabilities to 
receive timely assistance, if requested, from properly 
trained covered air carrier and contractor personnel. 
(3) The right of passengers with disabilities to 
travel with wheelchairs, mobility aids, and other as-
sistive devices, including necessary medications and 
medical supplies, including stowage of such wheel-
chairs, aids, and devices. 
(4) The right of passengers with disabilities to 
receive seating accommodations, if requested, to ac-
commodate a disability. 
(5) The right of passengers with disabilities to 
receive announcements in an accessible format. 
(6) The right of passengers with disabilities to 
speak with a complaint resolution officer or to file a
394 
complaint with a covered air carrier or the Depart-
ment of Transportation. 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—The development of the 
Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights under 
subsections (a) and (b) shall not be construed as expanding 
or restricting the rights available to passengers with disabil-
ities on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act 
pursuant to any statute or regulation. 
(d) CONSULTATIONS.—In developing the Airline Pas-
sengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights under subsection (a), 
the Secretary of Transportation shall consult with stake-
holders, including disability organizations and covered air 
carriers and their contractors. 
(e) DISPLAY.—Each covered air carrier shall include 
the Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights— 
(1) on a publicly available internet website of the 
covered air carrier; and 
(2) in any pre-flight notifications or commu-
nications provided to passengers who alert the covered 
air carrier in advance of the need for accommoda-
tions relating to a disability. 
(f) TRAINING.—Covered air carriers and contractors of 
covered air carriers shall submit to the Secretary of Trans-
portation plans that ensure employees of covered air car-
riers and their contractors receive training on the protec-
395 
tions and responsibilities described in the Airline Pas-
sengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights. The Secretary shall 
review such plans to ensure the plans address the matters 
described in subsection (b). 
SEC. 435. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING EQUAL ACCESS 
FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the aviation industry and every relevant 
stakeholder must work to ensure that every individual 
who experiences a disability has equal access to air 
travel; 
(2) as technology and ease of travel continue to 
advance, accessibility must be a priority; and 
(3) accommodations must— 
(A) extend to every airport and service or 
facility of an air carrier; and 
(B) be inclusive of every disability. 
SEC. 436. CIVIL PENALTIES RELATING TO HARM TO PAS-
SENGERS WITH DISABILITIES. 
Section 46301(a) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) PENALTIES RELATING TO HARM TO PASSENGERS 
WITH DISABILITIES.— 
‘‘(A) PENALTY FOR BODILY HARM OR DAMAGE 
TO
WHEELCHAIR
OR
OTHER
MOBILITY
AID.—The
396 
amount of a civil penalty assessed under this section 
for a violation of section 41705 that involves damage 
to a passenger’s wheelchair or other mobility aid or 
injury to a passenger with a disability may be in-
creased above the otherwise applicable maximum 
amount under this section for a violation of section 
41705 to an amount not to exceed 3 times the max-
imum penalty otherwise allowed. 
‘‘(B) EACH
ACT
CONSTITUTES
SEPARATE
OF-
FENSE.—Notwithstanding paragraph (2), a separate 
violation of section 41705 occurs for each act of dis-
crimination prohibited by that section.’’. 
SEC. 437. HARMONIZATION OF SERVICE ANIMAL STAND-
ARDS. 
(a) RULEMAKING.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall conduct a rulemaking proceeding— 
(1) to define the term ‘‘service animal’’ for pur-
poses of air transportation; and 
(2) to develop minimum standards for what is 
required for service and emotional support animals 
carried in aircraft cabins. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the rulemaking 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider, at a min-
imum—
397 
(1) whether to align the definition of ‘‘service 
animal’’ with the definition of that term in regula-
tions of the Department of Justice implementing the 
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 
101–336); 
(2) reasonable measures to ensure pets are not 
claimed as service animals, such as— 
(A) whether to require photo identification 
for a service animal identifying the type of ani-
mal, the breed of animal, and the service the ani-
mal provides to the passenger; 
(B) whether to require documentation indi-
cating whether or not a service animal was 
trained by the owner or an approved training 
organization; 
(C) whether to require, from a licensed phy-
sician, documentation indicating the mitigating 
task or tasks a service animal provides to its 
owner; and 
(D) whether to allow a passenger to be ac-
companied by more than 1 service animal; 
(3) reasonable measures to ensure the safety of 
all passengers, such as— 
(A) whether to require health and vaccina-
tion records for a service animal; and
398 
(B) whether to require third-party proof of 
behavioral training for a service animal; 
(4) the impact additional requirements on serv-
ice animals could have on access to air transportation 
for passengers with disabilities; and 
(5) if impacts on access to air transportation for 
passengers with disabilities are found, ways to elimi-
nate or mitigate those impacts. 
(c) FINAL RULE.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a 
final rule pursuant to the rulemaking conducted under this 
section. 
SEC. 438. REVIEW OF PRACTICES FOR TICKETING, PRE- 
FLIGHT SEAT ASSIGNMENTS, AND STOWING 
OF ASSISTIVE DEVICES FOR PASSENGERS 
WITH DISABILITIES. 
(a) REVIEW.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after 
the first meeting of the advisory committee on the air 
travel needs of passengers with disabilities established 
in section 439 (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Ad-
visory Committee’’), the Secretary of Transportation 
shall direct the Advisory Committee to review current 
regulations with respect to practices for ticketing, pre-
399 
flight seat assignments, and stowing of assistive de-
vices for passengers with disabilities. 
(2) RECOMMENDATIONS.—In carrying out the re-
view under paragraph (1), the Advisory Committee 
shall, at a minimum, provide recommendations on 
whether current regulations should be modified or 
prescribed to— 
(A) provide accommodations for passengers 
with disabilities, if requested, in ticketing and 
pre-flight assignments; 
(B) require covered air carriers to provide 
priority access to bulkhead seating to passengers 
with disabilities who need access to features of 
those seats due to disabilities regardless of class 
of service of ticket purchased; and 
(C) ensure passengers with disabilities are 
able to stow assistive devices without cost. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after the date 
of their first meeting, the Advisory Committee shall submit 
to the Secretary of Transportation and the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the review conducted 
under subsection (a)(1), including the recommendations de-
veloped under subsection (a)(2).
400 
SEC. 439. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE AIR TRAVEL 
NEEDS OF PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall establish an advisory committee on issues re-
lated to the air travel needs of passengers with disabilities 
(referred to in this section as the ‘‘Advisory Committee’’). 
(b) DUTIES.—The Advisory Committee shall— 
(1) identify and assess the disability-related ac-
cess barriers encountered by passengers with disabil-
ities; 
(2) determine the extent to which the programs 
and activities of the Department of Transportation 
are addressing the barriers identified in paragraph 
(1); 
(3) recommend consumer protection improve-
ments to the air travel experience of passengers with 
disabilities; 
(4) advise the Secretary with regard to the im-
plementation of section 41705 of title 49, United 
States Code; and 
(5) conduct such activities as the Secretary con-
siders necessary to carry out this section. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Advisory Committee shall 
be composed of at least 1 representative of each of the 
following groups:
401 
(A) Passengers with disabilities. 
(B) National disability organizations. 
(C) Air carriers. 
(D) Airport operators. 
(E) Contractor service providers. 
(F) Aircraft manufacturers. 
(G) Wheelchair manufacturers. 
(H) National veterans organizations rep-
resenting disabled veterans. 
(2) APPOINTMENT.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall appoint each member of the Advisory 
Committee. 
(3) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Advisory 
Committee shall be filled in the manner in which the 
original appointment was made. 
(d) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall designate, from among the members appointed under 
subsection (c), an individual to serve as chairperson of the 
Advisory Committee. 
(e) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members of the Advisory 
Committee shall serve without pay, but shall receive travel 
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in ac-
cordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
(f) REPORTS.—
402 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 14 months 
after the date of establishment of the Advisory Com-
mittee, and annually thereafter, the Advisory Com-
mittee shall submit to the Secretary of Transportation 
a report on the needs of passengers with disabilities 
in air travel, including— 
(A) an assessment of existing disability-re-
lated access barriers, and any emerging dis-
ability-related access barriers that will likely be 
an issue in the next 5 calendar years; 
(B) an evaluation of the extent to which the 
Department of Transportation’s programs and 
activities are eliminating disability-related ac-
cess barriers; 
(C) a description of the Advisory Commit-
tee’s actions; 
(D) a description of improvements related 
to the air travel experience of passengers with 
disabilities; and 
(E) any recommendations for legislation, 
administrative action, or other action that the 
Advisory Committee considers appropriate. 
(2) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 60 
days after the date the Secretary receives the report 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to
403 
the appropriate committees of Congress a copy of the 
report, including any additional findings or rec-
ommendations that the Secretary considers appro-
priate. 
(g) TERMINATION.—The Advisory Committee estab-
lished under this section shall terminate on September 30, 
2023. 
(h) TERMINATION OF THE NEXT GENERATION AIR 
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM SENIOR POLICY COMMITTEE.— 
The Next Generation Air Transportation System Senior 
Policy Committee established by the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall terminate on the date of the initial appoint-
ment of the members of the Advisory Committee. 
SEC. 440. REGULATIONS ENSURING ASSISTANCE FOR PAS-
SENGERS WITH DISABILITIES IN AIR TRANS-
PORTATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall— 
(1) review, and if necessary revise, applicable 
regulations to ensure that passengers with disabilities 
who request assistance while traveling in air trans-
portation receive dignified, timely, and effective as-
sistance at airports and on aircraft from trained per-
sonnel; and
404 
(2) review, and if necessary revise, applicable 
regulations related to covered air carrier training 
programs for air carrier personnel, including contrac-
tors, who provide physical assistance to passengers 
with disabilities to ensure that training under such 
programs— 
(A) occurs on an annual schedule for all 
new and continuing personnel charged with pro-
viding physical assistance; and 
(B) includes, as appropriate, instruction by 
personnel, with hands-on training for employees 
who physically lift or otherwise physically assist 
passengers with disabilities, including the use of 
relevant equipment. 
(b) TYPES OF ASSISTANCE.—The assistance referred to 
subsection (a)(1) may include requests for assistance in 
boarding or deplaning an aircraft, requests for assistance 
in connecting between flights, and other similar or related 
requests, as appropriate. 
SEC. 441. TRANSPARENCY FOR DISABLED PASSENGERS. 
The compliance date of the final rule, dated November 
2, 2016, on the reporting of data for mishandled baggage 
and wheelchairs in aircraft cargo compartments (81 Fed. 
Reg. 76300) shall be effective not later than 60 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act.
405 
Subtitle C—Small Community Air 
Service 
SEC. 451. ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE AUTHORIZATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 41742(a)(2) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘$150,000,000 
for fiscal year 2011’’ and all that follows before ‘‘to carry 
out’’ and inserting ‘‘$155,000,000 for fiscal year 2018, 
$158,000,000 for fiscal year 2019, $161,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2020, $165,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, $168,000,000 
for fiscal year 2022, and $172,000,000 for fiscal year 2023’’. 
(b) SEASONAL SERVICE.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation may consider the flexibility of current operational 
dates and airport accessibility to meet local community 
needs when issuing requests for proposal of essential air 
service at seasonal airports. 
SEC. 452. STUDY ON ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE REFORM. 
(a) STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of 
the United States shall conduct a study on the effects 
of section 6 of the Airport and Airway Extension Act 
of 2011, Part IV (Public Law 112–27), section 421 of 
the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 
(Public Law 112–95), and other relevant Federal 
laws enacted after 2010, including the amendments
406 
made by those laws, on the Essential Air Service pro-
gram. 
(2) SCOPE.—In conducting the study under 
paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall analyze, 
at a minimum— 
(A) the impact of each relevant Federal law, 
including the amendments made by each law, on 
the Essential Air Service program; 
(B) what actions communities and air car-
riers have taken to reduce ticket prices or in-
crease enplanements as a result of each law; 
(C) the issuance of waivers by the Secretary 
under section 41731(e) of title 49, United States 
Code; 
(D) whether budgetary savings resulted 
from each law; and 
(E) options for further reform of the Essen-
tial Air Service program. 
(b) REQUIRED ANALYSIS ON COMMUNITIES.—In car-
rying out subsection (a)(2)(E) the Comptroller General 
shall include, for each option for further reform, an analysis 
of the impact on local economies of communities with air-
ports receiving Essential Air Service funding, access to air 
travel for residents of rural communities and the impact 
to local businesses in such communities.
407 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on 
the results of the study conducted under subsection (a). 
SEC. 453. AIR TRANSPORTATION TO NONELIGIBLE PLACES. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 41731(a)(1)(A)(ii) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Wendell 
H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st 
Century,’’ and inserting ‘‘FAA Extension, Safety, and Se-
curity Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–190),’’. 
(b) PROGRAM SUNSET.—Section 41736 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(h) SUNSET.— 
‘‘(1) PROPOSALS.—No proposal under subsection 
(a) may be accepted by the Secretary after the date 
of enactment of this subsection. 
‘‘(2) PROGRAM.—The Secretary may not provide 
any compensation under this section after the date 
that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this sub-
section.’’. 
SEC. 454. INSPECTOR GENERAL REVIEW OF SERVICE AND 
OVERSIGHT OF UNSUBSIDIZED CARRIERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the inspector general of the Depart-
408 
ment of Transportation shall conduct and complete a review 
of orders issued by the Department of Transportation from 
2005 through the date of enactment of this Act to determine 
whether the carriers providing unsubsidized service pro-
vided basic essential air service, and whether the Depart-
ment conducted sufficient oversight of carriers providing 
unsubsidized service to ensure air service quality and com-
munity satisfaction. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The review shall include, at a min-
imum— 
(1) a review of the Department’s efforts to com-
municate to the community served by the unsub-
sidized carrier on any material air service changes; 
and 
(2) a review of the Department’s efforts to closely 
monitor the quality of air service provided by the un-
subsidized carrier and request proposals for basic es-
sential air service if necessary. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after the date 
of completion of the review, the inspector general shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on 
the results of the review. 
SEC. 455. SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE. 
(a) ELIGIBILITY.—Section 41743(c) of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended—
409 
(1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(1) SIZE.—On the date of submission of the rel-
evant application under subsection (b), the airport 
serving the community or consortium— 
‘‘(A) is not larger than a small hub airport, 
as determined using the Department of Trans-
portation’s most recently published classification; 
and 
‘‘(B) has— 
‘‘(i) insufficient air carrier service; or 
‘‘(ii) unreasonably high air fares.’’; 
(2) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(4) OVERALL LIMIT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—No more than 40 com-
munities or consortia of communities, or a com-
bination thereof, may be selected to participate 
in the program in each year for which funds are 
appropriated for the program. 
‘‘(B) SAME PROJECTS.—Except as provided 
in subparagraph (C), no community, consortia 
of communities, or combination thereof may par-
ticipate in the program in support of the same 
project more than once in a 10-year period, but
410 
any community, consortia of communities, or 
combination thereof may apply, subsequent to 
such participation, to participate in the pro-
gram in support of a different project at any 
time. 
‘‘(C) 
EXCEPTION.—The 
Secretary 
may 
waive the limitation under subparagraph (B) re-
lated to projects that are the same if the Sec-
retary determines that the community or consor-
tium spent little or no money on its previous 
project or encountered industry or environmental 
challenges, due to circumstances that were rea-
sonably beyond the control of the community or 
consortium.’’; 
(3) in paragraph (5)— 
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) 
and (F) as subparagraphs (F) and (G), respec-
tively; and 
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the 
following: 
‘‘(E) the assistance will be used to help re-
store scheduled passenger air service that has 
been terminated;’’. 
(b) AUTHORITY
TO MAKE AGREEMENTS.—Section 
41743(e)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by
411 
adding at the end the following: ‘‘The Secretary may amend 
the scope of a grant agreement at the request of the commu-
nity or consortium and any participating air carrier, and 
may limit the scope of a grant agreement to only the ele-
ments using grant assistance or to only the elements 
achieved, if the Secretary determines that the amendment 
is reasonably consistent with the original purpose of the 
project.’’ 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
41743(e)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(2) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 
through 2023 to carry out this section. Such sums 
shall remain available until expended.’’. 
SEC. 456. WAIVERS. 
Section 41732 is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(c) WAIVERS.—Notwithstanding section 41733(e), 
upon request by an eligible place, the Secretary may waive, 
in whole or in part, subsections (a) and (b) of this section 
or subsections (a) through (c) of section 41734. A waiver 
issued under this subsection shall remain in effect for a lim-
ited period of time, as determined by the Secretary.’’.
412 
SEC. 457. EXTENSION OF FINAL ORDER ESTABLISHING 
MILEAGE ADJUSTMENT ELIGIBILITY. 
Section 409(d) of the Vision 100—Century of Aviation 
Reauthorization Act (49 U.S.C. 41731 note) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 458. REDUCTION IN SUBSIDY-PER-PASSENGER. 
Section 426 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act 
of 2012 (126 Stat. 98) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(d) REDUCTION IN SUBSIDY-PER-PASSENGER.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall waive 
application of the subsidy-per-passenger cap described 
under subsection (c) if the Secretary finds that the 
community’s subsidy-per-passenger for a fiscal year is 
lower than the subsidy-per-passenger for any of the 3 
previous fiscal years. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary shall waive ap-
plication of the subsidy-per-passenger cap if the sub-
sidy-per-passenger for a fiscal year is less than 10 
percent higher than the highest subsidy-per-passenger 
from any of the 3 previous fiscal years. The Secretary 
may only waive application of the subsidy-per-pas-
senger cap under this paragraph once per commu-
nity. 
‘‘(3) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
subsection shall be construed to limit the Secretary’s
413 
ability under subsection (c) to waive application of 
the subsidy-per-passenger cap.’’. 
TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS 
SEC. 501. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title, the following definitions apply: 
(1) ADMINISTRATION.—The term ‘‘Administra-
tion’’ means the Federal Aviation Administration. 
(2) 
ADMINISTRATOR.—The 
term 
‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the FAA. 
(3) ADS–B.—The term ‘‘ADS–B’’ means auto-
matic dependent surveillance-broadcast. 
(4) ADS–B OUT.—The term ‘‘ADS–B Out’’ 
means automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast 
with the ability to transmit information from the air-
craft to ground stations and to other equipped air-
craft. 
(5) FAA.—The term ‘‘FAA’’ means the Federal 
Aviation Administration. 
(6) NEXTGEN.—The term ‘‘NextGen’’ means the 
Next Generation Air Transportation System. 
SEC. 502. REPORT ON AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL MODERNIZA-
TION. 
(a) FAA REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report de-
414 
scribing the multiyear effort of the Administration to mod-
ernize the air transportation system (in this section referred 
to as the ‘‘modernization effort’’), including— 
(1) the number of years that the modernization 
effort has been underway as of the date of the report; 
(2) the total amount of money expended on the 
modernization effort as of the date of the report (in-
cluding a description of how that amount was cal-
culated); 
(3) the net present value of the benefits reported 
from aircraft operators resulting from the money ex-
pended on the modernization effort as of the date of 
the report; 
(4) a definition for NextGen, including a de-
scription of any changes to that definition that oc-
curred between 2003 and the date of the report; 
(5) the net present value of the money expended 
on NextGen as of the date of the report if such money 
had been deposited into a Government trust fund in-
stead of being expended on NextGen; 
(6) a description of the benefits promised and 
benefits delivered with respect to NextGen as of the 
date of the report;
415 
(7) any changes to the benefits promised with re-
spect to NextGen between the date on which NextGen 
began and the date of the report; 
(8) a description of each program or project that 
comprises NextGen, including— 
(A) when the program or project was initi-
ated; 
(B) the total budget for the program or 
project; 
(C) the initial budget for the program or 
project; 
(D) the acquisition program baseline for the 
program or project; 
(E) whether the program or project has ever 
breached the acquisition program baseline and, if 
so, a description of when, why, and how the 
breach was resolved; 
(F) whether the program or project has been 
re-baselined or divided into smaller segments 
and, if so, a description of when, why, and the 
impact to the cost of the program or project; 
(G) the initial schedule for the program or 
project; 
(H) whether the program or project was de-
layed and, if so, a description of how long, why,
416 
and the impact to the cost of the program or 
project; 
(I) whether the Administration changed any 
contract term or deliverable for the program or 
project and, if so, a description of the change, 
why it happened, and the impact to the cost of 
the program or project; 
(J) benefits promised with respect to the 
program or project at initiation; 
(K) benefits delivered with respect to the 
program or project as of the date of the report; 
(L) whether the program or project was 
cancelled and, if so, a description of why and 
when; 
(M) for cancelled programs or projects, 
whether there were any costs associated with the 
decision to cancel and, if so, a description of the 
amount of the costs (including for both the Ad-
ministration and the private sector); 
(N) the metrics, milestones, and deadlines 
set for the program or project and how the Ad-
ministration tracked and ensured compliance 
with those metrics, milestones, and deadlines;
417 
(O) how the Administration conducted over-
sight of the program or project and any related 
stakeholder collaboration efforts; 
(P) the status of the program or project as 
of the date of the report; and 
(Q) an assessment of the key risks to the full 
implementation of the program and a descrip-
tion of how the Administration is mitigating, or 
plans to mitigate, those risks; 
(9) the date upon which, or milestone by which, 
the Administration anticipates NextGen will be com-
plete; and 
(10) any lessons learned during the NextGen ef-
fort, and whether, how, and to what effect those les-
sons have been applied. 
(b) INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT.—Not later than 
270 days after the date on which the report required under 
subsection (a) is submitted, the inspector general of the De-
partment of Transportation shall review the report and sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a statement 
of the inspector general that— 
(1) determines the accuracy of the information 
reported; 
(2) describes any concerns with the accuracy of 
the information reported;
418 
(3) summarizes concerns raised by the inspector 
general, the Government Accountability Office, and 
other sources with respect to the Administration’s im-
plementation and oversight of NextGen since the date 
on which NextGen began; 
(4) describes— 
(A) any pertinent recommendations made 
by the inspector general related to the Adminis-
tration’s 
implementation 
and 
oversight 
of 
NextGen since the date on which NextGen began; 
and 
(B) whether and how the Administration 
addressed the recommendations; and 
(5) provides any other information that the in-
spector general determines is appropriate. 
SEC. 503. RETURN ON INVESTMENT REPORT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the 
date that each NextGen program has a positive return on 
investment, the Administrator shall submit to the appro-
priate committees of Congress a report on the status of each 
NextGen program, including the most recent NextGen pri-
ority list under subsection (c). 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report under subsection (a) shall 
include, for each NextGen program—
419 
(1) an estimate of the date the program will have 
a positive return on investment; 
(2) an explanation for any delay in the delivery 
of expected benefits from previously published esti-
mates on delivery of such benefits, in implementing or 
utilizing the program; 
(3) an estimate of the completion date; 
(4) an assessment of the long-term and near-term 
user benefits of the program for— 
(A) the Federal Government; and 
(B) the users of the national airspace sys-
tem; and 
(5) a description of how the program directly 
contributes to a safer and more efficient air traffic 
control system. 
(c) NEXTGEN PRIORITY LIST.—Based on the assess-
ment under subsection (a), the Administrator shall— 
(1) develop, in coordination with the NextGen 
Advisory Committee and considering the need for a 
balance between long-term and near-term user bene-
fits, a prioritization of the NextGen programs; 
(2) annually update the priority list under 
paragraph (1); and
420 
(3) prepare budget submissions to reflect the cur-
rent status of NextGen programs and projected re-
turns on investment for each NextGen program. 
(d) DEFINITION OF RETURN ON INVESTMENT.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘return on investment’’ means the cost as-
sociated with technologies that are required by law or policy 
as compared to the financial benefits derived from such 
technologies by a government or a user of airspace. 
(e) REPEAL OF NEXTGEN PRIORITIES.—Section 202 
of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Public 
Law 112–95; 49 U.S.C. 40101 note) and the item relating 
to that section in the table of contents under section 1(b) 
of that Act are repealed. 
SEC. 504. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL OPERATIONAL CONTIN-
GENCY PLANS. 
(a) AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL OPERATIONAL CONTIN-
GENCY PLANS.—Not later than 1 year after the date of en-
actment of this Act, the Administrator shall review the Ad-
ministration’s air traffic control operational contingency 
plans (FAA Order JO 1900.47E), and, as the Adminis-
trator considers appropriate, update such plans, to address 
potential air traffic facility outages that could have a major 
impact on the operation of the national airspace system, 
including the most recent findings and recommendations in 
the report under subsection (c).
421 
(b) UPDATES.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
the air traffic control operational contingency plans are re-
viewed under subsection (a), the Administrator shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the 
review, including any recommendations for ensuring air 
traffic facility outages do not have a major impact on the 
operation of the national airspace system. 
(c) RESILIENCY RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and peri-
odically thereafter as the Administrator considers appro-
priate, the Administrator shall convene NextGen program 
officials to evaluate, expedite, and complete a report on how 
planned NextGen capabilities can enhance the resiliency 
and continuity of national airspace system operations and 
mitigate the impact of future air traffic control disruptions. 
SEC. 505. 2020 ADS-B OUT MANDATE PLAN. 
The Administrator, in collaboration with the NextGen 
Advisory Committee, shall— 
(1) not later than 90 days after the date of en-
actment of this Act— 
(A) identify any known and potential bar-
riers to compliance with the 2020 ADS–B Out 
mandate under section 91.225 of title 14, Code 
of Federal Regulations;
422 
(B) develop a plan to address the known 
barriers identified in paragraph (1), including a 
schedule for— 
(i) periodically reevaluating the poten-
tial barriers identified in paragraph (1); 
and 
(ii) developing solutions and imple-
menting actions to address the known and 
potential barriers; and 
(C) submit the plan to the appropriate com-
mittees of Congress; and 
(2) not later than 90 days after the date the plan 
is submitted under paragraph (1), submit to the ap-
propriate committees of Congress a report on the 
progress made toward meeting the 2020 ADS–B Out 
mandate. 
SEC. 506. SECURING AIRCRAFT AVIONICS SYSTEMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall consider, 
where appropriate, revising Federal Aviation Administra-
tion regulations regarding airworthiness certification— 
(1) to address cybersecurity for avionics systems, 
including software components; and 
(2) to require that aircraft avionics systems used 
for flight guidance or aircraft control be secured 
against unauthorized access via passenger in-flight
423 
entertainment systems through such means as the Ad-
ministrator determines appropriate to protect the avi-
onics systems from unauthorized external and inter-
nal access. 
(b) CONSIDERATION.—In carrying out subsection (a), 
the Administrator shall consider the recommendations of the 
Aircraft Systems Information Security Protection Working 
Group under section 2111 of the FAA Extension Safety and 
Security Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–190; 130 Stat. 615). 
SEC. 507. HUMAN FACTORS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In order to avoid having to subse-
quently modify products and services developed as a part 
of NextGen, the Administrator shall— 
(1) recognize and incorporate, in early design 
phases of all relevant NextGen programs, the human 
factors and procedural and airspace implications of 
stated goals and associated technical changes; and 
(2) ensure that a human factors specialist, sepa-
rate from the research and certification groups, is di-
rectly involved with the NextGen approval process. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to 
the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the 
progress made toward implementing the requirements 
under subsection (a).
424 
SEC. 508. PROGRAMMATIC RISK MANAGEMENT. 
To better inform the Administration’s decisions re-
garding the prioritization of efforts and allocation of re-
sources for NextGen, the Administrator shall— 
(1) solicit input from specialists in probability 
and statistics to identify and prioritize the pro-
grammatic and implementation risks to NextGen; 
and 
(2) develop a method to manage and mitigate the 
risks identified in paragraph (1). 
SEC. 509. REVIEW OF FAA STRATEGIC CYBERSECURITY 
PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall initiate 
a review of the comprehensive and strategic framework of 
principles and policies (referred to in this section as the 
‘‘framework’’) developed pursuant to section 2111 of the 
FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 (49 
U.S.C. 44903 note). 
(b) CONTENTS.—In undertaking the review under sub-
section (a), the Administrator shall— 
(1) assess the degree to which the framework 
identifies and addresses known cybersecurity risks as-
sociated with the aviation system;
425 
(2) review existing short- and long-term objec-
tives for addressing cybersecurity risks to the national 
airspace system; and 
(3) assess the Administration’s level of engage-
ment and coordination with aviation stakeholders 
and other appropriate agencies, organizations, or 
groups with which the Administration consults to 
carry out the framework. 
(c) UPDATES.—Upon completion of the review under 
subsection (a), the Administrator shall modify the frame-
work, as appropriate, to address any deficiencies identified 
by the review. 
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days 
after initiating the review required by subsection (a), the 
Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees 
of Congress a report on the results of the review, including 
a description of any modifications made to the framework. 
SEC. 510. CONSOLIDATION AND REALIGNMENT OF FAA 
SERVICES AND FACILITIES. 
(a) PURPOSE AND INPUT.—Section 804(a) of the FAA 
Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 44501 
note) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘The purpose 
of the report shall be—’’ and all that follows through
426 
‘‘(B) to reduce’’ and inserting ‘‘The purpose of the re-
port shall be to reduce’’; and 
(2) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(4) INPUT.—The report shall be prepared by the 
Administrator (or the Administrator’s designee) with 
the participation of— 
‘‘(A) representatives of labor organizations 
representing air traffic control system employees 
of the FAA; and 
‘‘(B) industry stakeholders.’’. 
(b) MILITARY OPERATIONS EXCLUSION.—Section 804 
of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 
U.S.C. 44501 note) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection 
(f); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(e) MILITARY OPERATIONS EXCLUSION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may not 
realign or consolidate a combined TRACON and 
tower with radar facility of the FAA under this sec-
tion if, in 2015, the total annual military operations 
at the facility comprised at least 40 percent of the 
total annual TRACON operations at the facility.
427 
‘‘(2) TRACON DEFINED.—In this subsection, the 
term ‘TRACON’ means terminal radar approach con-
trol.’’. 
SEC. 511. FAA REVIEW AND REFORM. 
(a) AGENCY REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a detailed 
analysis of any actions taken to address the findings and 
recommendations included in the report required under sec-
tion 812(d) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 
2012 (49 U.S.C. 106 note), including— 
(1) consolidating, phasing-out, or eliminating 
duplicative positions, programs, roles, or offices; 
(2) eliminating or streamlining wasteful prac-
tices; 
(3) eliminating or phasing-out redundant, obso-
lete, or unnecessary functions; 
(4) reforming and streamlining inefficient proc-
esses so that the activities of the Administration are 
completed in an expedited and efficient manner; and 
(5) reforming or eliminating ineffectual or out-
dated policies. 
(b) ADDITIONAL REVIEW.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall undertake and complete a thorough review of each pro-
428 
gram, office, and organization within the Administration 
to identify— 
(1) duplicative positions, programs, roles, or of-
fices; 
(2) wasteful practices; 
(3) redundant, obsolete, or unnecessary functions; 
(4) inefficient processes; and 
(5) ineffectual or outdated policies. 
(c) ACTIONS TO STREAMLINE AND REFORM FAA.— 
Not later than 60 days after the date of completion of the 
review under subsection (b), the Administrator shall under-
take such actions as may be necessary to address the find-
ings of the Administrator under such subsection. 
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date of completion of the review under subsection 
(b), the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate com-
mittees of Congress a report on the actions taken by the 
Administrator pursuant to subsection (c), including any 
recommendations for legislative or administrative actions. 
SEC. 512. AIR SHOWS. 
On an annual basis, the Administrator shall work 
with representatives of Administration-approved air shows, 
the general aviation community, and stadiums and other 
large outdoor events and venues to identify and resolve, to 
the maximum extent practicable, scheduling conflicts be-
429 
tween Administration-approved air shows and large out-
door events and venues where— 
(1) flight restrictions will be imposed pursuant 
to section 521 of title V of division F of Public Law 
108–199 (118 Stat. 343); or 
(2) any other restriction will be imposed pursu-
ant to Federal Aviation Administration Flight Data 
Center Notice to Airmen 4/3621 (or any successor no-
tice to airmen). 
SEC. 513. PART 91 REVIEW, REFORM, AND STREAMLINING. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE.—Not later than 
90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator shall establish a task force comprised of representa-
tives of the general aviation industry who regularly perform 
part 91 operations, labor unions (including those rep-
resenting FAA aviation safety inspectors and FAA aviation 
safety engineers), manufacturers, and the Government to— 
(1) conduct an assessment of the FAA oversight 
and authorization processes and requirements for air-
craft under part 91; and 
(2) make recommendations to streamline the ap-
plicable authorization and approval processes, im-
prove safety, and reduce regulatory cost burdens and 
delays for the FAA and aircraft owners and operators 
who operate pursuant to part 91.
430 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the assessment and 
making recommendations under subsection (a), the task 
force shall consider— 
(1) process reforms and improvements to allow 
the FAA to review and approve applications in a fair 
and timely fashion; 
(2) the appropriateness of requiring an author-
ization for each experimental aircraft rather than 
using a broader all-makes-and-models approach; 
(3) ways to improve the timely response to letters 
of authorization applications for aircraft owners and 
operators who operate pursuant to part 91, including 
setting deadlines and granting temporary or auto-
matic authorizations if deadlines are missed by the 
FAA; 
(4) methods for enhancing the effective use of del-
egation systems; 
(5) methods for training the FAA’s field office 
employees in risk-based and safety management sys-
tem oversight; and 
(6) such other matters related to streamlining 
part 91 authorization and approval processes as the 
task force considers appropriate. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—
432 
SEC. 514. AIRCRAFT LEASING. 
Section 44112(b) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘on land or water’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘operational’’ before ‘‘control’’. 
SEC. 515. PILOTS SHARING FLIGHT EXPENSES WITH PAS-
SENGERS. 
(a) GUIDANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall make publicly available, in a clear and concise 
format, advisory guidance that describes how a pilot 
may share flight expenses with passengers in a man-
ner consistent with Federal law, including regula-
tions. 
(2) EXAMPLES INCLUDED.—The guidance shall 
include examples of— 
(A) flights for which pilots and passengers 
may share expenses; 
(B) flights for which pilots and passengers 
may not share expenses; 
(C) the methods of communication that pi-
lots and passengers may use to arrange flights 
for which expenses are shared; and
433 
(D) the methods of communication that pi-
lots and passengers may not use to arrange 
flights for which expenses are shared. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date on which guidance is made publicly available 
under subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall submit to the appropriate com-
mittees of Congress a report analyzing Federal policy 
with respect to pilots sharing flight expenses with 
passengers. 
(2) EVALUATIONS INCLUDED.—The report sub-
mitted under paragraph (1) shall include an evalua-
tion of— 
(A) the rationale for such Federal policy; 
(B) safety and other concerns related to pi-
lots sharing flight expenses with passengers; and 
(C) benefits related to pilots sharing flight 
expenses with passengers. 
SEC. 516. TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall permit a 
covered air carrier to operate to or from a location in a 
noncontiguous State without a Terminal Aerodrome Fore-
cast or Meteorological Aerodrome Report if—
434 
(1) such location is determined to be under vis-
ual meteorological conditions; 
(2) a current Area Forecast, supplemented by 
other local weather observations or reports, is avail-
able; and 
(3) an alternate airport that has an available 
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast and weather report is 
specified. 
(b) PROCEDURES.—A covered air carrier shall— 
(1) have approved procedures for dispatch or re-
lease and enroute weather evaluation; and 
(2) operate under instrument flight rules enroute 
to the destination. 
(c) LIMITATION.—Without a written finding of neces-
sity, based on objective and historical evidence of imminent 
threat to safety, the Administrator shall not promulgate 
any operation specification, policy, or guidance document 
pursuant to this section that is more restrictive than, or 
requires procedures that are not expressly stated in, the reg-
ulations. 
(d) COVERED AIR CARRIER DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘covered air carrier’’ means an air carrier 
operating in a noncontiguous State under part 121 of title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations.
435 
SEC. 517. PUBLIC AIRCRAFT ELIGIBLE FOR LOGGING 
FLIGHT TIMES. 
The Administrator shall issue regulations modifying 
section 61.51(j)(4) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, 
so as to include aircraft under the direct operational control 
of forestry and fire protection agencies as public aircraft 
eligible for logging flight times. 
SEC. 518. AIRCRAFT REGISTRY OFFICE. 
The Administrator shall designate employees at the 
Aircraft Registry Office in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as 
excepted employees in the event of a shutdown or emergency 
furlough to ensure that the office remains open for the dura-
tion of the lapse in Federal Government appropriations to 
the Federal Aviation Administration. 
SEC. 519. FAA DATA TRANSPARENCY. 
Section 45303 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) DATA TRANSPARENCY.— 
‘‘(1) AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES INITIAL DATA RE-
PORT.— 
‘‘(A) INITIAL
REPORT.—Not later than 6 
months after the date of enactment of the FAA 
Reauthorization Act of 2018, the Administrator 
and the Chief Operating Officer of the Air Traf-
fic Organization shall, based upon the most re-
cently available full fiscal year data, complete
436 
the following calculations for each segment of air 
traffic services users: 
‘‘(i) The total costs allocable to the use 
of air traffic services for that segment dur-
ing such fiscal year. 
‘‘(ii) The total revenues received from 
that segment during such fiscal year. 
‘‘(B) VALIDATION OF MODEL.— 
‘‘(i) REVIEW AND DETERMINATION.— 
Not later than 3 months after completion of 
the initial report required under subpara-
graph (A), the inspector general of the De-
partment of Transportation shall review 
and determine the validity of the model 
used by the Administrator and the Chief 
Operating Officer to complete the calcula-
tions required under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(ii) VALIDATION
PROCESS.—In the 
event that the inspector general determines 
that the model used by the Administrator 
and the Chief Operating Officer to complete 
the calculations required by subparagraph 
(A) is not valid— 
‘‘(I) the inspector general shall 
provide the Administrator and Chief
437 
Operating Officer recommendations on 
how to revise the model; 
‘‘(II) the Administrator and the 
Chief Operating Officer shall complete 
the calculations required by subpara-
graph (A) utilizing the revised model 
and resubmit the revised initial report 
required under subparagraph (A) to 
the inspector general; and 
‘‘(III) not later than 3 months 
after completion of the revised initial 
report required under subparagraph 
(A), the inspector general shall review 
and determine the validity of the re-
vised model used by the Administrator 
and the Chief Operating Officer to 
complete the calculations required by 
subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(iii) ACCESS TO DATA.—The Admin-
istrator and the Chief Operating Officer 
shall provide the inspector general of the 
Department of Transportation with unfet-
tered access to all data produced by the cost 
accounting system operated and maintained 
pursuant to subsection (e).
438 
‘‘(C) REPORT
TO
CONGRESS.—Not later 
than 60 days after completion of the review and 
receiving a determination that the model used is 
valid under subparagraph (B), the Adminis-
trator and the Chief Operating Officer shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure, the Committee on Appropriations, 
and the Committee on Ways and Means of the 
House of Representatives, and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the 
Committee on Appropriations, and the Com-
mittee on Finance of the Senate a report describ-
ing the results of the calculations completed 
under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(D) PUBLICATION.—Not later than 60 
days after submission of the report required 
under subparagraph (C), the Administrator and 
Chief Operating Officer shall publish the initial 
report, including any revision thereto if required 
as a result of the validation process for the 
model. 
‘‘(2) AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES BIENNIAL DATA RE-
PORTING.— 
‘‘(A) BIENNIAL
DATA
REPORTING.—Not 
later than March 31, 2019, and biennially there-
439 
after for 8 years, the Administrator and the 
Chief Operating Officer shall, using the validated 
model, complete the following calculations for 
each segment of air traffic services users for the 
most recent full fiscal year: 
‘‘(i) The total costs allocable to the use 
of the air traffic services for that segment. 
‘‘(ii) The total revenues received from 
that segment. 
‘‘(B) REPORT
TO
CONGRESS.—Not later 
than 15 days after completing the calculations 
under subparagraph (A), the Administrator and 
the Chief Operating Officer shall complete and 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, the Committee on Appropria-
tions, and the Committee on Ways and Means of 
the House of Representatives, and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the 
Committee on Appropriations, and the Com-
mittee on Finance of the Senate a report con-
taining the results of such calculations. 
‘‘(C) PUBLICATION.—Not later than 60 days 
after completing the calculations pursuant to 
subparagraph (A), the Administrator and the
440 
Chief Operating Officer shall publish the results 
of such calculations. 
‘‘(3) SEGMENTS
OF
AIR
TRAFFIC
SERVICES 
USERS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—For purposes of this 
subsection, each of the following shall constitute 
a separate segment of air traffic services users: 
‘‘(i) Passenger air carriers conducting 
operations under part 121 of title 14, Code 
of Federal Regulations. 
‘‘(ii) All-cargo air carriers conducting 
operations under part 121 of such title. 
‘‘(iii) Operators covered by part 125 of 
such title. 
‘‘(iv) Air carriers and operators of pis-
ton-engine aircraft operating under part 
135 of such title. 
‘‘(v) Air carriers and operators of tur-
bine-engine aircraft operating under part 
135 of such title. 
‘‘(vi) Foreign air carriers providing 
passenger air transportation. 
‘‘(vii) Foreign air carriers providing 
all-cargo air transportation.
441 
‘‘(viii) Operators of turbine-engine air-
craft operating under part 91 of such title, 
excluding those operating under subpart (K) 
of such part. 
‘‘(ix) Operators of piston-engine air-
craft operating under part 91 of such title, 
excluding those operating under subpart (K) 
of such part. 
‘‘(x) Operators covered by subpart (K) 
of part 91 of such title. 
‘‘(xi) Operators covered by part 133 of 
such title. 
‘‘(xii) Operators covered by part 136 of 
such title. 
‘‘(xiii) Operators covered by part 137 
of such title. 
‘‘(xiv) Operators of public aircraft that 
qualify under section 40125. 
‘‘(xv) Operators of aircraft that neither 
take off from, nor land in, the United 
States. 
‘‘(B) ADDITIONAL
SEGMENTS.—The Sec-
retary may identify and include additional seg-
ments of air traffic users under subparagraph 
(A) as revenue and air traffic services cost data
442 
become available for that additional segment of 
air traffic services users. 
‘‘(4) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this sub-
section: 
‘‘(A) AIR
TRAFFIC
SERVICES.—The term 
‘air traffic services’ means services— 
‘‘(i) used for the monitoring, directing, 
control, and guidance of aircraft or flows of 
aircraft and for the safe conduct of flight, 
including communications, navigation, and 
surveillance services and provision of aero-
nautical information; and 
‘‘(ii) provided directly, or contracted 
for, by the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion. 
‘‘(B) AIR
TRAFFIC
SERVICES
USER.—The 
term ‘air traffic services user’ means any indi-
vidual or entity using air traffic services pro-
vided directly, or contracted for, by the Federal 
Aviation Administration within United States 
airspace or international airspace delegated to 
the United States.’’.
443 
SEC. 520. INTRA-AGENCY COORDINATION. 
Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall implement a policy 
that— 
(1) designates the Associate Administrator for 
Commercial Space Transportation as the primary li-
aison between the commercial space transportation 
industry and the Administration; 
(2) recognizes the necessity of, and set forth proc-
esses for, launch license and permit holder coordina-
tion with the Air Traffic Organization on matters in-
cluding— 
(A) the use of air navigation facilities; 
(B) airspace safety; and 
(C) planning of commercial space launch 
and launch support activities; 
(3) designates a single point of contact within 
the Air Traffic Organization who is responsible for— 
(A) maintaining letters of agreement be-
tween a launch license or permit holder and a 
Federal Aviation Administration facility; 
(B) making such letters of agreement avail-
able to the Associate Administrator for Commer-
cial Space Transportation;
444 
(C) ensuring that a facility that has entered 
into such a letter of agreement is aware of and 
fulfills its responsibilities under the letter; and 
(D) liaising between the Air Traffic Organi-
zation and the Associate Administrator for Com-
mercial Space Transportation on any matter re-
lating to such a letter of agreement; and 
(4) requires the Associate Administrator for 
Commercial Space Transportation to facilitate, upon 
the request of a launch license or permit holder— 
(A) coordination between a launch license 
and permit holder and the Air Traffic Organiza-
tion; and 
(B) the negotiation of letters of agreement 
between a launch license or permit holder and a 
Federal Aviation Administration facility or the 
Air Traffic Organization. 
SEC. 521. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES FRANCHISE FUND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date of enactment of this section, the inspector general of 
the Department of Transportation shall initiate an audit 
of the Administrative Services Franchise Fund of the FAA 
(in this section referred to as the ‘‘Franchise Fund’’). 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the audit pursu-
ant to subsection (a), the inspector general shall—
445 
(1) review the history, intended purpose, and ob-
jectives of the Franchise Fund; 
(2) describe and assess each program, service, or 
activity that uses the Franchise Fund, including— 
(A) the agencies or government bodies that 
use each program, service, or activity; 
(B) the number of employees, including full- 
time equivalents and contractors, associated with 
each program, service, or activity; 
(C) the costs associated with the employees 
described in subparagraph (B) and the extent to 
which such costs are covered by Federal appro-
priations or Franchise Fund revenue; 
(D) the revenue, expenses, and profits or 
losses associated with each program, service, or 
activity; 
(E) overhead rates associated with each pro-
gram, service, or activity; and 
(F) a breakdown of the revenue collected 
from services provided to the FAA, Department 
of Transportation, other Federal entities, and 
non-Federal entities; 
(3) assess the FAA’s governance and oversight of 
the Franchise Fund and the programs, service, and 
activities that use the Franchise Fund, including the
446 
use of internal and publicly available performance 
metrics; 
(4) evaluate the current and historical unobli-
gated and unexpended balances of the Franchise 
Fund; and 
(5) assess the degree to which FAA policies and 
controls associated with the Franchise Fund conform 
with generally accepted accounting principles, Fed-
eral policies, best practices, or other guidance relating 
to revolving funds. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of initiation of the audit described in subsection (a), the 
inspector general shall submit to the appropriate commit-
tees of Congress a report on the results of the audit, includ-
ing findings and recommendations. 
SEC. 522. AUTOMATIC DEPENDENT SURVEILLANCE-BROAD-
CAST. 
(a) REPEAL.—Subsection (b) of section 211 of the FAA 
Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 
note) is repealed. 
(b) REQUIREMENT.—The Administrator shall ensure 
that any regulation issued pursuant to such subsection has 
no force or effect.
447 
SEC. 523. CONTRACT WEATHER OBSERVERS. 
Section 2306(b) of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Se-
curity Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–190; 130 Stat. 641) 
is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 524. REGIONS AND CENTERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 44507 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking the section heading and inserting 
‘‘Regions and centers’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘The Civil Aeromedical Insti-
tute’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) CIVIL
AEROMEDICAL
INSTITUTE.—The Civil 
Aeromedical Institute’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) WILLIAM J. HUGHES TECHNICAL CENTER.—The 
Secretary of Transportation shall define the roles and re-
sponsibilities of the William J. Hughes Technical Center 
in a manner that is consistent with the defined roles and 
responsibilities of the Civil Aeromedical Institute under 
subsection (a).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 
445 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 
the item relating to section 44507 and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘44507. Regions and centers.’’.
448 
SEC. 525. GEOSYNTHETIC MATERIALS. 
The Administrator, to the extent practicable, shall en-
courage the use of durable, resilient, and sustainable mate-
rials and practices, including the use of geosynthetic mate-
rials and other innovative technologies, in carrying out the 
activities of the Federal Aviation Administration. 
SEC. 526. NATIONAL AIRMAIL MUSEUM. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(1) in 1930, commercial airmail carriers began 
operations at Smith Field in Fort Wayne, Indiana; 
(2) the United States lacks a national museum 
dedicated to airmail; and 
(3) the airmail hangar at Smith Field in Fort 
Wayne, Indiana— 
(A) will educate the public on the role of 
airmail in aviation history; and 
(B) honor the role of the hangar in the his-
tory of the Nation’s airmail service. 
(b) DESIGNATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The airmail museum located 
at the Smith Field in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is des-
ignated as the ‘‘National Airmail Museum’’. 
(2) EFFECT
OF
DESIGNATION.—The national 
museum designated by this section is not a unit of the 
National Park System and the designation of the Na-
tional Airmail Museum shall not require or permit
449 
Federal funds to be expended for any purpose related 
to that national memorial. 
SEC. 527. STATUS OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN FAA AND LIT-
TLE ROCK PORT AUTHORITY. 
(a) BRIEFING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 30 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall provide to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
briefing on the agreement between the FAA and the Little 
Rock Port Authority to relocate the Little Rock Very High 
Frequency Omnidirectional Range with Collocated Tactical 
Air Control and Navigation (LIT VORTAC). 
(b) BRIEFING
CONTENTS.—The briefing required 
under subsection (a) shall include the following: 
(1) The status of the efforts by the Federal Avia-
tion Administration to relocate the LIT VORTAC. 
(2) The long-term and short-term budget projec-
tions for the relocation project. 
(3) A description of and timeline for each phase 
of the relocation project. 
(4) A description of and explanation for the re-
quired location radius. 
(5) A description of work completed by the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration as of the date of the 
briefing.
450 
SEC. 528. BRIEFING ON AIRCRAFT DIVERSIONS FROM LOS 
ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO HAW-
THORNE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall provide a briefing to 
appropriate committees of Congress on diversions of air-
craft from Los Angeles International Airport to Hawthorne 
Municipal Airport, also known as Jack Northrop Field, in 
the City of Hawthorne, California. This briefing shall cover 
at least the previous one-year period and include the total 
number of aircraft diversions, the average number of diver-
sions per day, the types of aircraft diverted, and the reasons 
for the diversions. 
SEC. 529. TFR REPORT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act (except as described in subsection 
(d)), the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report containing the results of 
the study described in subsection (b). 
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Administrator shall 
make recommendations based on— 
(1) an analysis of— 
(A) the economic effects of temporary flight 
restrictions, particularly temporary flight re-
strictions issued pursuant to section 91.141 of 
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, on airports
451 
or aviation-related businesses located or based in 
an area covered by the temporary flight restric-
tion; and 
(B) potential options and recommendations 
for mitigating identified negative economic ef-
fects on airports or aviation-related businesses 
located or based in an area frequently covered by 
a temporary flight restriction; and 
(2) an analysis of the potential for using secu-
rity procedures similar to those described in the 
Maryland Three Program (allowing properly vetted 
private pilots to fly to, from, or between the three gen-
eral aviation airports closest to the National Capital 
Region) during temporary flight restrictions in the 
following airports: 
(A) Solberg Airport. 
(B) Somerset Airport. 
(C) Palm Beach County Park Airport (also 
known as Lantana Airport). 
(c) COLLABORATION.—In making the recommenda-
tions described in subsection (b), the Administrator shall 
consult with— 
(1) industry stakeholders; and 
(2) the head of any other agency that, in the Ad-
ministrator’s determination, is a stakeholder agency.
452 
(d) SPECIAL DEADLINE.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
containing the results of the portion of the study described 
in subsection (b)(1)(A). 
SEC. 530. AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES AT AVIATION EVENTS. 
(a) REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND RE-
LATED SUPPORT.—The Administrator shall provide air 
traffic services and aviation safety support for large, 
multiday aviation events, including airshows and fly-ins, 
where the average daily number of manned operations were 
1,000 or greater in at least one of the preceding two years, 
without the imposition or collection of any fee, tax, or other 
charge for that purpose. Amounts for the provision of such 
services and support shall be derived from amounts appro-
priated or otherwise available for the Administration. 
(b) DETERMINATION OF SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO 
BE PROVIDED.—In determining the services and support 
to be provided for an aviation event for purposes of sub-
section (a), the Administrator shall take into account the 
following: 
(1) The services and support required to meet 
levels of activity at prior events, if any, similar to the 
event.
453 
(2) The anticipated need for services and support 
at the event. 
SEC. 531. APPLICATION OF VETERANS’ PREFERENCE TO 
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION PER-
SONNEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. 
Section 40122(g)(2)(B) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘3304(f), to the extent consistent 
with the Federal Aviation Administration’s status as 
an excepted service agency,’’ before ‘‘3308-3320’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘3330a, 3330b, 3330c, and 
3330d,’’ before ‘‘relating’’. 
SEC. 532. CLARIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR LIVING 
HISTORY FLIGHTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other law or 
regulation, in administering sections 61.113(c), 91.9, 
91.315, 91.319(a)(1), 91.319(a)(2), 119.5(g), and 119.21(a) 
of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor 
regulations), the Administrator shall allow an aircraft 
owner or operator to accept monetary or in-kind donations 
for a flight operated by a living history flight experience 
provider, if the aircraft owner or operator has— 
(1) volunteered to provide such transportation; 
and
454 
(2) notified any individual that will be on the 
flight, at the time of inquiry about the flight, that the 
flight operation is for charitable purposes and is not 
subject to the same requirements as a commercial 
flight. 
(b) CONDITIONS TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY.—The 
Administrator, consistent with current standards of the Ad-
ministration for such operations, shall impose minimum 
standards with respect to training and flight hours for oper-
ations conducted by an owner or operator of an aircraft 
providing living history flight experience operations, in-
cluding mandating that the pilot in command of such air-
craft hold a commercial pilot certificate with instrument 
rating and be current and qualified with respect to all rat-
ings or authorizations applicable to the specific aircraft 
being flown to ensure the safety of flight operations de-
scribed in subsection (a). 
(c) LIVING HISTORY FLIGHT EXPERIENCE PROVIDER 
DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘living history flight 
experience provider’’ means an aircraft owner, aircraft op-
erator, or organization that provides, arranges, or otherwise 
fosters living history flight experiences for the purpose of 
fulfilling its mission.
455 
SEC. 533. REVIEW AND REFORM OF FAA PERFORMANCE 
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY PANEL.—Not later 
than 90 days after the date of enactment of this section, 
the Secretary of Transportation shall establish an advisory 
panel comprising no more than 7 independent, nongovern-
mental experts in budget, finance, or personnel management 
to review and evaluate the effectiveness of the FAA’s per-
sonnel management system and performance management 
program for employees not covered by collective bargaining 
agreements. 
(b) REVIEW, EVALUATION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
The advisory panel shall, at a minimum— 
(1) review all appropriate FAA orders, policies, 
procedures, guidance, and the Human Resources Pol-
icy Manual; 
(2) review any applicable reports regarding 
FAA’s personnel management system, including re-
ports of the Department of Transportation Office of 
Inspector General, Government Accountability Office, 
and National Academy of Public Administration, and 
determine the status of recommendations made in 
those reports; 
(3) review the personnel management system of 
any other agency or governmental entity with a simi-
456 
lar system to the FAA for best practices with regard 
to personnel management; 
(4) assess the unique personnel authorities grant-
ed to the FAA, determine whether the FAA has taken 
full advantage of those authorities, and identify those 
authorities the FAA has not fully taken advantage of; 
(5) review and determine the overall effectiveness 
of the FAA’s compensation, bonus pay, performance 
metrics, and evaluation processes for employees not 
covered by collective bargaining agreements; 
(6) review whether existing performance metrics 
and bonus pay practices align with the FAA’s mis-
sion and significantly improve the FAA’s provision of 
air traffic services, implementation of air traffic con-
trol modernization initiatives, and accomplishment of 
other FAA operational objectives; 
(7) identify the highest, lowest, and average com-
plete compensation for each position of employees not 
covered by collective bargaining agreements; 
(8) survey interested parties and stakeholders, 
including representatives of the aviation industry, for 
their views and recommendations regarding improve-
ments to the FAA’s personnel management system 
and performance management program;
457 
(9) develop recommendations to address the find-
ings of the work done pursuant to paragraphs (1) 
through (7), and to address views and recommenda-
tions raised by interested parties pursuant to para-
graph (8); and 
(10) develop recommendations to improve the 
FAA’s personnel management system and perform-
ance management program, including the compensa-
tion, bonus pay, performance metrics, and evaluation 
processes, for employees not covered by collective bar-
gaining agreements. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after initiating 
the review and evaluation pursuant to subsection (a), the 
advisory panel shall submit a report on the results of the 
review and evaluation and its recommendations to the Sec-
retary, the Administrator, the appropriate committees of 
Congress. 
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 3 months 
after submittal of the report pursuant to subsection (c), the 
Administrator shall transmit to the appropriate committees 
of Congress a report summarizing the findings of the advi-
sory panel that— 
(1) contains an explanation of how the Adminis-
trator will implement the recommendations of the ad-
458 
visory panel and measure the effectiveness of the rec-
ommendations; and 
(2) specifies any recommendations that the Ad-
ministrator will not implement and the reasons for 
not implementing such recommendations. 
(e) SUNSET.—The advisory panel shall terminate on 
the date that is 60 days after the transmittal of the report 
pursuant to subsection (d). 
SEC. 534. NEXTGEN DELIVERY STUDY. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 180 days after the enact-
ment of this Act, the inspector general of the Department 
of Transportation shall initiate a study of the potential im-
pacts of a significantly delayed, significantly diminished, 
or completely failed delivery of the Next Generation Air 
Transportation System modernization initiative by the 
Federal Aviation Administration, including impacts to the 
air traffic control system and the national airspace system 
as a whole. 
(b) SCOPE OF STUDY.—In carrying out the study 
under subsection (a), the inspector general shall assess the 
Administration’s performance related to the NextGen mod-
ernization initiative, including— 
(1) the potential impacts on the operational effi-
ciency of our aviation system;
459 
(2) an analysis of potential economic losses and 
stranded investments directly related to NextGen; 
(3) an analysis of the potential impacts to our 
international competitiveness in aviation innovation; 
(4) an analysis of the main differences that 
would be seen in our air traffic control system; 
(5) the potential impacts on the flying public, 
including potential impacts to flight times, fares, and 
delays in the air and on the ground; 
(6) the effects on supply chains reliant on air 
transportation of cargo; 
(7) the potential impacts on the long-term bene-
fits promised by NextGen; 
(8) an analysis of the potential impacts on air-
craft noise and flight paths; 
(9) the potential changes in separation stand-
ards, fuel consumption, flight paths, block times, and 
landing procedures or lack thereof; 
(10) the potential impacts on aircraft taxi times 
and aircraft emissions or lack thereof; 
(11) a determination of the total potential costs 
and logistical challenges of the failure of NextGen, in-
cluding a comparison of the potential loss of the re-
turn on public and private sector investment related 
to NextGen, as compared to other available invest-
460 
ment alternatives, between December 12, 2003, and 
the date of enactment of this Act; and 
(12) other matters arising in the course of the 
study. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
initiation of the study under subsection (a), the inspector 
general shall submit to the appropriate committees of Con-
gress a report on the results of the study. 
SEC. 535. STUDY ON ALLERGIC REACTIONS. 
Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall— 
(1) study the prevalence of allergic reactions on 
board flights, whether airlines universally report reac-
tions to the Federal Aviation Administration, and the 
frequency of first aid inventory checks to ensure medi-
cine to prevent anaphylactic shock is in an aircraft; 
and 
(2) submit a report to the Committees on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure, Energy and Commerce, 
and Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
and the Committees on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation, Health, Education, Labor, and Pen-
sions, and Appropriations of the Senate.
461 
SEC. 536. OXYGEN MASK DESIGN STUDY. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall conduct a study to re-
view and evaluate the design and effectiveness of commer-
cial aircraft oxygen masks. In conducting the study, the Ad-
ministrator shall determine whether the current design of 
oxygen masks is adequate, and whether changes to the de-
sign could increase correct passenger usage of the masks. 
SEC. 537. AIR CARGO STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of 
the United States shall begin a study of international air 
cargo services among the United States and Central Amer-
ican, South American, and Caribbean Basin countries, 
that— 
(1) analyzes the supply of and demand for air 
cargo transportation services among the United States 
and Central American, South American, and Carib-
bean Basin countries; 
(2) analyzes the supply of and demand for air 
cargo transportation services between— 
(A) the United States, Central American, 
South American, and Caribbean Basin countries; 
and 
(B) African and European countries;
462 
(3) identifies the busiest routes in terms of cargo 
capacity and frequency of air service; 
(4) identifies any air carrier or foreign air car-
rier hubs in Central American, South American, and 
Caribbean Basin countries at which a significant 
amount of air cargo is sorted, handled, or consoli-
dated for transportation to or from the United States; 
(5) identifies any air carrier or foreign air car-
rier hubs in the United States at which a significant 
amount of air cargo is sorted, handled, or consoli-
dated for transportation to or from Central Amer-
ican, South American, and Caribbean Basin coun-
tries. 
(6) identifies any significant gaps in the air 
cargo services or cargo air carrier networks— 
(A) among the countries described in para-
graph (2)(A); 
(B) between such countries and African 
countries; and 
(C) between such countries and European 
countries; and 
(7) assesses the possible impact of the establish-
ment of an air carrier hub in Puerto Rico at which 
air cargo is sorted, handled, or consolidated for trans-
463 
portation to or from the United States, including the 
impact on— 
(A) the employment rate and economy of 
Puerto Rico; 
(B) domestic and foreign air transportation 
of cargo; 
(C) United States competitiveness in the air 
transportation of cargo; 
(D) air cargo operations at other airports 
in the United States; and 
(E) domestic air carrier employment. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 12 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on 
the results of the study described in subsection (a). 
(c) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘Caribbean 
Basin countries’’ has the same meaning given the term 
‘‘Caribbean Basin country’’ in section 501 of the Food for 
Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1737). 
SEC. 538. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON PREVENTING THE 
TRANSPORTATION 
OF 
DISEASE-CARRYING 
MOSQUITOES AND OTHER INSECTS ON COM-
MERCIAL AIRCRAFT. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Trans-
portation and the Secretary of Agriculture should, in co-
464 
ordination and consultation with the World Health Organi-
zation, develop a framework and guidance for the use of 
safe, effective, and nontoxic means of preventing the trans-
portation of disease-carrying mosquitoes and other insects 
on commercial aircraft. 
SEC. 539. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
(a) AIRPORT CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS AT 
CONGESTED AIRPORTS.—Section 40104(c) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘section 47176’’ 
and inserting ‘‘section 47175’’. 
(b) 
PASSENGER
FACILITY
CHARGES.—Section 
40117(a)(5) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ‘‘charge or charge’’ and inserting ‘‘charge’’. 
(c) OVERFLIGHTS
OF
NATIONAL
PARKS.—Section 
40128(a)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ‘‘under part 91 of the title 14,’’ and inserting 
‘‘under part 91 of title 14,’’. 
(d) PLANS TO ADDRESS NEEDS OF FAMILIES OF PAS-
SENGERS INVOLVED
IN FOREIGN AIR CARRIER ACCI-
DENTS.—Section 41313(c)(16) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘An assurance that the foreign 
air carrier’’ and inserting ‘‘An assurance that’’. 
(e) OPERATIONS
OF CARRIERS.—The analysis for 
chapter 417 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by
465 
striking the item relating to section 41718 and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘41718. Special rules for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.’’. 
(f) SCHEDULES FOR CERTAIN TRANSPORTATION OF 
MAIL.—Section 41902(a) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘section 41906’’ and inserting ‘‘sec-
tion 41905’’. 
(g) WEIGHING MAIL.—Section 41907 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘and’’ and all 
that follows through ‘‘administrative’’ and inserting ‘‘and 
administrative’’. 
(h) STRUCTURES INTERFERING WITH AIR COMMERCE 
OR NATIONAL SECURITY.—Section 44718(b)(1) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by 
striking ‘‘air navigation facilities and equipment’’ 
and inserting ‘‘air or space navigation facilities and 
equipment’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (A)— 
(A) in clause (v) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(B) by redesignating clause (vi) as clause 
(vii); and 
(C) by inserting after clause (v) the fol-
lowing:
466 
‘‘(vi) the impact on launch and reentry 
for launch and reentry vehicles arriving or 
departing from a launch site or reentry site 
licensed by the Secretary of Transportation; 
and’’. 
(i) FLIGHT
ATTENDANT
CERTIFICATION.—Section 
44728 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘chapter’’ and 
inserting ‘‘title’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d)(3), by striking ‘‘is’’ and in-
serting ‘‘be’’. 
(j) FEES INVOLVING AIRCRAFT NOT PROVIDING AIR 
TRANSPORTATION.—Section 45302 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘44703(f)(2)’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘44703(g)(2)’’. 
(k) SCHEDULE OF FEES.—Section 45301(a)(1) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘United 
States government’’ and inserting ‘‘United States Govern-
ment’’. 
(l) CLASSIFIED EVIDENCE.—Section 46111(g)(2)(A) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘(18 
U.S.C. App.)’’ and inserting ‘‘(18 U.S.C. App.))’’. 
(m) CHAPTER 465.—The analysis for chapter 465 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the 
following item: 
‘‘46503. Repealed.’’.
467 
(n) 
ALLOWABLE
COST
STANDARDS.—Section 
47110(b)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) 
in 
subparagraph 
(B), 
by 
striking 
‘‘compatability’’ and inserting ‘‘compatibility’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (D)(i), by striking ‘‘cli-
mactic’’ and inserting ‘‘climatic’’. 
(o) DEFINITION
OF QUALIFIED HUBZONE SMALL 
BUSINESS CONCERN.—Section 47113(a)(3) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘(15 U.S.C. 
632(o))’’ and inserting ‘‘(15 U.S.C. 632(p))’’. 
(p) SPECIAL APPORTIONMENT CATEGORIES.—Section 
47117(e)(1)(B) is amended by striking ‘‘at least’’ and in-
serting ‘‘At least’’. 
(q) SOLICITATION
AND CONSIDERATION
OF COM-
MENTS.—Section 47171(l) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘4371’’ and inserting ‘‘4321’’. 
(r) OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE.—Section 48104 
is amended by striking ‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPRO-
PRIATIONS.—the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’. 
(s) ADJUSTMENTS TO COMPENSATION FOR SIGNIFI-
CANTLY INCREASED COSTS.—Section 426 of the FAA Mod-
ernization and Reform Act of 2012 is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a) (49 U.S.C. 41737 note) by 
striking ‘‘Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘Secretary of 
Transportation’’; and
468 
(2) in subsection (c) (49 U.S.C. 41731 note) by 
striking ‘‘the Secretary may waive’’ and inserting 
‘‘the Secretary of Transportation may waive’’. 
(t) AIRCRAFT
DEPARTURE
QUEUE
MANAGEMENT 
PILOT PROGRAM.—Section 507(a) of the FAA Moderniza-
tion and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 44505 note) is 
amended by striking ‘‘section 48101(a)’’ and inserting ‘‘sec-
tion 48101(a) of title 49, United States Code,’’. 
SEC. 540. REPORT ON ILLEGAL CHARTER FLIGHTS. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress an analysis of 
reports filed during the 10-year period preceding such date 
of enactment through the illegal charter hotline of the FAA 
and other sources that includes— 
(1) what followup action the Department of 
Transportation or the Administration takes when a 
report of illegal charter operations is received; 
(2) how the Department of Transportation or the 
Administration decides to allocate resources; 
(3) challenges the Department of Transportation 
or the Administration face in identifying illegal oper-
ators; and
469 
(4) recommendations for improving the efforts of 
the Department of Transportation or the Administra-
tion to combat illegal charter carrier operations. 
SEC. 541. USE OF NASA’S SUPER GUPPY AIRCRAFT FOR 
COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT. 
Notwithstanding section 40125 of title 49, United 
States Code, the Aero Spacelines Super Guppy Turbine B- 
377-SGT aircraft, serial number 0004, may be used to pro-
vide the transport, for compensation or hire, of oversized 
space launch vehicle components or oversized spacecraft 
components while continuing to qualify as a public aircraft 
operation pursuant to section 40102(a)(41)(A) of title 49, 
United States Code, if— 
(1) the aircraft is owned and operated by the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration; 
(2) commercial operation is limited to operations 
conducted wholly in United States airspace; and 
(3) no commercially available domestic air 
transport alternative exists. 
SEC. 542. PROHIBITED AIRSPACE ASSESSMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, 
in coordination with appropriate Federal agencies, shall 
conduct an assessment on the security of United States pro-
hibited airspace designated by the Federal Aviation Admin-
470 
istration, with a focus on permanent prohibited airspace 
(in this section referred to as ‘‘United States prohibited air-
space’’). 
(b) MINIMUM COMPONENTS.—The assessment devel-
oped under subsection (a) shall be unclassified but may con-
tain a classified annex. It shall, at a minimum, include— 
(1) a summary of the number and types of viola-
tions of United States prohibited airspace and histor-
ical trends of such numbers and types; 
(2) an assessment of the processes used to estab-
lish United States prohibited airspace; 
(3) an assessment of manned and unmanned air-
craft, current and future, with the ability to penetrate 
United States prohibited airspace undetected; 
(4) an assessment of the current and future ca-
pabilities of the United States to mitigate threats to 
United States prohibited airspace; 
(5) recommendations on how to improve security 
of United States prohibited airspace; and 
(6) a process to modify section 99.7 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations, to expand the Adminis-
trator’s authority to establish temporary flight restric-
tions in cooperation with State and local law enforce-
ment agencies, or as required for purposes of national
471 
security, homeland security, or law enforcement sup-
port. 
SEC. 543. REPORT ON MULTIAGENCY USE OF AIRSPACE AND 
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the 
covered committees of Congress a report documenting efforts 
made toward improving processes to resolve persistent chal-
lenges for special use airspace requests in support of, or as-
sociated with, short notice testing requirements at Major 
Range and Test Facility Bases, including the establishment 
of temporary military operations areas used for conducting 
short-term, scheduled exercises. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report required under subsection 
(a) shall include the following elements: 
(1) Analysis of previous efforts to streamline in-
ternal processes associated with the designation of 
temporary military operations areas at Major Range 
and Test Facility Bases and the use of such areas for 
scheduled exercises. 
(2) Analysis of progress made to ensure consist-
ency of environmental review, including impact anal-
ysis, associated environmental studies, or consulta-
tion, while complying with the National Environ-
472 
mental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) 
and other environmental requirements. 
(3) Identification of challenges, if any, in com-
plying with the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969. 
(4) A description of airspace requirements, cur-
rent test and training needs statements completed 
during the 10-year period preceding the report, and 
future 5-year requirements, including all temporary 
military operating areas, special use airspaces, in-
strument routes, visual routes, and unfulfilled user re-
quirements. 
(5) Proposed options and solutions to overcome 
identified challenges, if any, including identifying 
whether— 
(A) a solution or solutions can be incor-
porated within the existing Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration and Department of Defense Memo-
randum of Understanding; or 
(B) changes to current law are required. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS.—The 
term ‘‘covered committees of Congress’’ means—
473 
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation and the Committee on 
Armed Services of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and the Committee on Armed 
Services of the House of Representatives. 
(2) MAJOR RANGE AND TEST FACILITY BASE.— 
The term ‘‘Major Range and Test Facility Base’’ has 
the meaning given the term in section 196(i) of title 
10, United States Code. 
(3) SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE.—The term ‘‘special 
use airspace’’ means certain designations of airspace 
designated by the Federal Aviation Administration, 
as administered by the Secretary of Defense. 
SEC. 544. AGENCY PROCUREMENT REPORTING REQUIRE-
MENTS. 
Section 40110(d) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) ANNUAL
REPORT
ON
THE
PURCHASE
OF 
FOREIGN MANUFACTURED ARTICLES.— 
‘‘(A) REPORT.—(i) Not later than 90 days 
after the end of the fiscal year, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall submit a report to Congress 
on the dollar amount of acquisitions subject to 
the Buy American Act made by the agency from
474 
entities that manufacture the articles, materials, 
or supplies outside of the United States in such 
fiscal year. 
‘‘(ii) The report required by clause (i) shall 
only include acquisitions with total value exceed-
ing the micro-purchase level. 
‘‘(B) CONTENTS.—The report required by 
subparagraph (A) shall separately indicate— 
‘‘(i) the dollar value of any articles, 
materials, or supplies purchased that were 
manufactured outside of the United States; 
and 
‘‘(ii) a summary of the total procure-
ment funds spent on goods manufactured in 
the United States versus funds spent on 
goods manufactured outside of the United 
States. 
‘‘(C) AVAILABILITY OF REPORT.—The Sec-
retary shall make the report under subparagraph 
(A) publicly available on the agency’s website 
not later than 30 days after submission to Con-
gress.’’. 
SEC. 545. FAA ORGANIZATIONAL REFORM. 
(a) CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER.—Section 106(s) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
475 
‘‘(s) CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(A) APPOINTMENT.—There shall be a Chief 
Technology Officer appointed by the Chief Oper-
ating Officer. The Chief Technology Officer shall 
report directly to the Chief Operating Officer. 
‘‘(B) MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS.—The Chief 
Technology Officer shall have— 
‘‘(i) at least 10 years experience in en-
gineering management or another relevant 
technical management field; and 
‘‘(ii) knowledge of or experience in the 
aviation industry. 
‘‘(C) REMOVAL.—The Chief Technology Of-
ficer shall serve at the pleasure of the Adminis-
trator. 
‘‘(D) RESTRICTION.—The Chief Technology 
Officer may not also be the Deputy Adminis-
trator. 
‘‘(2) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The responsibilities of 
the Chief Technology Officer shall include— 
‘‘(A) ensuring the proper operation, mainte-
nance, and cybersecurity of technology systems 
relating to the air traffic control system across 
all program offices of the Administration;
476 
‘‘(B) coordinating the implementation, op-
eration, maintenance, and cybersecurity of tech-
nology programs relating to the air traffic con-
trol system with the aerospace industry and 
other Federal agencies; 
‘‘(C) reviewing and providing advice to the 
Secretary, the Administrator, and the Chief Op-
erating Officer on the Administration’s budget, 
cost-accounting system, and benefit-cost analyses 
with respect to technology programs relating to 
the air traffic control system; 
‘‘(D) consulting with the Administrator on 
the Capital Investment Plan of the Administra-
tion prior to its submission to Congress; 
‘‘(E) developing an annual air traffic con-
trol system technology operation and mainte-
nance plan that is consistent with the annual 
performance targets established under paragraph 
(4); and 
‘‘(F) ensuring that the air traffic control 
system architecture remains, to the maximum 
extent practicable, flexible enough to incorporate 
future technological advances developed and di-
rectly procured by aircraft operators. 
‘‘(3) COMPENSATION.—
477 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Chief Technology 
Officer shall be paid at an annual rate of basic 
pay to be determined by the Administrator, in 
consultation with the Chief Operating Officer. 
The annual rate may not exceed the annual com-
pensation paid under section 102 of title 3. The 
Chief Technology Officer shall be subject to the 
postemployment provisions of section 207 of title 
18 as if the position of Chief Technology Officer 
were described in section 207(c)(2)(A)(i) of that 
title. 
‘‘(B) BONUS.—In addition to the annual 
rate of basic pay authorized by subparagraph 
(A), the Chief Technology Officer may receive a 
bonus for any calendar year not to exceed 30 
percent of the annual rate of basic pay, based 
upon the Administrator’s evaluation of the Chief 
Technology Officer’s performance in relation to 
the performance targets established under para-
graph (4). 
‘‘(4) ANNUAL PERFORMANCE TARGETS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator and 
the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with 
the Chief Technology Officer, shall establish 
measurable annual performance targets for the
478 
Chief Technology Officer in key operational 
areas. 
‘‘(B) REPORT.—The Administrator shall 
transmit to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate a report de-
scribing the annual performance targets estab-
lished under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(5) 
ANNUAL
PERFORMANCE
REPORT.—The 
Chief Technology Officer shall prepare and transmit 
to the Secretary of Transportation, the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate an annual 
report containing— 
‘‘(A) detailed descriptions and metrics of 
how successful the Chief Technology Officer was 
in meeting the annual performance targets estab-
lished under paragraph (4); and 
‘‘(B) other information as may be requested 
by the Administrator and the Chief Operating 
Officer.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
479 
(1) Section 709(a)(3)(L) of the Vision 100–Cen-
tury of Aviation Reauthorization Act (49 U.S.C. 
40101 note) is amended by striking ‘‘Chief NextGen 
Officer’’ and inserting ‘‘Chief Technology Officer’’. 
(2) Section 804(a)(4)(A) of the FAA Moderniza-
tion and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 44501 note) 
is amended by striking ‘‘Chief NextGen Officer’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Chief Technology Officer’’. 
SEC. 546. FAA CIVIL AVIATION REGISTRY UPGRADE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration shall complete covered up-
grades of the Administration’s Civil Aviation Registry (in 
this section referred to as the ‘‘Registry’’). 
(b) COVERED UPGRADE DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘covered upgrades’’ means— 
(1) the digitization of nondigital Registry infor-
mation, including paper documents, microfilm im-
ages, and photographs, from an analog or nondigital 
format to a digital format; 
(2) the digitalization of Registry manual and 
paper-based processes, business operations, and func-
tions by leveraging digital technologies and a broader 
use of digitized data;
480 
(3) the implementation of systems allowing a 
member of the public to submit any information or 
form to the Registry and conduct any transaction 
with the Registry by electronic or other remote means; 
and 
(4) allowing more efficient, broader, and remote 
access to the Registry. 
(c) APPLICABILITY.—The requirements of subsection 
(a) shall apply to the entire Civil Aviation Registry, includ-
ing the Aircraft Registration Branch and the Airmen Cer-
tification Branch. 
(d) MANUAL SURCHARGE.—Chapter 453 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘§ 45306. Manual surcharge 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later 3 years after the date 
of enactment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, the 
Administrator shall impose and collect a surcharge on a 
Civil Aviation Registry transaction that— 
‘‘(1) is conducted in person at the Civil Aviation 
Registry; 
‘‘(2) could be conducted, as determined by the 
Administrator, with the same or greater level of effi-
ciency by electronic or other remote means; and
481 
‘‘(3) is not related to research or other non-com-
mercial activities. 
‘‘(b) MAXIMUM SURCHARGE.—A surcharge imposed 
and collected under subsection (a) shall not exceed twice the 
maximum fee the Administrator is authorized to charge for 
the registration of an aircraft, not used to provide air 
transportation, after the transfer of ownership under section 
45302(b)(2). 
‘‘(c) CREDIT TO ACCOUNT AND AVAILABILITY.—Monies 
collected from a surcharge imposed under subsection (a) 
shall be treated as monies collected under section 45302 and 
subject to the terms and conditions set forth in section 
45302(d).’’. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after date of en-
actment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the cov-
ered upgrades required under subsection (a) are complete, 
the Administrator shall submit a report to the appropriate 
committees of Congress describing— 
(1) the schedule for the covered upgrades to the 
Registry; 
(2) the office responsible for the implementation 
of the such covered upgrades; 
(3) the metrics being used to measure progress in 
implementing the covered upgrades; and
482 
(4) the status of the covered upgrades as of the 
date of the report. 
SEC. 547. ENHANCED AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall estab-
lish a pilot program to provide air traffic control services 
on a preferential basis to aircraft equipped with certain 
NextGen avionics that— 
(1) lasts at least 2 years; and 
(2) operates in at least 3 suitable airports. 
(b) DURATION OF DAILY SERVICE.—The air traffic 
control services provided under the pilot program estab-
lished under subsection (a) shall occur for at least 3 con-
secutive hours between 0600 and 2200 local time during 
each day of the pilot program. 
(c) AIRPORT SELECTION.—The Administrator shall 
designate airports for participation in the pilot program 
after consultation with aircraft operators, manufacturers, 
and airport sponsors. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.— 
(1) CERTAIN
NEXTGEN
AVIONICS.—The term 
‘‘certain NextGen avionics’’ means those avionics and 
related software designated by the Administrator after 
consultations with aircraft operators and manufac-
turers.
483 
(2) PREFERENTIAL
BASIS.—The term ‘‘pref-
erential basis’’ means— 
(A) prioritizing aircraft equipped with cer-
tain NextGen avionics during a Ground Delay 
Program by assigning them fewer minutes of 
delay relative to other aircraft based upon prin-
ciples established after consultation with aircraft 
operators and manufacturers; or 
(B) sequencing aircraft equipped with cer-
tain NextGen avionics ahead of other aircraft in 
the Traffic Flow Management System to the 
maximum extent consistent with safety. 
(e) SUNSET.—The pilot program established under 
subsection (a) shall terminate on September 30, 2023. 
(f) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
on which the pilot program terminates, the Administrator 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
report on the results of the pilot program. 
SEC. 548. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON ARTIFICIAL INTEL-
LIGENCE IN AVIATION. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Administration 
should, in consultation with appropriate Federal agencies 
and industry stakeholders, periodically review the use or 
proposed use of artificial intelligence technologies within the 
aviation system and assess whether the Administration
484 
needs a plan regarding artificial intelligence standards and 
best practices to carry out its mission. 
SEC. 549. STUDY ON CYBERSECURITY WORKFORCE OF FAA. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall enter into 
an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to 
conduct a study on the cybersecurity workforce of the Ad-
ministration in order to develop recommendations to in-
crease the size, quality, and diversity of such workforce, in-
cluding cybersecurity researchers and specialists. 
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days 
after the completion of the study conducted under subsection 
(a), the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate com-
mittees of Congress a report on the results of such study. 
SEC. 550. TREATMENT OF MULTIYEAR LESSEES OF LARGE 
AND TURBINE-POWERED MULTIENGINE AIR-
CRAFT. 
The Secretary of Transportation shall revise such regu-
lations as may be necessary to ensure that multiyear lessees 
and owners of large and turbine-powered multiengine air-
craft are treated equally for purposes of joint ownership 
policies of the FAA.
485 
SEC. 551. EMPLOYEE ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RE-
SPONSE PLANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, each air carrier operating 
under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (in 
this section referred to as a ‘‘part 121 air carrier’’), shall 
submit to the Administrator for review and acceptance an 
Employee Assault Prevention and Response Plan related to 
the customer service agents of the air carrier and that is 
developed in consultation with the labor union representing 
such agents. 
(b) CONTENTS OF PLAN.—An Employee Assault Pre-
vention and Response Plan submitted under subsection (a) 
shall include the following: 
(1) Reporting protocols for air carrier customer 
service agents who have been the victim of a verbal or 
physical assault. 
(2) Protocols for the immediate notification of 
law enforcement after an incident of verbal or phys-
ical assault committed against an air carrier cus-
tomer service agent. 
(3) Protocols for informing Federal law enforce-
ment with respect to violations of section 46503 of 
title 49, United States Code. 
(4) Protocols for ensuring that a passenger in-
volved in a violent incident with a customer service
486 
agent of an air carrier is not allowed to move through 
airport security or board an aircraft until appro-
priate law enforcement has had an opportunity to as-
sess the incident and take appropriate action. 
(5) Protocols for air carriers to inform pas-
sengers of Federal laws protecting Federal, airport, 
and air carrier employees who have security duties 
within an airport. 
(c) EMPLOYEE TRAINING.—A part 121 air carrier 
shall conduct initial and recurrent training for all employ-
ees, including management, of the air carrier with respect 
to the plan required under subsection (a), which shall in-
clude training on de-escalating hostile situations, written 
protocols on dealing with hostile situations, and the report-
ing of relevant incidents. 
(d) STUDY.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall— 
(1) complete a study of crimes of violence (as de-
fined in section 16 of title 18, United States Code) 
committed against airline customer service represent-
atives while they are performing their duties and on 
airport property; and
487 
(2) submit the findings of the study, including 
any recommendations, to the appropriate committees 
of Congress. 
(e) GAP ANALYSIS.—The study required under sub-
section (d) shall include a gap analysis to determine if 
State and local laws and resources are adequate to deter 
or otherwise address the crimes of violence described in sub-
section (a) and recommendations on how to address any 
identified gaps. 
SEC. 552. STUDY ON TRAINING OF CUSTOMER-FACING AIR 
CARRIER EMPLOYEES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation 
shall conduct a study on the training received by customer- 
facing employees of air carriers. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The study shall include— 
(1) an analysis of the training received by cus-
tomer-facing employees with respect to the manage-
ment of disputes on aircraft; 
(2) an examination of how institutions of higher 
learning, in coordination with air carriers, customer- 
facing employees and their representatives, consumer 
advocacy 
organizations, 
and 
other 
stakeholders, 
could—
488 
(A) review such training and related prac-
tices; 
(B) produce recommendations; and 
(C) if determined appropriate, provide sup-
plemental training; and 
(3) the effectiveness of air carriers’ Employee As-
sault Prevention and Response Plans required under 
section 551. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the ap-
propriate committees of Congress a report on the results of 
the study. 
SEC. 553. AUTOMATED WEATHER OBSERVING SYSTEMS POL-
ICY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall— 
(1) update automated weather observing systems 
standards to maximize the use of new technologies 
that promote the reduction of equipment or mainte-
nance cost for non-Federal automated weather observ-
ing systems, including the use of remote monitoring 
and maintenance, unless demonstrated to be ineffec-
tive;
489 
(2) review, and if necessary update, existing 
policies in accordance with the standards developed 
under paragraph (1); and 
(3) establish a process under which appropriate 
onsite airport personnel or an aviation official may, 
with appropriate manufacturer training or alter-
native training as determined by the Administrator, 
be permitted to conduct the minimum triannual pre-
ventative maintenance checks under the advisory cir-
cular for non-Federal automated weather observing 
systems (AC 150/5220–16E) and any other similar, 
successor checks. 
(b) PERMISSION.—Permission to conduct the min-
imum triannual preventative maintenance checks described 
under subsection (a)(3) and any similar, successor checks 
shall not be withheld but for specific cause. 
(c) STANDARDS.—In updating the standards under 
subsection (a)(1), the Administrator shall— 
(1) ensure the standards are performance-based; 
(2) use risk analysis to determine the accuracy 
of the automated weather observing systems outputs 
required for pilots to perform safe aircraft operations; 
and
490 
(3) provide a cost-benefit analysis to determine 
whether the benefits outweigh the cost for any require-
ment not directly related to safety. 
(d) AIP ELIGIBILITY OF AWOS EQUIPMENT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 
law, the Administrator is authorized to and shall 
waive any positive benefit-cost ratio requirement for 
automated weather-observing system equipment under 
subchapter I of chapter 471, of title 49, United States 
Code, if— 
(A) the airport sponsor or State, as appli-
cable, certifies that a grant for such automated 
weather observing systems equipment under that 
chapter will assist an applicable airport to re-
spond to regional emergency needs, including 
medical, firefighting, and search and rescue 
needs; 
(B) the Secretary determines, after consulta-
tion with the airport sponsor or State, as appli-
cable, that the placement of automated weather- 
observing equipment at the airport will not 
cause unacceptable radio frequency congestion; 
and 
(C) the other requirements under that chap-
ter are met.
491 
(2) APPLICABILITY TO LOW POPULATION DENSITY 
STATES.—This subsection is applicable only to air-
ports located in states with a population density, 
based on the most recent decennial census, of 50 or 
fewer persons per square mile. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than September 30, 2025, the 
Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees 
of Congress a report on the implementation of the require-
ments under this section. 
SEC. 554. PRIORITIZING AND SUPPORTING THE HUMAN 
INTERVENTION MOTIVATION STUDY (HIMS) 
PROGRAM 
AND 
THE 
FLIGHT 
ATTENDANT 
DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROGRAM (FADAP). 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administration shall continue 
to prioritize and support the Human Intervention Motiva-
tion Study (HIMS) program for flight crewmembers and 
the Flight Attendant Drug and Alcohol Program (FADAP) 
for flight attendants. 
(b) STUDY AND RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall enter into an agreement with the Trans-
portation Research Board (in this subsection referred 
to as the ‘‘Board’’) under which the Board shall— 
(A) conduct a study on the Human Inter-
vention Motivation Study (HIMS) program, the
492 
Flight Attendant Drug and Alcohol Program 
(FADAP), and any other drug and alcohol pro-
grams within the other modal administrations 
within the Department of Transportation; 
(B) to the extent justified by the findings 
from the study described in subparagraph (A), 
make recommendations to the Federal Aviation 
Administration and other administrations with-
in the Department of Transportation on how to 
implement programs, or changes to existing pro-
grams, that seek to help transportation workers 
get treatment for drug and alcohol abuse and re-
turn to work; and 
(C) upon the completion of the study de-
scribed in subparagraph (A), submit to the ap-
propriate committees of Congress a report on 
such study, including the Board’s findings, con-
clusions, and recommendations. 
(2) REQUIREMENT.—In conducting the study 
under paragraph (1), the Board shall identify— 
(A) best policies and practices within exist-
ing programs; and 
(B) best prevention, early intervention, and 
return to work practices specifically around pre-
493 
scription medication abuse, with a special em-
phasis on employee use of opioids. 
SEC. 555. COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS OF EQUIPMENT 
RENTAL. 
(a) AGENCY ANALYSIS OF EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided for under 
subsection (d), the head of each executive agency shall 
acquire equipment using the method of acquisition 
most advantageous to the Federal Government based 
on a case-by-case analysis of comparative costs and 
other factors, including those factors listed in section 
7.401 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. 
(2) METHODS OF ACQUISITION.—The methods of 
acquisition to be compared in the analysis under 
paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum, pur-
chase, short-term rental or lease, long-term rental or 
lease, interagency acquisition, and acquisition agree-
ments with a State or a local government as described 
in subsection (c). 
(3) AMENDMENT OF FEDERAL ACQUISITION REG-
ULATION.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Federal Acquisition 
Regulatory Council shall amend the Federal Acquisi-
tion Regulation to implement the requirement of this 
subsection, including a determination of the factors
494 
for executive agencies to consider for purposes of per-
forming the analysis under paragraph (1). 
(4) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
subsection shall be construed to affect the requirements 
of chapter 37 of title 41, United States Code, section 
2305 of title 10, United States Code, or section 1535 
of title 31, United States Code. 
(b) DATE
OF IMPLEMENTATION.—The analysis de-
scribed in subsection (a) shall be applied to contracts for 
the acquisition of equipment entered into on or after the 
date that the Federal Acquisition Regulation is amended 
pursuant to paragraph (3) of such subsection. 
(c) ACQUISITION AGREEMENTS WITH STATES
OR 
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, including chapter 37 of title 41, 
United States Code, the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 631 et seq.), and section 2305 of title 10, 
United States Code, the head of an executive agency 
may enter into an acquisition agreement authorized 
by this section directly with a State or a local govern-
ment if the agency head determines that the agree-
ment otherwise satisfies the requirements of subsection 
(a)(1).
495 
(2) TERMS
AND
CONDITIONS.—Any agreement 
under paragraph (1) shall contain such terms and 
conditions as the head of the agency deems necessary 
or appropriate to protect the interests of the United 
States. 
(d) EXCEPTIONS.—The analysis otherwise required 
under subsection (a) is not required— 
(1) when the President has issued an emergency 
declaration or a major disaster declaration pursuant 
to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); 
(2) in other emergency situations if the agency 
head makes a determination that obtaining such 
equipment is necessary in order to protect human life 
or property; or 
(3) when otherwise authorized by law. 
(e) STUDY OF AGENCY ANALYSES.—Not later than 2 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comp-
troller General of the United States shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Secu-
rity and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a comprehen-
sive report on the decisions made by the executive agencies 
with the highest levels of acquisition spending, and a sam-
ple of executive agencies with lower levels of acquisition
496 
spending, to acquire high-value equipment by lease, rental, 
or purchase pursuant to subpart 7.4 of the Federal Acquisi-
tion Regulation. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) EXECUTIVE
AGENCY.—The term ‘‘executive 
agency’’ has the meaning given that term in section 
102 of title 40, United States Code. 
(2) 
INTERAGENCY
ACQUISITION.—The 
term 
‘‘interagency acquisition’’ has the meaning given that 
term in section 2.101 of the Federal Acquisition Reg-
ulation. 
(3) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 6501 of title 31, United 
States Code. 
(4) LOCAL GOVERNMENT.—The term ‘‘local gov-
ernment’’ means any unit of local government within 
a State, including a county, municipality, city, bor-
ough, town, township, parish, local public authority, 
school district, special district, intrastate district, 
council of governments, or regional or interstate gov-
ernment entity, and any agency or instrumentality of 
a local government. 
SEC. 556. AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall ini-
497 
tiate a rulemaking to increase the duration of aircraft reg-
istrations for noncommercial general aviation aircraft to 
7 years. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In promulgating the notice of 
proposed rulemaking described in subsection (a), the Ad-
ministrator may consider any events, circumstances, 
changes in any ownership entity or structure, or other con-
dition that would necessitate renewal prior to the expira-
tion of an aircraft registration. 
SEC. 
557. 
REQUIREMENT 
TO 
CONSULT 
WITH 
STAKE-
HOLDERS IN DEFINING SCOPE AND REQUIRE-
MENTS FOR FUTURE FLIGHT SERVICE PRO-
GRAM. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall consult with stake-
holders in defining the scope and requirements for any new 
Future Flight Service Program of the Administration to be 
used in a competitive source selection for the next flight 
service contract with the Administration. 
SEC. 558. FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION PERFORM-
ANCE MEASURES AND TARGETS. 
(a) PERFORMANCE MEASURES.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Transportation shall establish performance measures re-
498 
lating to the management of the Administration, which 
shall, at a minimum, include measures to assess— 
(1) the timely and cost-effective completion of 
projects; and 
(2) the effectiveness of the Administration in 
achieving the goals described in section 47171 of title 
49, United States Code. 
(b) PERFORMANCE TARGETS.—Not later than 180 
days after the date on which the Secretary establishes per-
formance measures in accordance with subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall establish performance targets relating to 
each of the measures described in that subsection. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the inspector general of the Depart-
ment of Transportation shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report describing the progress of 
the Secretary in meeting the performance targets established 
under subsection (b). 
SEC. 559. REPORT ON PLANS FOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL 
FACILITIES IN THE NEW YORK CITY AND NEW-
ARK REGION. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the Administration’s 
staffing and scheduling plans for air traffic control facili-
499 
ties in the New York City and Newark region for the 1- 
year period beginning on such date of enactment. 
SEC. 560. WORK PLAN FOR THE NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY/ 
PHILADELPHIA METROPOLITAN AREA AIR-
SPACE PROJECT. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall develop and publish in 
the Federal Register a work plan for the New York/New Jer-
sey/Philadelphia Metropolitan Area Airspace Project. 
SEC. 561. ANNUAL REPORT ON INCLUSION OF DISABLED 
VETERAN LEAVE IN PERSONNEL MANAGE-
MENT SYSTEM. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, and not less frequently than annually there after 
until the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall publish on a publicly 
accessible internet website a report on— 
(1) the effect of the amendments made by sub-
sections (a) and (b) of section 2 of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration Veteran Transition Improvement 
Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–242), on the Adminis-
tration’s work force; and 
(2) the number of disabled veterans benefitting 
from such subsections.
500 
SEC. 562. ENHANCED SURVEILLANCE CAPABILITY. 
Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall identify and implement 
a strategy to— 
(1) advance near-term and long-term uses of en-
hanced surveillance systems, such as space-based 
ADS–B, within United States airspace or inter-
national airspace delegated to the United States; 
(2) exercise leadership on setting global stand-
ards for the separation of aircraft in oceanic airspace 
by working with— 
(A) foreign counterparts of the Adminis-
trator in the International Civil Aviation Orga-
nization and its subsidiary organizations; 
(B) other international organizations and 
fora; and 
(C) the private sector; and 
(3) ensure the participation of the Administra-
tion in the analysis of trials of enhanced surveillance 
systems, such as space-based ADS–B, performed by 
foreign air navigation service providers in North At-
lantic airspace.
501 
SEC. 563. ACCESS OF AIR CARRIERS TO INFORMATION 
ABOUT APPLICANTS TO BE PILOTS FROM NA-
TIONAL DRIVER REGISTER. 
Section 30305(b)(8) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(8)(A) An individual who is seeking employ-
ment by an air carrier as a pilot may request the 
chief driver licensing official of a State to provide in-
formation about the individual under subsection (a) 
of this section to the prospective employer of the indi-
vidual, the authorized agent of the prospective em-
ployer, or the Secretary of Transportation. 
‘‘(B) An air carrier that is the prospective em-
ployer of an individual described in subparagraph 
(A), or an authorized agent of such an air carrier, 
may request and receive information about that indi-
vidual from the National Driver Register through an 
organization approved by the Secretary for purposes 
of requesting, receiving, and transmitting such infor-
mation directly to the prospective employer of such an 
individual or the authorized agent of the prospective 
employer. This paragraph shall be carried out in ac-
cordance with paragraphs (2) and (11) of section 
44703(h) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 
U.S.C. 1681 et seq.).
502 
‘‘(C) Information may not be obtained from the 
National Driver Register under this paragraph if the 
information was entered in the Register more than 5 
years before the request unless the information is 
about a revocation or suspension still in effect on the 
date of the request.’’. 
SEC. 564. REGULATORY REFORM. 
Section 106(p)(5) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Committee, or’’ and inserting 
‘‘Committee,’’; and 
(2) by striking the period at the end and insert-
ing ‘‘, or such aerospace rulemaking committees as the 
Secretary shall designate.’’. 
SEC. 565. AVIATION FUEL. 
(a) USE OF UNLEADED AVIATION GASOLINE.—The 
Administrator shall allow the use of an unleaded aviation 
gasoline in an aircraft as a replacement for a leaded gaso-
line if the Administrator— 
(1) determines that the unleaded aviation gaso-
line qualifies as a replacement for an approved leaded 
gasoline; 
(2) identifies the aircraft and engines that are 
eligible to use the qualified replacement unleaded gas-
oline; and
503 
(3) adopts a process (other than the traditional 
means of certification) to allow eligible aircraft and 
engines to operate using qualified replacement un-
leaded gasoline in a manner that ensures safety. 
(b) TIMING.—The Administrator shall adopt the proc-
ess described in subsection (a)(3) not later than 180 days 
after the later of— 
(1) the date on which the Administration com-
pletes the Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative; or 
(2) the date on which the American Society for 
Testing and Materials publishes a production speci-
fication for an unleaded aviation gasoline. 
(c) TYPE CERTIFICATION.—Existing regulatory mech-
anisms by which an unleaded aviation gasoline can be ap-
proved for use in an engine or aircraft by Type or Supple-
mental Type Certificate for individual aircraft and engine 
types or by Approved Model List Supplemental Type Cer-
tificate providing coverage for a broad range of applicable 
types of aircraft or engines identified in the application 
shall continue to be fully available as a means of approving 
and bringing an unleaded aviation gasoline into general 
use in the United States. Such approvals shall be issued 
when the Administrator finds that the aircraft or engine 
performs properly and meets the applicable regulations and 
minimum standards under the normal certification process.
504 
SEC. 566. RIGHT TO PRIVACY WHEN USING AIR TRAFFIC 
CONTROL SYSTEM. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Ad-
ministrator shall, upon request of a private aircraft owner 
or operator, block the registration number of the aircraft 
of the owner or operator from any public dissemination or 
display, except in data made available to a Government 
agency, for the noncommercial flights of the owner or oper-
ator. 
SEC. 567. FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION WORK-
FORCE REVIEW. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of 
the United States shall conduct a review to assess the work-
force and training needs of the FAA in the anticipated 
budgetary environment. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the review, the Comp-
troller General shall— 
(1) identify the long-term workforce and training 
needs of the FAA workforce; 
(2) assess the impact of automation, digitaliza-
tion, and artificial intelligence on the FAA workforce; 
(3) analyze the skills and qualifications required 
of the FAA workforce for successful performance in the 
current and future projected aviation environment;
505 
(4) review current performance incentive policies 
of the FAA, including awards for performance; 
(5) analyze ways in which the FAA can work 
with industry and labor, including labor groups rep-
resenting the FAA workforce, to establish knowledge- 
sharing opportunities between the FAA and the avia-
tion industry regarding new equipment and systems, 
best practices, and other areas of interest; and 
(6) develop recommendations on the most effec-
tive qualifications, training programs (including e- 
learning training), and performance incentive ap-
proaches to address the needs of the future projected 
aviation regulatory system in the anticipated budg-
etary environment. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on 
the results of the review. 
SEC. 568. REVIEW OF APPROVAL PROCESS FOR USE OF 
LARGE AIR TANKERS AND VERY LARGE AIR 
TANKERS FOR WILDLAND FIREFIGHTING. 
(a) REVIEW
AND IMPROVEMENT
OF CURRENT AP-
PROVAL PROCESS.—The Chief of the Forest Service, in con-
sultation with the Administrator, shall conduct a review of 
the process used by the Forest Service to approve the use
506 
of large air tankers and very large air tankers for wildland 
firefighting for the purpose of— 
(1) determining the current effectiveness, safety, 
and consistency of the approval process; 
(2) developing recommendations for improving 
the effectiveness, safety, and consistency of the ap-
proval process; and 
(3) assisting in developing standardized next- 
generation requirements for air tankers used for fire-
fighting. 
(b) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Chief of the For-
est Service shall submit to Congress a report describing the 
outcome of the review conducted under subsection (a). 
SEC. 569. FAA TECHNICAL WORKFORCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall— 
(1) identify and assess barriers to attracting, de-
veloping, training, and retaining a talented workforce 
in the areas of systems engineering, architecture, sys-
tems integration, digital communications, and cyber-
security; 
(2) develop a comprehensive plan to attract, de-
velop, train, and retain talented individuals in those 
fields; and
507 
(3) identify existing authorities available to the 
Administrator, through personnel reform, to attract, 
develop, and retain this talent. 
(b) REPORT.—The Administrator shall submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a report on the progress 
made toward implementing the requirements under sub-
section (a). 
SEC. 570. STUDY ON AIRPORT CREDIT ASSISTANCE. 
(a) REVIEW.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall conduct a review to determine whether a 
Federal credit assistance program would be beneficial 
and feasible for airport-related projects as defined in 
section 40117(a) of title 49, United States Code. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out the re-
view under paragraph (1), the Secretary may con-
sider— 
(A) expanding eligibility under an existing 
Federal credit assistance program to include 
such projects; and 
(B) establishing a new credit assistance 
program for such projects. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date 
of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
508 
House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Com-
mittee on the Environment and Public Works of the Senate 
a report on the results of the review carried out under sub-
section (a). The report shall include a description of— 
(1) the benefits and other effects; 
(2) potential projects; 
(3) the budgetary impacts, including an estimate 
of— 
(A) the average annual loan volume; 
(B) the average subsidy rate; and 
(C) any loss of Federal revenue; 
(4) impacts on existing programs; 
(5) the administrative costs; and 
(6) any personnel changes. 
SEC. 571. SPECTRUM AVAILABILITY. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) The Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2015 (47 
U.S.C. 921 note) requires the Secretary of Commerce 
to identify 30 megahertz of electromagnetic spectrum 
below the frequency of 3 gigahertz to be reallocated to 
non-Federal use, to shared Federal and non-Federal 
use, or to a combination thereof. 
(2) The Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2015 (47 
U.S.C. 921 note) authorized the Director of the Office
509 
of Management and Budget to use amounts made 
available through the Spectrum Relocation Fund to 
make payments to Federal entities for research and 
development, engineering studies, economic analyses, 
and other activities intended to improve the efficiency 
and effectiveness of Federal spectrum use in order to 
make such spectrum available for reallocation for 
non-Federal use, for shared Federal and non-Federal 
use, or for a combination thereof. 
(3) The Federal Aviation Administration, in co-
ordination with the Department of Commerce, the De-
partment of Defense, and the Department of Home-
land Security, established the Spectrum Efficient Na-
tional Surveillance Radar (referred to in this section 
as ‘‘SENSR’’) Program to assess the feasibility of 
consolidating certain long-range, short-range, and 
weather radar systems in order to make available the 
1300–1350 megahertz band. 
(4) The SENSR Program received approval and 
approximately $71,500,000 from Office of Manage-
ment and Budget on June 2, 2017, to proceed with 
Phase I of the SENSR Spectrum Pipeline Plan, 
which will focus on requirements and concept develop-
ment as well as documenting expected costs and infor-
mation for all impacted Federal spectrum systems.
510 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that the SENSR Program of the FAA should continue its 
assessment of the feasibility of making the 1300–1350 mega-
hertz band of electromagnetic spectrum available for non- 
Federal use. 
SEC. 572. SPECIAL REVIEW RELATING TO AIR SPACE 
CHANGES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Aviation Manage-
ment Advisory Council established under section 106(p) of 
title 49, United States Code (in this section referred to as 
the ‘‘Council’’) shall initiate a special review of the Federal 
Aviation Administration. 
(b) REVIEW.—The special review of the Administra-
tion required under subsection (a) shall consist of the fol-
lowing: 
(1) A review of the practices and procedures of 
the Federal Aviation Administration for developing 
proposals with respect to changes in regulations, poli-
cies, or guidance of the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion relating to airspace that affect airport oper-
ations, airport capacity, the environment, or commu-
nities in the vicinity of airports, including an assess-
ment of the extent to which there is consultation, or
511 
a lack of consultation, with respect to such pro-
posals— 
(A) between and among the affected ele-
ments of the Federal Aviation Administration, 
including the Air Traffic Organization, the Of-
fice of Airports, the Flight Standards Service, 
the Office of NextGen, and the Office of Energy 
and Environment; and 
(B) between the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration and affected entities, including airports, 
aircraft operators, communities, and State and 
local governments. 
(2) Recommendations for revisions to such prac-
tices and procedures to improve communications and 
coordination between and among affected elements of 
the Federal Aviation Administration and with other 
affected entities with respect to proposals described in 
paragraph (1) and the potential effects of such pro-
posals. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the special review, 
the Council shall consult with— 
(1) air carriers, including passenger and cargo 
air carriers; 
(2) general aviation, including business aviation 
and fixed wing aircraft and rotorcraft;
512 
(3) airports of various sizes and types; 
(4) exclusive bargaining representatives of air 
traffic controllers certified under section 7111 of title 
5, United States Code; and 
(5) State aviation officials. 
(d) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
on the results of the special review conducted by the Council, 
including a description of the comments, recommendations, 
and dissenting views received from the Council and a de-
scription of how the Administrator plans to implement the 
recommendations of the Council. 
SEC. 573. REIMBURSEMENT FOR IMMIGRATION INSPEC-
TIONS. 
Section 286(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1356(i)) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘, train,’’ after ‘‘commercial air-
craft’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘, rail line,’’ after ‘‘airport’’. 
SEC. 574. FAA EMPLOYEES IN GUAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall use existing authorities to negotiate an agreement that 
shall be renegotiated after no sooner than 3 years with the 
Secretary of Defense—
513 
(1) to authorize Federal Aviation Administra-
tion employees assigned to Guam, their spouses, and 
their dependent children access to Department of De-
fense health care facilities located in Guam on a 
space available basis; and 
(2) to provide for payments by the Federal Avia-
tion Administration to the Department of Defense for 
the administrative and any other costs associated 
with— 
(A) enrolling Federal Aviation Administra-
tion employees assigned to Guam, their spouses, 
and their dependent children in any Department 
of Defense health care facility necessary to allow 
access pursuant to paragraph (1); and 
(B) third-party billing for any medical 
costs incurred as a result of Federal Aviation 
Administration employees, their spouses, or their 
dependent children accessing and receiving med-
ical treatment or services at a Department of 
Defense health care facility located in Guam. 
(b) FUNDS SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATIONS.—Funds for 
payments by the Federal Aviation Administration described 
in subsection (a)(2) are subject to the availability of 
amounts specifically provided in advance for that purpose 
in appropriations Acts.
514 
(c) REPORT ON ACCESS TO FACILITIES OF THE DE-
PARTMENT OF DEFENSE IN GUAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation and the Secretary of Defense shall 
jointly submit a report to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representa-
tives, the Committee on Commerce of the Senate, and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives on eligibility for and 
access to Department of Defense support facilities by 
Federal Aviation Administration employees in the 
U.S. territory of Guam. 
(2) SCOPE.—The report required under para-
graph (1) shall: 
(A) Evaluate the ability of Department of 
Defense support facilities in Guam to adequately 
serve current military personnel and dependent 
populations. 
(B) Determine how any substantial in-
creases to military personnel and dependent pop-
ulations in Guam would impact the ability of 
existing Department of Defense support facilities 
to provide services for military personnel and de-
pendents stationed in Guam.
515 
(C) Provide recommendations on any im-
provements to existing Department of Defense fa-
cilities which may be needed to ensure those fa-
cilities in Guam can support an increased popu-
lation of military personnel and dependent pop-
ulation in Guam. 
(D) Consider the impact of expanded access 
to Department of Defense support facilities in 
Guam to Federal Aviation Administration em-
ployees and their families on the ability of those 
facilities to provide services to military per-
sonnel and their families. 
(E) Recognize the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration’s vital role as the sole provider of radar 
air traffic control services for aircraft traversing 
into and out of the airspace near and above 
Guam the vast majority of which are military 
operations, Department of Defense aircraft, or 
other aircraft traveling to Guam in order to 
interact with Department of Defense facilities. 
(F) Review the existing authorities author-
izing eligibility and access for non-military per-
sonnel and their dependents to Department of 
Defense support facilities, including health care
516 
facilities, commissaries, and exchanges, outside 
the continental United States. 
(G) Determine the applicability of those ex-
isting authorities to Department of Defense sup-
port facilities in the U.S. territory of Guam. 
(H) Outline the specific conditions on 
Guam, which may necessitate access to Depart-
ment of Defense support facilities in Guam by 
Federal Aviation Administration personnel and 
their families. 
(I) Determine any changes in laws or regu-
lations that may be necessary to authorize Fed-
eral Aviation Administration employees and 
their families access to Department of Defense 
health care facilities, commissaries, and ex-
changes in Guam. 
SEC. 575. GAO STUDY ON AIRLINE COMPUTER NETWORK 
DISRUPTIONS. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
containing a review of the following: 
(1) Direct and indirect effects on passengers, if 
any, resulting from significant computer network dis-
ruptions of part 121 (of title 49, Code of Federal Reg-
517 
ulations) air carriers between January 1, 2014, and 
the date of enactment of this section, including— 
(A) systemwide delays; 
(B) flight cancellations; and 
(C) disrupted or broken itineraries. 
(2) An estimate of any expenses incurred by pas-
sengers during significant computer network disrup-
tions, including— 
(A) meals, lodging, and ancillary expenses 
per persons; 
(B) late hotel check-in or car rental fees; 
(C) missed cruise-ship departures; and 
(D) lost productivity. 
(3) Air carriers’ contracts of carriage and inter-
line agreements to determine if and how air carriers 
accommodate passengers affected by significant com-
puter network disruptions on other air carriers or for-
eign air carriers. 
(4) Whether passengers who have been displaced 
by significant computer network disruptions are fur-
nished with alternative transportation aboard another 
air carrier or foreign air carrier. 
(5) Costs incurred by airports, if any, to meet 
the essential needs of passengers, including increased 
demands on utilities, food concessionaires, restroom
518 
facilities, and security staffing, during significant 
computer network disruptions. 
(6) Other costs, if any, incurred by passengers, 
airports, and other entities as a direct result of sig-
nificant computer network disruptions. 
(7) Processes, plans, and redundancies in place 
at air carriers to respond to and recover from such 
network disruptions. 
SEC. 576. TOWER MARKING. 
Section 2110 of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Secu-
rity Act of 2016 (49 U.S.C. 44718 note) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 2110. TOWER MARKING. 
‘‘(a) APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided by para-
graph (2), not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 or 
the date of availability of the database developed by 
the Administrator pursuant to subsection (c), which-
ever is later, all covered towers shall be either— 
‘‘(A) clearly marked consistent with appli-
cable guidance in the advisory circular of the 
FAA issued December 4, 2015 (AC 70/7460-IL); 
or
519 
‘‘(B) included in the database described in 
subsection (c). 
‘‘(2) METEOROLOGICAL EVALUATION TOWER.—A 
covered tower that is a meteorological evaluation 
tower shall be subject to the requirements of subpara-
graphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1). 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In this section, the following 
definitions apply: 
‘‘(A) COVERED TOWER.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘covered 
tower’ means a structure that— 
‘‘(I) is a meteorological evaluation 
tower, a self-standing tower, or tower 
supported by guy wires and ground 
anchors; 
‘‘(II) is 10 feet or less in diameter 
at the above-ground base, excluding 
concrete footing; 
‘‘(III) at the highest point of the 
structure is at least 50 feet above 
ground level; 
‘‘(IV) at the highest point of the 
structure is not more than 200 feet 
above ground level;
520 
‘‘(V) has accessory facilities on 
which an antenna, sensor, camera, me-
teorological instrument, or other equip-
ment is mounted; and 
‘‘(VI) is located on land that is— 
‘‘(aa) in a rural area; and 
‘‘(bb) used for agricultural 
purposes or immediately adjacent 
to such land. 
‘‘(ii) EXCLUSIONS.—The term ‘covered 
tower’ does not include any structure that— 
‘‘(I) is adjacent to a house, barn, 
electric utility station, or other build-
ing; 
‘‘(II) is within the curtilage of a 
farmstead or adjacent to another build-
ing or visible structure; 
‘‘(III) supports electric utility 
transmission or distribution lines; 
‘‘(IV) is a wind-powered electrical 
generator with a rotor blade radius 
that exceeds 6 feet; 
‘‘(V) is a street light erected or 
maintained by a Federal, State, local, 
or tribal entity;
521 
‘‘(VI) is designed and constructed 
to resemble a tree or visible structure 
other than a tower; 
‘‘(VII) is an advertising billboard; 
‘‘(VIII) is located within the 
right-of-way of a rail carrier, includ-
ing within the boundaries of a rail 
yard, and is used for a railroad pur-
pose; 
‘‘(IX)(aa) is registered with the 
Federal Communications Commission 
under the Antenna Structure Registra-
tion program set forth under part 17 
of title 47, Code of Federal Regula-
tions; and 
‘‘(bb) is determined by the Admin-
istrator to pose no hazard to air navi-
gation; or 
‘‘(X) has already mitigated any 
hazard to aviation safety in accord-
ance with Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration guidance or as otherwise ap-
proved by the Administrator. 
‘‘(B) RURAL AREA.—The term ‘rural area’ 
has the meaning given the term in section
522 
609(a)(5) of the Public Utility Regulatory Poli-
cies Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 918c(a)(5)). 
‘‘(C) AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES.—The term 
‘agricultural purposes’ means farming in all its 
branches and the cultivation and tillage of the 
soil, the production, cultivation, growing, and 
harvesting of any agricultural or horticultural 
commodities performed by a farmer or on a 
farm, or on pasture land or rangeland. 
‘‘(2) OTHER DEFINITIONS.—The Administrator 
shall define such other terms as may be necessary to 
carry out this section. 
‘‘(c) DATABASE.—The Administrator shall— 
‘‘(1) develop a new database, or if appropriate 
use an existing database that meets the requirements 
under this section, that contains the location and 
height of each covered tower that, pursuant to sub-
section (a), the owner or operator of such tower elects 
not to mark (unless the Administrator has determined 
that there is a significant safety risk requiring that 
the tower be marked), except that meteorological eval-
uation towers shall be marked and contained in the 
database; 
‘‘(2) keep the database current to the extent prac-
ticable;
523 
‘‘(3) ensure that any proprietary information in 
the database is protected from disclosure in accord-
ance with law; 
‘‘(4) ensure that, by virtue of accessing the data-
base, users agree and acknowledge that information in 
the database— 
‘‘(A) may only be used for aviation safety 
purposes; and 
‘‘(B) may not be disclosed for purposes 
other than aviation safety, regardless of whether 
or not the information is marked or labeled as 
proprietary or with a similar designation; 
‘‘(5) ensure that the tower information in the 
database is de-identified and that the information 
only includes the location and height of covered tow-
ers and whether the tower has guy wires; 
‘‘(6) ensure that information in the dataset is 
encrypted at rest and in transit and is protected from 
unauthorized access and acquisition; 
‘‘(7) ensure that towers excluded from the defini-
tion 
of 
covered 
tower 
under 
subsection 
(d)(1)(B)(ii)(VIII) must be registered by its owner in 
the database; 
‘‘(8) ensure that a tower to be included in the 
database pursuant to subsection (c)(1) and con-
524 
structed after the date on which the database is fully 
operational is submitted by its owner to the FAA for 
inclusion in the database before its construction; 
‘‘(9) ensure that pilots who intend to conduct 
low-altitude operations in locations described in sub-
section (b)(1)(A)(i)(VI) consult the relevant parts of 
the database before conducting such operations; and 
‘‘(10) make the database available for use not 
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the 
FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. 
‘‘(d) EXCLUSION AND WAIVER AUTHORITIES.—As part 
of a rulemaking conducted pursuant to this section, the Ad-
ministrator— 
‘‘(1) may exclude a class, category, or type of 
tower that is determined by the Administrator, after 
public notice and comment, to not pose a hazard to 
aviation safety; 
‘‘(2) shall establish a process to waive specific 
covered towers from the marking requirements under 
this section as required under the rulemaking if the 
Administrator later determines such tower or towers 
do not pose a hazard to aviation safety; 
‘‘(3) shall consider, in establishing exclusions 
and granting waivers under this subsection, factors 
that may sufficiently mitigate risks to aviation safe-
525 
ty, such as the length of time the tower has been in 
existence or alternative marking methods or tech-
nologies that maintains a tower’s level of conspicuous-
ness to a degree which adequately maintains the safe-
ty of the airspace; and 
‘‘(4) shall consider excluding towers located in a 
State that has enacted tower marking requirements 
according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s 
recommended guidance for the voluntary marking of 
meteorological evaluation towers erected in remote 
and rural areas that are less than 200 feet above 
ground level to enhance the conspicuity of the towers 
for low level agricultural operations in the vicinity of 
those towers. 
‘‘(e) PERIODIC REVIEW.—The Administrator shall, in 
consultation with the Federal Communications Commis-
sion, periodically review any regulations or guidance re-
garding the marking of covered towers issued pursuant to 
this section and update them as necessary, consistent with 
this section, and in the interest of safety of low-altitude air-
craft operations. 
‘‘(f) FCC REGULATIONS.—The Federal Communica-
tions Commission shall amend section 17.7 of title 47, Code 
of Federal Regulations, to require a notification to the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration for any construction or alter-
526 
ation of an antenna structure, as defined in section 17.2(a) 
of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, that is a covered 
tower as defined by this section.’’. 
SEC. 577. MINIMUM DIMENSIONS FOR PASSENGER SEATS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and after providing notice and 
an opportunity for comment, the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration shall issue regulations that 
establish minimum dimensions for passenger seats on air-
craft operated by air carriers in interstate air transpor-
tation or intrastate air transportation, including mini-
mums for seat pitch, width, and length, and that are nec-
essary for the safety of passengers. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—The definitions contained in sec-
tion 40102(a) of title 49, United States Code, apply to this 
section. 
SEC. 578. JUDICIAL REVIEW FOR PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE 
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND APPROVAL 
PROCEDURES. 
Section 330 of title 23, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ‘‘5 States’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2 States’’; and 
(2) in subsection (e)—
527 
(A) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘2 
years’’ and inserting ‘‘150 days as set forth in 
section 139(l)’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)(B)(i), by striking ‘‘2 
years’’ and inserting ‘‘150 days as set forth in 
section 139(l)’’. 
SEC. 579. REGULATORY STREAMLINING. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration shall issue a final regulation revising section 
121.333(c)(3) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, to 
apply only to flight altitudes above flight level 410. 
SEC. 580. SPACEPORTS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS ON STATE SPACEPORT CON-
TRIBUTIONS.—It is the Sense of Congress that— 
(1) State and local government-owned or -oper-
ated spaceports have contributed hundreds of millions 
of dollars in infrastructure improvements to the na-
tional space launch infrastructure, providing the 
United States Government and commercial customers 
with world-class space launch and processing infra-
structure that is necessary to support continued 
American leadership in space; 
(2) State and local government-owned or –oper-
ated spaceports play a critical role in providing resil-
528 
iency and redundancy in the national launch infra-
structure to support national security and civil gov-
ernment capabilities, and should be recognized as a 
critical infrastructure in Federal strategy and plan-
ning; 
(3) continued State and local government invest-
ments at launch and reentry facilities should be en-
couraged and to the maximum extent practicable sup-
ported in Federal policies, planning and infrastruc-
ture investment considerations, including through 
Federal, State, and local partnerships; 
(4) Federal investments in space infrastructure 
should enable partnerships between Federal agencies 
and state and local spaceports to modernize and en-
able expanded 21st century space transportation in-
frastructure, especially multi-modal networks needed 
for robust space transportation that support national 
security, civil, and commercial launch customers; and 
(5) States and local governments that have made 
investments to build, maintain, operate, and improve 
capabilities for national security, civil, and commer-
cial customers should be commended for their infra-
structure contributions to launch and reentry sites, 
and encouraged through a variety of programs and
529 
policies to continue these investments in the national 
interest. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF SPACEPORTS.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
OFFICE
OF
SPACE-
PORTS.—Title 51, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end of subtitle V the following: 
‘‘CHAPTER 515—OFFICE OF SPACEPORTS 
‘‘§ 51501. Establishment of Office of Spaceports 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE.—Not later than 90 
days after the date of enactment of this section, the Sec-
retary of Transportation shall identify, within the Office 
of Commercial Space Transportation, a centralized policy 
office to be known as the Office of Spaceports. 
‘‘(b) FUNCTIONS.—The Office of Spaceports shall— 
‘‘(1) support licensing activities for operation of 
launch and reentry sites; 
‘‘(2) develop policies that promote infrastructure 
improvements at spaceports; 
‘‘(3) provide technical assistance and guidance to 
spaceports; 
‘‘(4) promote United States spaceports within 
the Department; and 
‘‘(5) strengthen the Nation’s competitiveness in 
commercial space transportation infrastructure and
530 
increase resilience for the Federal Government and 
commercial customers. 
‘‘(c) RECOGNITION.—In carrying out the functions as-
signed in subsection (b), the Secretary shall recognize the 
unique needs and distinctions of spaceports that host— 
‘‘(1) launches to or reentries from orbit; and 
‘‘(2) are involved in suborbital launch activities. 
‘‘(d) DIRECTOR.—The head of the Office of the Asso-
ciate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation 
shall designate a Director of the Office of Spaceports. 
‘‘(e) DEFINITION.—In this section the term ‘spaceport’ 
means a launch or reentry site that is operated by an entity 
licensed by the Secretary of Transportation.’’. 
(2) 
TECHNICAL
AND
CONFORMING
AMEND-
MENT.—The table of chapters of title 51, United State 
Code, is amended by adding at the end of subtitle V 
the following: 
‘‘515. Office of Spaceports .............................................................................. 51501’’. 
(c) REPORT ON NATIONAL SPACEPORTS POLICY.— 
(1) SENSE
OF
CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that— 
(A) A robust network of space transpor-
tation infrastructure, including spaceports, is 
vital to the growth of the domestic space industry 
and America’s competitiveness and access to 
space.
531 
(B) Non-Federal spaceports have signifi-
cantly increased the space transportation infra-
structure of the United States through signifi-
cant investments by State and local governments, 
which have encouraged greater private invest-
ment. 
(C) These spaceports have led to the develop-
ment of a growing number of orbital and sub-
orbital launch and reentry sites that are avail-
able to the national security, civil, and commer-
cial space customers at minimal cost to the Fed-
eral Government. 
(D) The Federal Government, led by the 
Secretary of Transportation, should seek to pro-
mote the growth, resilience, and capabilities of 
this space transportation infrastructure through 
policies and through partnerships with State 
and local governments. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Trans-
portation shall submit to Congress a report that— 
(A) evaluates the Federal Government’s na-
tional security and civil space transportation de-
mands and the needs of the United States and 
international commercial markets;
532 
(B) proposes policies and programs de-
signed to ensure a robust and resilient orbital 
and suborbital spaceport infrastructure to serve 
and capitalize on these space transportation op-
portunities; 
(C) reviews the development and invest-
ments made by international competitors in for-
eign spaceports, to the extent practicable; 
(D) makes recommendations on how the 
Federal Government can support, encourage, 
promote, and facilitate greater investments in 
infrastructure at spaceports; and 
(E) considers and makes recommendations 
about how spaceports can fully support and en-
able the national space policy. 
(3) UPDATES TO THE REPORT.—Not later than 
3 years after the date of enactment of this Act and 
every 2 years until December 2024, the Secretary 
shall— 
(A) update the previous report prepared 
under this subsection; and 
(B) submit the updated report to Congress. 
(4) CONSULTATIONS
REQUIRED.—In preparing 
the reports required by this subsection, the Secretary 
shall consult with individuals including—
533 
(A) the Secretary of Defense; 
(B) the Secretary of Commerce; 
(C) the Administrator of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration; and 
(D) interested persons at spaceports, State 
and local governments, and industry. 
(d) REPORT
ON SPACE TRANSPORTATION INFRA-
STRUCTURE MATCHING GRANTS.— 
(1) GAO STUDY AND REPORT.—The Comptroller 
General of the United States shall conduct a study re-
garding spaceport activities carried out pursuant to 
chapters 509 and 511 of title 51, United States Code, 
including— 
(A) an assessment of potential mechanisms 
to provide Federal support to spaceports, includ-
ing the airport improvement program established 
under subchapter I of chapter 471 of title 49, 
United States Code, and the program established 
under chapter 511 of title 51, United States 
Code; 
(B) recommendations for potential funding 
options; and 
(C) any necessary changes to improve the 
spaceport application review process.
534 
(2) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the study 
described in paragraph (1), the Comptroller General 
shall consult with sources from each component of the 
commercial space transportation sector, including in-
terested persons in industry and government officials 
at the Federal, State, and local levels. 
(3) USER-FUNDED SPACEPORTS.—In reviewing 
funding options, the Comptroller General shall distin-
guish between spaceports that are funded by users and 
those that are not. 
(4) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
shall submit to Congress a report containing results 
of the study conducted under paragraph (1). 
(e) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘spaceport’’ 
means a launch or reentry site that is operated by an entity 
licensed by the Secretary of Transportation. 
SEC. 581. SPECIAL RULE FOR CERTAIN AIRCRAFT OPER-
ATIONS (SPACE SUPPORT VEHICLES). 
(a) SPACE SUPPORT VEHICLE DEFINITIONS.—Section 
50902 of title 51, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (21) through 
(25) as paragraphs (23) through (27), respectively; 
and
535 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (20) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(21) ‘space support vehicle flight’ means a flight 
in the air that— 
‘‘(A) is not a launch or reentry; but 
‘‘(B) is conducted by a space support vehi-
cle. 
‘‘(22) ‘space support vehicle’ means a vehicle 
that is— 
‘‘(A) a launch vehicle; 
‘‘(B) a reentry vehicle; or 
‘‘(C) a component of a launch or reentry ve-
hicle.’’. 
(b) SPECIAL RULE FOR CERTAIN AIRCRAFT OPER-
ATIONS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 447, of title 49, 
United States Code, as amended by this Act, is fur-
ther amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 44737. Special rule for certain aircraft operations. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The operator of an aircraft with 
a special airworthiness certification in the experimental 
category may— 
‘‘(1) operate the aircraft for the purpose of con-
ducting a space support vehicle flight (as that term 
is defined in chapter 50902 of title 51); and
536 
‘‘(2) conduct such flight under such certificate 
carrying persons or property for compensation or hire 
— 
‘‘(A) notwithstanding any rule or term of a 
certificate issued by the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration that would 
prohibit flight for compensation or hire; or 
‘‘(B) without obtaining a certificate issued 
by the Administrator to conduct air carrier or 
commercial operations. 
‘‘(b) LIMITED APPLICABILITY.—Subsection (a) shall 
apply only to a space support vehicle flight that satisfies 
each of the following: 
‘‘(1) (1) The aircraft conducting the space sup-
port vehicle flight— 
‘‘(A) takes flight and lands at a single site 
that is operated by an entity licensed for oper-
ation under chapter 509 of title 51; 
‘‘(B) is owned or operated by a launch or 
reentry vehicle operator licensed under chapter 
509 of title 51, or on behalf of a launch or re-
entry vehicle operator licensed under chapter 509 
of title 51; 
‘‘(C) is a launch vehicle, a reentry vehicle, 
or a component of a launch or reentry vehicle li-
537 
censed for operations pursuant to chapter 509 of 
title 51; and 
‘‘(D) is used only to simulate space flight 
conditions in support of— 
‘‘(i) training for potential space flight 
participants, government astronauts, or 
crew (as those terms are defined in chapter 
509 of title 51); 
‘‘(ii) the testing of hardware to be used 
in space flight; or 
‘‘(iii) research and development tasks, 
which require the unique capabilities of the 
aircraft conducting the flight. 
‘‘(c) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.— 
‘‘(1) 
SPACE
SUPPORT
VEHICLES.—Section 
44711(a)(1) shall not apply to a person conducting a 
space support vehicle flight under this section only to 
the extent that a term of the experimental certificate 
under which the person is operating the space support 
vehicle prohibits the carriage of persons or property 
for compensation or hire. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORITY OF ADMINISTRATOR.—Nothing 
in this section shall be construed to limit the author-
ity of the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration to exempt a person from a regulatory
538 
prohibition on the carriage of persons or property for 
compensation or hire subject to terms and conditions 
other than those described in this section’’. 
(2) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents of 447 of title 49, United States Code, as amend-
ed by this Act, is further amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘Sec. 44737. Special rule for certain aircraft operations.’’. 
(3) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION RELATING TO ROLE 
OF NASA.—Nothing in this subsection shall be con-
strued as limiting the ability of National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration (NASA) to place condi-
tions on or otherwise qualify the operations of NASA 
contractors providing NASA services. 
SEC. 582. PORTABILITY OF REPAIRMAN CERTIFICATES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall assign to 
the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee the task of 
making recommendations with respect to the regulatory and 
policy changes, as appropriate, to allow a repairman cer-
tificate issued under section 65.101 of title 14, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations, to be portable from one employing certifi-
cate holder to another. 
(b) ACTION BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later 
than 1 year after receiving recommendations under sub-
section (a), the Administrator may take such action as the