Wildfire Response Aviation Modernization and Safety Act

Bill: 118-s-1535
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]
Introduced: 2023-05-10
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Latest action: action_date: 2023-05-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-05-10
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Wildfire Response Aviation Modernization and Safety Act</strong></p><p>This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to promulgate rules to specify that the FAA must allow for the transport of firefighters on board certain aircraft operated on a mission to suppress a wildfire. The FAA must also issue a rule to specify that certain FAA noise standards do not apply to such an operation.</p><p>Current regulations allow a type certificate for a restricted category aircraft to be used for the aerial dispensing of liquids (e.g., liquids for aerial fire suppression) and exclude from noise requirements certain aircraft that are dispensing fire fighting materials. Restricted category aircraft are prohibited from carrying passengers.&nbsp;</p><!--tinycomments|2.1|data:application/json;base64,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-->

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1535 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 10, 2023 Mr. Kelly (for himself and Ms. Lummis ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to promulgate regulations to allow the transport of firefighters on board a covered aircraft operated on a mission to suppress a wildfire, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Wildfire Response Aviation Modernization and Safety Act . 2. Wildfire suppression (a) In general To ensure that sufficient firefighting resources are available to suppress wildfires and protect public safety and property, the Administrator shall promulgate regulations to clarify that— (1) an operation described in section 21.25(b)(7) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, shall allow the transport of firefighters on board a covered aircraft operated on a mission to suppress a wildfire; and (2) the noise standards described in part 36 of such title shall not apply to such an operation. (b) Conforming amendments to FAA documents Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall amend FAA Order 8110.56, Restricted Category Type Certification (dated February 27, 2006), as well as any corresponding policy or guidance material, to reflect the requirements of subsection (a). (c) Savings provision Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the Administrator’s authority to take action otherwise authorized by law to protect aviation safety or passenger safety. (d) Definitions For purposes of this section: (1) Administrator The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. (2) Covered aircraft The term covered aircraft means an aircraft type-certificated in the restricted category under section 21.25 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.