Cargo Flight Deck Security Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.4598 | Sponsor: Rep. Garcia, Jesus G. "Chuy" (D-IL)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Cargo Flight Deck Security Act of 2021
This bill requires all-cargo aircraft to be equipped with intrusion-resistant cockpit doors that remain locked while such aircraft is in flight.
The requirement takes effect on January 1, 2023, regardless of whether the Federal Aviation Administration has issued regulations to implement such requirement.

To amend title 49, United States Code, to require all-cargo aircraft to 
 be equipped with cockpit doors that meet certain safety requirements, 
                        and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Cargo Flight Deck Security Act of 
2021''.

SEC. 2. IMPROVED ALL-CARGO FLIGHT DECK INTEGRITY MEASURES.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 447 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 44741. All-cargo flight deck integrity measures
    ``(a) In General.--It shall be unlawful for an air carrier to 
operate a covered aircraft after January 1, 2023, regardless of the 
date of such aircraft's type certification, in a covered operation 
unless such aircraft is equipped with a cockpit door that--
            ``(1) meets the requirements of section 25.795(a) of title 
        14, Code of Federal Regulations, with respect to intrusion 
        resistance; and
            ``(2) remains locked while the aircraft is in flight, as 
        directed by the pilot in command of such aircraft.
    ``(b) Effect of Rulemaking.--The requirement of subsection (a) 
shall take effect on January 1, 2023, regardless of whether the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration has issued 
regulations to implement such requirement.
    ``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Covered aircraft.--The term `covered aircraft' means 
        an aircraft used in all-cargo air transportation with a maximum 
        certificated payload capacity that exceeds 6,500 pounds.
            ``(2) Covered operation.--The term `covered operation' 
        means an operation in all-cargo air transportation under the 
        provisions of part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal 
        Regulations.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 447 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

``44741. All-cargo flight deck integrity measures.''.

SEC. 3. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

    (a) Section 44737.--Chapter 447 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amending by redesignating the second section 44737 (as added by section 
581 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) as section 44740.
    (b) Analysis.--The analysis for chapter 447 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking the item relating to the second section 
        44737 (as added by section 581 of the FAA Reauthorization Act 
        of 2018); and
            (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 44739 
        the following new item:

``44740. Special rule for certain aircraft operations.''.
    (c) Special Rule for Certain Aircraft Operations.--Section 44740 of 
title 49, United States Code, (as redesignated by subsection (a)) is 
amended--
            (1) in the heading, by striking the period at the end;
            (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``(1)'' the second 
        time it appears; and
            (3) in subsection (c)(2), by adding a period at the end.
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