A bill to extend the Aviation Insurance Program for 5 years.
PL 97-309 (H.R.5930), enacted 10/14/1982

PUBLIC LAW 97-309—OCT. 14, 1982 
96 STAT. 1453 
Public Law 97-309 
97th Congress 
An Act 
To extend the aviation insurance program for five years. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the last 
sentence of section 303(b)(1) of the Independent Safety Board Act of 
1974 (49 U.S.C. 1902(b)(1)) is amended to read as follows: "At any 
given time, no less than three members of the Board shall be 
individuals who have been appointed on the basis of technical 
qualification, professional standing, and demonstrated knowledge in 
the fields of accident reconstruction, safety engineering, human 
factors, transportation safety, or transportation regulation.". The 
amendment made by the preceding sentence shall not preclude the 
reappointment of any individual serving as a member of the Board 
on the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 2. Section 306 of the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 (49 
U.S.C. 1905) is amended in subsection (a) by striking out "pursuant 
to subsection (b)" and inserting in lieu thereof "pursuant to subsec-
tion (b) or (c)" and by adding at the end thereof the following new 
subsection: 
"(c) COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the Board shall withhold from public disclosure cockpit 
voice recorder recordings and transcriptions, in whole or in part, of 
oral communications by and between flight crew members and 
ground stations, that are associated with accidents or incidents 
investigated by the Board: Provided, That portions of a transcription 
of such oral communications which the Board deems relevant and 
pertinent to the accident or incident shall be made available to the 
public by the Board at the time of the Board's public hearing, and in 
no event later than 60 days following the accident or incidents: And 
provided further, That nothing in this section shall restrict the 
Board at any time from referring to cockpit voice recorder informa-
tion in making safety recommendations.". 
SEC. 3. Section 1312 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (49 U.S.C. 
1542) is amended by striking out "1982" and inserting in lieu thereof 
"1987". 
Oct. 14, 1982 
[H.R. 5930] 
Aviation 
insurance 
program, 
extension. 
National 
Transportation 
Safety Board 
membership. 
49 u s e 1902 
note. 
Information, 
availability to 
public. 
96 STAT. 1454 
PUBLIC LAW 97-309—OCT. 14, 1982 
SEC. 4. (a) Section 1601(a) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (49 
U.S.C. 1551(a)) is amended by striking out paragraph (3) and by 
redesignating paragraph (4), and all cross references thereto, as 
paragraph (3). 
(b) Section 1601(b)(1)(C) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (49 
U.S.C. 1551(b)(1)(C)) is amended by striking out "(relating to foreign 
air transportation)". 
Approved October 14, 1982. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 5930: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 97-519 (Comm. on Public Works and Transportation), Nos. 
97-722 and 97-864 (Comms. of Conference). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 128 (1982): 
June 2, considered and passed House. 
June 21, 22, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Aug. 12, Sept. 30, Conference report considered and passed Senate. 
Sept. 30, House agreed to conference report. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 18, No. 41 (1982): 
Oct. 14, Presidential statement.