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(d) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the
term ‘‘socially disadvantaged producer’’ means a producer
who is a member of a group whose members have been
subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of
their identity as members of a group without regard to
their individual qualities.
SEC. 306. AVIATION INSPECTIONS.
(a) STUDY REGARDING ACCEPTANCE OF FEDERAL
AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AIRCRAFT INSPECTIONS.—
(1) INTENT
OF
STUDY.—The intent of the
study required by this subsection is to examine the
cost efficiencies of conducting inspections of aircraft
and pilots by one Federal agency without reducing
aircraft, passenger, or pilot safety standards or low-
ering mission preparedness.
(2) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture and the Secretary of Transportation shall
jointly conduct a study of the inspection specifica-
tions and procedures by which aircraft and pilots
contracted by the Department are certified to deter-
mine the cost efficiencies of eliminating duplicative
Department inspection requirements and transfer-
ring some or all inspection requirements to the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration, while ensuring that
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neither aircraft, passenger, nor pilot safety is re-
duced and that mission preparedness is maintained.
(3) SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting
the study, the Secretaries shall evaluate current in-
spection specifications and procedures mandated by
the Department and the Forest Service, taking into
consideration the unique requirements and risks of
particular Department and Forest Service missions
that may require special inspection specifications
and procedures to ensure the safety of Department
and Forest Service personnel and their contractees.
(4) MAINTENANCE OF STANDARDS AND PRE-
PAREDNESS.—In making recommendations to trans-
fer inspection authority or otherwise change Depart-
ment inspection specifications and procedures, the
Secretaries shall ensure that the implementation of
any such recommendations does not lower aircraft or
pilot standards or preparedness for Department or
Forest Service missions.
(5) SUBMISSION OF RESULTS.—Not later than
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretaries shall submit to Congress the results
of the study, including any recommendations to
transfer inspection authority or otherwise change
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Department inspection specifications and procedures
and a cost-benefit analysis of such recommendations.
(b) REVIEW OF RECENTLY ADOPTED AIRCRAFT POL-
ICY.—
(1) REVIEW REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Ag-
riculture shall review the policy initiated by the Sec-
retary on July 1, 1994, to accept Federal Aviation
Administration inspections on aircraft and pilots
that provide ‘‘airport to airport’’ service for the For-
est Service. The policy is currently being coopera-
tively developed by the Department and the Federal
Aviation Administration and is intended to reduce
duplicative inspections and to reduce Government
costs, while maintaining aircraft, passenger, and
pilot safety standards, specifications and procedures
currently required by the Department and the For-
est Service.
(2) EXPANSION OF POLICY.—As part of the re-
view, the Secretary of Agriculture shall examine the
feasibility and desirability of applying this policy on
a Government-wide basis.
(3) SUBMISSION OF RESULTS.—Not later than
one year after the date of the implementation of the
policy, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to
Congress the results of the review, including any
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recommendations that the Secretary considers ap-
propriate.
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