(a) Short title.—This Act may be cited as the “FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024”.

(b) Table of contents.—The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.

In this Act:

(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—Unless otherwise specified, the term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.

(2) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS.—The term “appropriate committees of Congress” means the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.

(3) COMPTROLLER GENERAL.—The term “Comptroller General” means the Comptroller General of the United States.

(4) FAA.—The term “FAA” means the Federal Aviation Administration.

(5) NEXTGEN.—The term “NextGen” means the Next Generation Air Transportation System.

(6) SECRETARY.—Unless otherwise specified, the term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Transportation.

(a) Authorization.—Section 48103(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (6) by striking “and” at the end;

(2) by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following:

“(7) $3,350,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;

“(8) $4,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;

“(9) $4,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;

“(10) $4,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and

“(11) $4,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.”.

(b) Obligation authority.—Section 47104(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking “May 10, 2024” and inserting “September 30, 2028”.

Section 48101(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraphs (1) through (7) and inserting the following:

“(1) $3,191,250,000 for fiscal year 2024.

“(2) $3,575,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.

“(3) $3,625,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.

“(4) $3,675,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.

“(5) $3,725,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.”.

(a) In general.—Section 106(k)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking subparagraphs (A) through (G) and inserting the following:

“(A) $12,729,627,000 for fiscal year 2024;

“(B) $13,055,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;

“(C) $13,354,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;

“(D) $13,650,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and

“(E) $13,954,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.”.

(b) Authorized expenditures.—Section 106(k)(2)(D) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking clauses (i) through (v);

(2) by redesignating clause (vi) as clause (i); and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(ii) $42,018,000 for fiscal year 2024.

“(iii) $52,985,000 for fiscal year 2025.

“(iv) $59,044,000 for fiscal year 2026.

“(v) $65,225,000 for fiscal year 2027.

“(vi) $71,529,000 for fiscal year 2028.”.

(c) Authority to transfer funds.—Section 106(k)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking “Notwithstanding” and inserting the following:

“(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding”;

(2) by striking “in each of fiscal years 2018 through 2023 and for the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on May 10, 2024” and inserting “in each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(B) PRIORITIZATION.—In reducing non-safety-related activities of the Administration under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall prioritize such reductions from amounts other than amounts authorized under this subsection, section 48101, or section 48103.

“(C) SUNSET.—This paragraph shall cease to be effective on October 1, 2028.”.

(a) Authority to provide insurance.—Section 44310(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking “May 10, 2024” and inserting “September 30, 2028”.

(b) Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau.—Section 47115(i) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking “fiscal years 2018 through 2023, and for the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on May 10, 2024,” and inserting “fiscal years 2024 through 2028,”.

(c) Weather reporting programs.—Section 48105 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (5) and adding at the end the following:

“(5) $60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.”.

(d) Midway Island airport.—Section 186(d) of the Vision 100—Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act (Public Law 108–176) is amended by striking “fiscal years 2018 through 2023 and for the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on May 10, 2024,” and inserting “for fiscal years 2024 through 2028,”.

(e) Extension of the safety oversight and certification advisory committee.—Section 202(h) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–254) is amended by striking “shall terminate” and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting “shall terminate on October 1, 2028.”.

Section 106 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a) by striking “The Federal” and inserting “In general.—The Federal”; and

(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:

(a) Assistant Administrator for Rulemaking and Regulatory Improvement.—Section 106 of title 49, United States Code, is further amended by striking subsections (c) and (d) and inserting the following:

“(c) Assistant Administrator for Rulemaking and Regulatory Improvement.—There is an Assistant Administrator for Rulemaking and Regulatory Improvement who shall be appointed by the Administrator and shall—

“(1) be responsible for developing and managing the execution of a regulatory agenda for the Administration that meets statutory and Administration deadlines, including by—

“(A) prioritizing rulemaking projects that are necessary to improve safety;

“(B) establishing the regulatory agenda of the Administration; and

“(C) coordinating with offices of the Administration, the Department, and other Federal entities as appropriate to improve timely feedback generation and approvals when required by law;

“(2) not delegate overall responsibility for meeting internal timelines and final completion of the regulatory activities of the Administration outside the Office of the Assistant Administrator for Rulemaking and Regulatory Improvement;

“(3) on an ongoing basis, review the regulations of the Administration in effect to—

“(A) improve safety;

“(B) reduce undue regulatory burden;

“(C) replace prescriptive regulations with performance-based regulations, as appropriate;

“(D) prevent duplicative regulations; and

“(E) increase regulatory clarity and transparency whenever possible;

“(4) make recommendations for the review of the Administrator under subsection (f)(3)(C)(ii);

“(5) receive, coordinate, and respond to petitions for rulemaking and for exemption as provided for in subpart A of part 11 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, and provide an initial response to a petitioner not later than 30 days after the receipt of such a petition—

“(A) acknowledging receipt of such petition;

“(B) confirming completeness of such petition;

“(C) providing an initial indication of the complexity of the request and how such complexity may impact the timeline for adjudication; and

“(D) requesting any additional information, as appropriate, that would assist in the consideration of the petition;

“(6) track the issuance of exemptions and waivers by the Administration to sections of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, and establish a methodology by which to determine if it would be more efficient and in the interest of the public to amend a rule to reduce the future need of waivers and exemptions; and

“(7) promulgate regulatory updates as determined more efficient or in the best interest of the public under paragraph (6).

“(d) [Reserved].”.

(b) Systemically addressing need for exemptions and waivers.—Not later than 30 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Administrator for Rulemaking and Regulatory Improvement of the FAA shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives on the methodology developed pursuant to section 106(c)(6) of title 49, United States Code (as added by this section).

Section 106(e) of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

“(e) Prohibition on conflicting pecuniary interests.—

“(1) IN GENERAL.—The leadership of the Administration may not have a pecuniary interest in, or hold a financial interest in, an aeronautical enterprise or engage in another business, vocation, or employment.

“(2) TEACHING.—Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Deputy Administrator may not receive compensation for teaching without prior approval of the Administrator.

“(3) FINANCIAL INTEREST DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘financial interest’—

“(A) means—

“(i) any current or contingent ownership, equity, or security interest;

“(ii) any indebtedness or compensated employment relationship; or

“(iii) any right to purchase or acquire any such ownership, equity, or security interest, including a stock option; and

“(B) does not include securities held in an index fund.”.

(a) In general.—Section 106(f) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)—

(A) by striking “paragraph (2)” and inserting “paragraphs (2) and (3)”;

(B) by striking “Neither” and inserting “In exercising duties, powers, and authorities that are assigned to the Secretary or the Administrator under this title, neither”; and

(C) by striking “a committee, board, or organization established by executive order.” and inserting the following: “a committee, board, council, or organization that is—

“(A) established by executive order; or

“(B) not explicitly directed by legislation to review the exercise of such duties, powers, and authorities by the Secretary or the Administrator.”;

(2) in paragraph (2)—

(A) in subparagraph (A)(ii) by striking “the acquisition” and all that follows through the semicolon and inserting “the acquisition, establishment, improvement, operation, maintenance, security (including cybersecurity), and disposal of property, facilities, services, and equipment of the Administration, including all elements of the air traffic control system owned by the Administration;”;

(B) in subparagraph (A)(iii) by striking “paragraph (3)” and inserting “paragraph (4)”; and

(C) in subparagraph (B) by inserting “civil aviation, any matter for which the Administrator is the final authority under subparagraph (A), any duty carried out by the Administrator pursuant to paragraph (3), or the provisions of this title, or” after “with respect to”;

(3) in paragraph (3)—

(A) in subparagraph (A)—

(i) by striking “In the performance” and inserting the following:

“(i) ISSUANCE OF REGULATIONS.—In the performance”;

(ii) by striking “The Administrator shall act” and inserting the following:

“(ii) PETITIONS FOR RULEMAKING.—The Administrator shall act”;

(iii) by striking “The Administrator shall issue” and inserting the following:

“(iii) RULEMAKING TIMELINE.—The Administrator shall issue”; and

(iv) by striking “On February 1” and inserting the following:

“(iv) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—On February 1”; and

(B) by striking subparagraphs (B) and (C) and inserting the following:

“(B) APPROVAL OF SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION.—

“(i) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may not issue, unless the Secretary of Transportation approves the issuance of the regulation in advance, a proposed regulation or final regulation that—

“(I) is likely to result in the expenditure by State, local, and Tribal governments in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $250,000,000 or more (adjusted annually for inflation beginning with the year following the date of enactment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024) in any year; or

“(II) is significant.

“(ii) SIGNIFICANT REGULATIONS.—For purposes of this paragraph, a regulation is significant if the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary (as appropriate), determines that the regulation—

“(I) will have an annual effect on the economy of $250,000,000 or more (adjusted annually for inflation beginning with the year following the date of enactment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024);

“(II) raises novel or serious legal or policy issues that will substantially and materially affect other transportation modes; or

“(III) adversely affects, in a substantial and material way, the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or a State, local, or Tribal government or community.

“(iii) EMERGENCY REGULATION.—

“(I) IN GENERAL.—In an emergency as determined by the Administrator, the Administrator may issue a final regulation described in clause (i) without prior approval of the Secretary.

“(II) OBJECTION.—If the Secretary objects to a regulation issued under subclause (II) in writing not later than 5 days (excluding Saturday, Sundays, and legal public holidays) after the issuance, the Administrator shall immediately rescind such regulation.

“(iv) OTHER REGULATIONS.—The Secretary may not require that the Administrator submit a proposed or final regulation to the Secretary for approval, nor may the Administrator submit a proposed or final regulation to the Secretary for approval, if the regulation—

“(I) does not require the approval of the Secretary under clause (i) (excluding a regulation issued under clause (iii)); or

“(II) is a routine or frequent action or a procedural action.

“(v) TIMELINE.—The Administrator shall submit a copy of any proposed or final regulation requiring approval by the Secretary under clause (i) to the Secretary, who shall either approve the regulation or return the regulation to the Administrator with comments not later than 30 days after receiving the regulation. If the Secretary fails to approve or return the regulation with comments to the Administrator not later than 30 days after receiving such regulation, the regulation shall be deemed to have been approved by the Secretary.

“(C) PERIODIC REVIEW.—

“(i) IN GENERAL.—For any significant regulation issued after the date of enactment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, in addition to the review requirements established under section 5.13(d) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, the Administrator shall review any significant regulation 3 years after the effective date of such regulation.

“(ii) DISCRETIONARY REVIEW.—The Administrator may review any regulation that has been in effect for more than 3 years.

“(iii) SUBSTANCE OF REVIEW.—In performing a review under clause (i) or (ii), the Administrator shall determine if—

“(I) the cost assumptions supporting the regulation were accurate;

“(II) the intended benefit of the regulation is being realized;

“(III) the need remains to continue such regulation as in effect; and

“(IV) the Administrator recommends updates to such regulation based on the review criteria specified in section 5.13(d) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.

“(iv) REVIEW MANAGEMENT.—Any periodic review of a regulation under this subparagraph shall be managed by the Assistant Administrator for Rulemaking and Regulatory Improvement, who may task an advisory committee or the Management Advisory Council established under subsection (p) to assist in performing the review.”;

(4) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and

(5) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

“(3) DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR.—

“(A) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall carry out—

“(i) the duties and powers of the Secretary under this subsection related to aviation safety (except duties and powers related to transportation, packaging, marking, or description of hazardous material) and stated in—

“(I) subsections (c) and (d) of section 1132;

“(II) sections 40101(c), 40103(b), 40106(a), 40108, 40109(b), 40113(a), 40113(c), 40113(d), 40113(e), 40114(a), and 40117;

“(III) chapter 443;

“(IV) chapter 445, except sections 44502(a)(3), 44503, and 44509;

“(V) chapter 447, except sections 44721(b) and 44723;

“(VI) chapter 448;

“(VII) chapter 451;

“(VIII) chapter 453;

“(IX) section 46104;

“(X) subsections (d) and (h)(2) of section 46301, section 46303(c), sections 46304 through 46308, section 46310, section 46311, and sections 46313 through 46320;

“(XI) chapter 465;

“(XII) chapter 471;

“(XIII) chapter 475; and

“(XIV) chapter 509 of title 51; and

“(ii) such additional duties and powers as may be prescribed by the Secretary.

“(B) APPLICABILITY.—Section 40101(d) applies to the duties and powers specified in subparagraph (A).

“(C) TRANSFER.—Any of the duties and powers specified in subparagraph (A) may only be transferred to another part of the Department if specifically provided by law or in a reorganization plan submitted under chapter 9 of title 5.

“(D) ADMINISTRATIVE FINALITY.—A decision of the Administrator in carrying out the duties or powers specified in subparagraph (A) is administratively final.”.

(b) Conforming amendment.—Section 106 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (g) and inserting the following:

“(g) [reserved].”.

(c) Preservation of existing authority.—Nothing in this section or the amendments made by this section shall be construed to restrict any authority vested in the Administrator by statute or by delegation that was in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act.

(a) Internal regulatory process review.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—

(A) REVIEW TEAM.—The Administrator shall establish a regulatory process review team (in this section referred to as the “review team”) comprising of FAA employees and individuals described in paragraph (2) to develop recommendations to improve the timeliness, performance, and accountability of the development and promulgation of regulatory materials.

(B) REPORT.—The review team shall submit to the Administrator a report with recommendations in accordance with the deadlines specified in paragraph (5).

(2) OTHER MEMBERS; CONSULTATION.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—The review team shall include at least 3 outside experts and or academics with relevant experience or expertise in aviation safety and at least 1 outside expert with relevant experience or expertise in improving the performance, accountability, and transparency of the Federal regulatory process, particularly as such process relates to aviation safety.

(B) CONSULTATION.—The review team may, as appropriate, consult with industry stakeholders.

(3) CONTENTS OF REVIEW.—In conducting the review required under paragraph (1), the review team shall do the following:

(A) Develop a proposal for rationalizing processes and eliminating redundant administrative review of regulatory materials within the FAA, particularly when FAA-sponsored rulemaking committees and stakeholders have collaborated on the proposed regulations.

(B) With respect to each office within the FAA that reviews regulatory materials, assess—

(i) the timeline assigned to each such office to complete the review of regulatory materials;

(ii) the actual time spent for such review;

(iii) opportunities to reduce the actual time for such review; and

(iv) whether clear roles, responsibilities, requirements, and expectations are clearly defined for each office required to review the regulatory materials.

(C) Define and document the roles and responsibilities of each office within the FAA that develops, drafts, or reviews each kind of regulatory material in order to ensure that hiring reflects who, where, and how the employees of each such office function in the rulemaking framework.

(D) Describe any organizational changes or the need to hire additional FAA employees, if necessary, and take into consideration whether current positions are staffed, to reduce delays in publication of regulatory materials.

(E) In order to provide the public with detailed information on the progress of the development of regulatory materials, identify reporting mechanisms and develop a template and appropriate system metrics for making publicly available on a website a progress tracker that updates to show the major stages (as determined by the Administrator) of the development of regulatory materials as such materials are initiated, in progress, and completed.

(F) Consider changes to the best practices of the FAA under rules governing ex parte communications, including communications with international validating authorities, and with consideration of the public interest in transparency, to provide flexibility for FAA employees to discuss regulatory materials, particularly for such regulatory materials related to enhancing aviation safety and the aviation international leadership of the United States.

(G) Recommend methods by which the FAA can incorporate research funded by the Department of Transportation, in addition to consensus standards and conformance assessment processes developed by recognized industry standards organizations into regulatory materials, to keep pace with rapid changes in aviation technologies and processes.

(H) Recommend mechanisms to optimize the roles of the Office of the Secretary of Transportation and the Office of Management and Budget, with the objective of improving the efficiency of regulatory activity.

(4) ACTION PLAN.—The Administrator shall develop and transmit to the appropriate committees of Congress an action plan to implement, as appropriate, the recommendations developed by the review team.

(5) DEADLINES.—The requirements of this section shall be subject to the following deadlines:

(A) Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this section, the review team shall complete the evaluation required under paragraph (1) and submit to the Administrator the report of the review team on such evaluation.

(B) Not later than 30 days after the date on which the review team submits the report under subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall develop and publish the action plan under paragraph (4).

(6) SUNSET.—The review team shall terminate upon completion of the requirements under paragraph (5).

(7) ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE REQUIREMENTS INAPPLICABLE.—The provisions of subchapter II of chapter 5, and chapter 7, of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the “Administrative Procedure Act”) shall not apply to any activities of the review team in carrying out the requirements of this section.

(8) REGULATORY MATERIALS DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term “regulatory materials” means rules, advisory circulars, statements of policy, and other materials related to aviation safety regulations, as well as other materials pertaining to training and operation of aeronautical products.

(b) Review of non-regulatory materials.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the inspector general of the Department of Transportation shall review the coordination and approval processes of non-regulatory materials produced by the FAA to improve the timeliness, transparency, development, and issuance of such materials.

(2) CONTENTS OF REVIEW.—In conducting the review under paragraph (1), the inspector general shall—

(A) provide recommendations for improving processes and eliminating non-value-added reviews of non-regulatory materials within the FAA and Department of Transportation, in consideration of the authority of the Administrator under section 106 of title 49, United States Code, and other applicable laws;

(B) consider, with respect to each office within the FAA and the Department of Transportation that reviews non-regulatory materials—

(i) the timeline assigned to each such office to complete the review of such materials;

(ii) the actual time spent for such review; and

(iii) opportunities to reduce the actual time spent for such review;

(C) describe any organizational changes and additional resources that the Administrator needs, if necessary, to reduce delays in the development and publication of proposed non-regulatory materials;

(D) consider to what extent reporting mechanisms and templates could be used to provide the public with more consistent information on the development status of non-regulatory materials;

(E) consider changes to the application of rules governing ex parte communications by the Administrator to provide flexibility for employees of the FAA to discuss non-regulatory materials with aviation stakeholders and foreign aviation authorities to promote United States aviation leadership;

(F) recommend methods by which the Administrator can incorporate standards set by recognized industry standards organizations, as such term is defined in section 224(c), into non-regulatory materials to keep pace with rapid changes in aerospace technology and processes; and

(G) evaluate the processes and best practices other civil aviation authorities and other Federal departments and agencies use to produce non-regulatory materials, particularly the processes of entities that produce such materials in an expedited fashion to respond to safety risks, incidents, or new technology adoption.

(3) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the review under paragraph (1), the inspector general may, as appropriate, consult with industry stakeholders, academia, and other individuals with relevant background or expertise in improving the efficiency of Federal non-regulatory material production.

(4) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the inspector general initiates the review under paragraph (1), the inspector general shall submit to the Administrator a report on such review.

(5) ACTION PLAN.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall develop an action plan to implement, as appropriate, the recommendations contained in the report submitted under paragraph (4).

(B) BRIEFING.—Not later than 90 days after receiving the report under paragraph (4), the Administrator shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on such plan.

(6) NON-REGULATORY MATERIALS DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term “non-regulatory materials” means orders, statements of policy, guidance, technical standards, and other materials related to aviation safety, training, and operation of aeronautical products.

(a) Key programs.—Not later than December 31, 2025, the Administrator shall operationalize all of the key programs under the NextGen program as described in the deployment plan of the FAA.

(b) Office termination.—The NextGen Office of the FAA shall terminate on December 31, 2025.

(c) Transfer of residual NextGen implementation functions.—If the Administrator does not complete the air traffic modernization project known as the NextGen program by the deadline specified in subsection (a), the Administrator shall transfer the residual functions for completing the NextGen program to the Airspace Modernization Office of the FAA established under section 207.

(d) Transfer of NextGen Advisory Committee.—Not later than December 31, 2025, management of the NextGen Advisory Committee shall transfer to the Chief Operating Officer of the air traffic control system.

(e) Transfer of advanced air mobility functions.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, any advanced air mobility relevant functions, duties, and responsibilities of the NAS Systems Engineering and Integration Office or other offices within the Office of NextGen of the FAA shall be incorporated into the Office of Aviation Safety of the FAA.

(f) Remaining activities.—In carrying out subsection (a), and after implementing subsections (c) through (e), the Administrator shall transfer any remaining duties, authorities, activities, personnel, and assets managed by the Office of NextGen of the FAA to other offices of the FAA, as appropriate.

(g) Technical center for advanced aerospace.—Section 106 of title 49, United States Code, is further amended by striking subsection (h) and inserting the following:

“(h) Technical center for advanced aerospace.—

“(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established within the Administration a technology center to support the advancement of aerospace safety and innovation which shall be known as the ‘William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace’ (in this subsection referred to as the ‘Technical Center’) that shall be used by the Administrator and, as permitted by the Administrator, other governmental entities, academia, and the aerospace industry.

“(2) MANAGEMENT.—The activities of the Technical Center shall be managed by a Director.

“(3) ACTIVITIES.—The activities of the Technical Center shall include—

“(A) developing and stimulating technology partnerships with and between industry, academia, and other government agencies and supporting such partnerships by—

“(i) liaising between external persons and offices of the Administration interested in such work;

“(ii) providing technical expertise and input, as appropriate; and

“(iii) providing access to the properties, facilities, and systems of the Technical Center through appropriate agreements;

“(B) managing technology demonstration grants awarded by the Administrator;

“(C) identifying software, systems, services, and technologies that could improve aviation safety and the operations and management of the air traffic control system and working with relevant offices of the Administration to consider the use and integration of such software, systems, services, and technologies, as appropriate;

“(D) supporting the work of any collocated facilities and tenants of such facilities, and to the extent feasible, enter into agreements as necessary to utilize the facilities, systems, and technologies of such collocated facilities and tenants;

“(E) managing the facilities of the Technical Center; and

“(F) carrying out any other duties as determined appropriate by the Administrator.”.

(h) Conforming amendment.—Section 44507 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking “(a) Civil Aeromedical Institute” and all that follows through “The Civil Aeromedical Institute established” and inserting “The Civil Aeromedical Institute established”; and

(2) by striking subsection (b).

(a) Establishment.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—On January 1, 2026, the Administrator shall establish within the FAA an Airspace Modernization Office (in this section referred to as the “Office”).

(2) PLACEMENT.—The Administrator may task an existing office of the FAA with the functions of the Office.

(3) DUTIES.—The Office shall be responsible for—

(A) the research and development, systems engineering, enterprise architecture, and portfolio management for the continuous modernization of the national airspace system;

(B) the development of an information-centric national airspace system, including digitization of the processes and technology that supports such system;

(C) improving the interoperability of FAA systems and third-party systems that support safe operations in the national airspace system; and

(D) developing and periodically updating an integrated plan for the future state of the national airspace system in coordination with other offices of the FAA.

(b) Integrated plan requirements.—The integrated plan developed by the Office shall be designed to ensure that the national airspace system meets future safety, security, mobility, efficiency, and capacity needs of a diverse and growing set of airspace users. The integrated plan shall include the following:

(1) A description of the demand for services that will be required of the future air transportation system, and an explanation of how the demand projections were derived, including—

(A) the most likely range of average annual resources required over the duration of the plan to cost effectively maintain the safety, sustainability, and other characteristics of national airspace operation and the mission of the FAA; and

(B) an estimate of FAA resource requirements by user group, including expectations concerning the growth of new entrants and potential new users.

(2) A roadmap for creating and implementing the integrated plan, including—

(A) the most significant technical, operational, and personnel obstacles and the activities necessary to overcome such obstacles, including the role of other Federal agencies, corporations, institutions of higher learning, and nonprofit organizations in carrying out such activities;

(B) the annual anticipated cost of carrying out such activities;

(C) the technical milestones that will be used to evaluate the activities; and

(D) identifying technology gaps that the Administrator or industry may need to address to fully implement the integrated plan.

(3) A description of the operational concepts to meet the system performance requirements for all system users and a timeline and anticipated expenditures needed to develop and deploy the system.

(4) A description of the management of the enterprise architecture framework for the introduction of any operational improvements and to inform FAA financial decision-making.

(5) A justification for the operational improvements that the Office determines will need to be developed and deployed by 2040 to meet the needs of national airspace users, including the benefits, costs, and risks of the preferred and alternative options.

(c) Considerations.—In developing an initial integrated plan required under subsection (b) and carrying out such plan, the Office shall consider—

(1) the results and recommendations of the independent report on implementation of the NextGen program under section 603;

(2) the status of the transition to, and deployment of, trajectory-based operations within the national airspace system; and

(3) the findings of the audit required by section 622, and the resulting plan to replace or enhance the identified legacy systems within a reasonable timeframe.

(d) Consultation.—In developing and carrying out the integrated plan, the Office shall consult with the NextGen Advisory Committee of the FAA.

(e) Plan deadline; briefings.—

(1) PLAN DEADLINE.—Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives an initial integrated plan required under subsection (a)(3)(D).

(2) ANNUAL BRIEFINGS.—The Administrator shall provide the committees of Congress specified in paragraph (1) with an annual briefing describing the progress in carrying out the integrated plan required under subsection (a)(3)(D), including any changes to the plan, through 2028.

(f) DOT inspector general review.—Not later than 180 days after submission of the initial integrated plan under subsection (e)(1), the inspector general of the Department of Transportation shall begin a review of the integrated plan and submit to the committees of Congress specified in subsection (e)(1) a report that—

(1) assesses the justification for the integrated plan;

(2) provides any recommendations for improving the integrated plan; and

(3) includes any other information that the inspector general determines appropriate.

(a) In general.—The Deputy Administrator of the FAA shall determine whether a publicly facing dashboard that provides applicants with the status of an application before the FAA would be—

(1) beneficial to applicants;

(2) an efficient use of resources to build, maintain, and update; or

(3) duplicative with other efforts of the FAA to streamline and digitize paperwork and certification processes to provide an applicant with a greater awareness of the status of an application before the FAA.

(b) Recommendation.—Not later than 30 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Deputy Administrator shall provide to the Administrator a recommendation regarding the need for or benefits of a dashboard or other means by which to track an application status.

(c) Briefing.—Not later than 45 days after receiving recommendations under subsection (b), the Administrator shall brief the appropriate Committees of Congress on—

(1) any recommendation received under subsection (b); and

(2) any activities the Administrator is taking in response to such recommendation.

(d) FAA feedback portal.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Deputy Administrator shall determine whether a publicly facing portal on the website of the FAA through which the public may provide feedback to the Administrator about experiences individuals have working with personnel of the FAA would be beneficial.

(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The Deputy Administrator shall ensure any portal established under this subsection asks questions that seek to gauge any shortcomings the FAA has in fulfilling the mission of the FAA or areas where the FAA is succeeding in meeting the mission of the FAA.

(e) Application.—This section shall apply to applications relating to—

(1) an aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller, or appliance certification;

(2) an airman or pilot certificate;

(3) a medical certificate;

(4) an operator certificate;

(5) when authority under chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code, is explicitly delegated by the Secretary to the Administrator, a license or permit issued under such chapter;

(6) an aircraft registration;

(7) an operational approval, waiver, or exemption;

(8) a legal interpretation;

(9) an outstanding agency determination; and

(10) any certificate not otherwise described in this subparagraph that is issued pursuant to chapter 447 of title 49, United States Code.

It is the sense of Congress that—

(1) the Administrator should—

(A) engage with aviation stakeholder groups and the public during pre-drafting stages of rulemaking activities and use, to the greatest extent practicable, properly docketed ex parte discussions during rulemaking activities in order to—

(i) inform the work of the Administrator;

(ii) assist the Administrator in developing the scope of a rule; and

(iii) reduce the timeline for issuance of proposed and final rules;

(B) rely on documented data and safety trends when determining whether or not to proceed with a rulemaking activity; and

(C) not consider a rulemaking activity required in statute, for the purposes of ex parte communications, as having been established on the date of enactment of the related public law, but rather upon obtainment of a regulation identifier number; and

(2) when it would reduce the time required for the Administrator to adjudicate public comments, the Administrator should publicly provide information describing the rationale behind a regulatory decision included in proposed regulations in order to better allow for the public to provide clear and informed comments on such regulations.

Section 106(j) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking “There is” and inserting “Civil Aeromedical Institute.—There is”.

Section 106 of title 49, United States Code, is further amended—

(1) by transferring paragraph (8) of subsection (p) to subsection (r) and redesignating such paragraph as paragraph (7); and

(2) by striking subsection (p) and inserting the following:

“(p) Management advisory council.—

“(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall establish an advisory council which shall be known as the Federal Aerospace Management Advisory Council (in this subsection referred to as the ‘Council’).

“(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Council shall consist of 13 members, who shall consist of—

“(A) a designee of the Secretary of Transportation;

“(B) a designee of the Secretary of Defense;

“(C) 5 members representing aerospace and technology interests, appointed by the Administrator;

“(D) 5 members representing aerospace and technology interests, appointed by the Secretary of Transportation; and

“(E) 1 member, appointed by the Secretary of Transportation, who is the head of a union representing air traffic control system employees.

“(3) QUALIFICATIONS.—No officer or employee of the Federal Government may be appointed to the Council under subparagraph (C) or (D) of paragraph (2).

“(4) FUNCTIONS.—

“(A) IN GENERAL.—

“(i) ADVISE; COUNSEL.—The Council shall provide advice and counsel to the Administrator on issues which affect or are affected by the activities of the Administrator.

“(ii) RESOURCE.—The Council shall function as an oversight resource for management, policy, spending, and regulatory matters under the jurisdiction of the Administrator.

“(iii) SUBMISSIONS TO ADMINISTRATION.—With respect to Administration management, policy, spending, funding, data management and analysis, safety initiatives, international agreements, activities of the International Civil Aviation Organization, and regulatory matters affecting the aerospace industry and the national airspace system, the Council may—

“(I) regardless of whether solicited by the Administrator, submit comments, recommended modifications, proposals, and supporting or dissenting views to the Administrator; and

“(II) request the Administrator include in any submission to Congress, the Secretary, or the general public, and in any submission for publication in the Federal Register, a description of the comments, recommended modifications, and dissenting or supporting views received from the Council under subclause (I).

“(iv) REASONING.—Together with a Council submission that is published or described under clause (iii)(II), the Administrator may provide the reasons for any differences between the views of the Council and the views or actions of the Administrator.

“(v) COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS.—The Council shall review the rulemaking cost-benefit analysis process and develop recommendations to improve the analysis and ensure that the public interest is fully protected.

“(vi) PROCESS REVIEW.—The Council shall review the process through which the Administration determines to use advisory circulars, service bulletins, and other externally facing guidance and regulatory material.

“(B) MEETINGS.—The Council shall meet not less than 3 times annually or at the call of the chair or the Administrator.

“(C) ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS AND STAFF.—The Administrator may give the Council appropriate access to relevant documents and personnel of the Administration, and the Administrator shall make available, consistent with the authority to withhold commercial and other proprietary information under section 552 of title 5 (commonly known as the ‘Freedom of Information Act’), cost data associated with the acquisition and operation of air traffic service systems.

“(D) DISCLOSURE OF COMMERCIAL OR PROPRIETARY DATA.—Any member of the Council who receives commercial or other proprietary data as provided for in this paragraph from the Administrator shall be subject to the provisions of section 1905 of title 18, pertaining to unauthorized disclosure of such information.

“(5) APPLICATION OF chapter 10 OF TITLE 5.—Chapter 10 of title 5 does not apply to—

“(A) the Council;

“(B) such aviation rulemaking committees as the Administrator shall designate; or

“(C) such aerospace rulemaking committees as the Secretary shall designate.

“(6) ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.—

“(A) TERMS.—Members of the Council appointed under paragraph (2)(C) shall be appointed for a term of 3 years.

“(B) TERM FOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL REPRESENTATIVE.—The member appointed under paragraph (2)(E) shall be appointed for a term of 3 years, except that the term of such individual shall end whenever the individual no longer meets the requirements of paragraph (2)(E).

“(C) VACANCY.—Any vacancy on the Council shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, except that any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which the predecessor of the member was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of that term.

“(D) CONTINUATION IN OFFICE.—A member of the Council whose term expires shall continue to serve until the date on which the successor of the member takes office.

“(E) REMOVAL.—Any member of the Council appointed under paragraph (2) may be removed for cause by whomever makes the appointment.

“(F) CHAIR; VICE CHAIR.—The Council shall elect a chair and a vice chair from among the members appointed under subparagraphs (C) and (D) of paragraph (2), each of whom shall serve for a term of 1 year. The vice chair shall perform the duties of the chair in the absence of the chair.

“(G) TRAVEL AND PER DIEM.—Each member of the Council shall be paid actual travel expenses, and per diem in lieu of subsistence expenses when away from the usual place of residence of the member, in accordance with section 5703 of title 5.

“(H) DETAIL OF PERSONNEL FROM THE ADMINISTRATION.—The Administrator shall make available to the Council such staff, information, and administrative services and assistance as may reasonably be required to enable the Council to carry out the responsibilities of the Council under this subsection.”.

Section 106(r) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)—

(A) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:

“(A) APPOINTMENT.—There shall be a Chief Operating Officer for the air traffic control system who is appointed by the Administrator and subject to the authority of the Administrator.”; and

(B) in subparagraph (E) by striking “shall be appointed for the remainder of that term” and inserting “may be appointed for either the remainder of the term or for a full term”;

(2) in paragraph (2) by striking “, with the approval of the Air Traffic Services Committee”;

(3) in paragraph (3)—

(A) by striking “, in consultation with the Air Traffic Services Committee,”; and

(B) by striking “annual basis.” and inserting— “annual basis and shall include responsibility for—

“(A) the state of good repair of the air traffic control system;

“(B) the continuous improvement of the safety and efficiency of the air traffic control system; and

“(C) identifying services and solutions to increase the safety and efficiency of airspace use and to support the safe integration of all airspace users.”;

(4) in paragraph (4) by striking “such information as may be prescribed by the Secretary” and inserting “the annual performance agreement required under paragraph (3), an assessment of the performance of the Chief Operating Officer in relation to the performance goals in the performance agreement for the previous year, and such other information as may be prescribed by the Administrator”; and

(5) in paragraph (5)—

(A) by striking “Chief Operating Officer, or any other authority within the Administration responsibilities, including” and inserting “Chief Operating Officer any authority of the Administrator and shall delegate, at a minimum”;

(B) in subparagraph (A)—

(i) in clause (iii) by striking “and” at the end;

(ii) in clause (iv) by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following:

“(v) plans to integrate new entrant operations into the national airspace system and associated action items.”; and

(C) in subparagraph (C)(ii) by striking “and the Committee”.

Section 106(r) of title 49, United States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“(6) UNFUNDED CAPITAL INVESTMENT NEEDS REPORT.—

“(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 10 days after the date on which the budget of the President for a fiscal year is submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1150 of title 31, the Administrator shall submit to the Secretary, 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 any unfunded capital investment needs of the air traffic control system.

“(B) CONTENTS OF BRIEFING.—In providing the report under subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall include, for each unfunded capital investment need, the following:

“(i) A summary description of such unfunded capital investment need.

“(ii) The objective to be achieved if such unfunded capital investment need is funded in whole or in part.

“(iii) The additional amount of funds recommended in connection with such objective.

“(iv) The Budget Line Item Program and Budget Line Item number associated with such unfunded capital investment need, as applicable.

“(v) Any statutory requirement associated with such unfunded capital investment need, as applicable.

“(C) PRIORITIZATION OF REQUIREMENTS.—The briefing required under subparagraph (A) shall present unfunded capital investment needs in overall urgency of priority.

“(D) UNFUNDED CAPITAL INVESTMENT NEED DEFINED.—In this paragraph, the term ‘unfunded capital investment need’ means a program that—

“(i) is not funded in the budget of the President for the fiscal year as submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105 of title 31;

“(ii) is for infrastructure or a system related to necessary modernization or sustainment of the air traffic control system;

“(iii) is listed for any year in the most recent National Airspace System Capital Investment Plan of the Administration; and

“(iv) would have been recommended for funding through the budget referred to in subparagraph (A) by the Administrator if—

“(I) additional resources had been available for the budget to fund the program, activity, or mission requirement; or

“(II) the program, activity, or mission requirement has emerged since the budget was formulated.”.

Section 106(s) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)—

(A) in subparagraph (A) by striking “There shall be” and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting “The Chief Technology Officer shall be appointed by the Administrator.”;

(B) in subparagraph (B) by striking “management” and inserting “management, systems management,”;

(C) by striking subparagraphs (C) and (D);

(D) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively; and

(E) by inserting before subparagraph (B), as so redesignated, the following:

“(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—There shall be a Chief Technology Officer for the air traffic control system that shall report directly to the Chief Operating Officer of the air traffic control system.”;

(2) in paragraph (2)—

(A) in subparagraph (A) by striking “program”; and

(B) in subparagraph (F) by striking “aircraft operators” and inserting “the Administration, aircraft operators, or other private providers of information and services related to air traffic management”; and

(3) in paragraph (3)—

(A) in subparagraph (A) by striking “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) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and

(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:

“(B) POST-EMPLOYMENT.—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 such title.”.

Section 40102(a)(47) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (C) by striking “and” at the end;

(2) in subparagraph (D) by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(E) systems, software, and hardware operated, owned, and maintained by third parties that support or directly provide air navigation information and air traffic management services with Administration approval.”.

Section 106(t) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking paragraph (7);

(2) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:

“(7) DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL PEER REVIEW.—

“(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, and every 5 years thereafter, the inspector general of the Department of Transportation shall perform a peer review of the Office of Whistleblower Protection and Aviation Safety Investigations.

“(B) PEER REVIEW SCOPE.—In completing the peer reviews required under this paragraph, the inspector general shall, to the extent appropriate, use the most recent peer review guides published by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency Audit Committee and Investigations Committee.

“(C) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 90 days after the completion of a peer review required under this paragraph, the inspector general 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 description of any actions taken or to be taken to address the results of the peer review.”; and

(3) in paragraph (8)(B) by striking the comma.

(a) In general.—The Administrator shall designate an executive of the FAA to serve as the lead for the cybersecurity of FAA systems and hardware (in this section referred to as the “Cybersecurity Lead”).

(b) Duties.—The Cybersecurity Lead shall carry out duties and powers prescribed by the Administrator, including the management of activities required under subtitle B of title III.

(c) Briefing.—Not later than 1 and 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Cybersecurity Lead shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on the implementation of subtitle B of title III.

(a) Annual report on aviation activities.—Section 308 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking subsection (b);

(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b); and

(3) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (c).

(b) Annual report on the purchase of foreign manufactured articles.—Section 40110(d) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (5).

(c) Annual report on assistance to foreign aviation authorities.—Section 40113(e) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking paragraph (4); and

(2) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (4).

(d) AIP annual report.—Section 47131 of title 49, United States Code, and the item relating to such section in the analysis for chapter 471 of such title, are repealed.

(e) Transfer of airport land use compliance report to NPIAS.—Section 47103 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and

(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:

“(d) Non-compliant airports.—

“(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall include in the plan a detailed statement listing airports the Secretary has reason to believe are not in compliance with grant assurances or other requirements with respect to airport lands and shall include—

“(A) the circumstances of noncompliance;

“(B) the timeline for corrective action with respect to such noncompliance; and

“(C) any corrective action the Secretary intends to require to bring the airport sponsor into compliance.

“(2) LISTING.—The Secretary is not required to conduct an audit or make a final determination before including an airport on the list referred to in paragraph (1).”.

(f) Notice to airport sponsors regarding purchase of American made equipment and products.—Section 306 of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994 (49 U.S.C. 50101 note) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a) by striking “(a)” and all that follows through “It is the sense” and inserting “It is the sense”; and

(2) by striking subsection (b).

(g) Obsolete aviation security requirements.—Sections 302, 307, 309, and 310 of the Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–264), and the items relating to such sections in the table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act, are repealed.

(h) Regulation of Alaska guide pilots.—Section 732 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (49 U.S.C. 44701 note) is amended—

(1) by striking subsection (b);

(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b); and

(3) in subsection (b), as so redesignated—

(A) in the subsection heading by striking “Definitions” and inserting “Definition of Alaska guide pilot”;

(B) by striking “, the following definitions apply” and all that follows through “The term ‘Alaska guide pilot’” and inserting “the term ‘Alaska guide pilot’”; and

(C) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as paragraphs (1) through (3) (and adjusting the margins accordingly).

(i) Next generation air transportation senior policy committee.—Section 710 of the Vision 100–Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act (49 U.S.C. 40101 note), and the item relating to such section in the table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act, are repealed.

(j) Improved pilot licenses and pilot license rulemaking.—

(1) INTELLIGENCE REFORM AND TERRORISM PREVENTION ACT.—Section 4022 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (49 U.S.C. 44703 note), and the item relating to such section in the table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act, are repealed.

(2) FAA MODERNIZATION AND REFORM ACT OF 2012.—Section 321 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 44703 note), and the item relating to such section in the table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act, are repealed.

(k) Technical training and staffing study.—Section 605 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–95) is amended—

(1) by striking subsection (a);

(2) in subsection (b)—

(A) by striking “(b) Workload of systems specialists.—”; and

(B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as subsections (a) through (c) (and adjust the margins and header casing appropriately); and

(3) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated) by striking “paragraph (1)” and inserting “subsection (a)”.

(l) Ferry flight duty period and flight time rulemakings.—Section 345 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 44701 note), and the item relating to such section in the table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act, are repealed.

(m) Laser pointer incident reports.—Section 2104 of FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 (49 U.S.C. 46301 note) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a) by striking “quarterly updates” and inserting “annually an annual briefing”; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

“(c) Report sunset.—Subsection (a) shall cease to be effective after September 30, 2028.”.

(n) Cold weather projects briefing.—Section 156 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (49 U.S.C. 47112 note) is amended—

(1) by striking subsection (b); and

(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b).

(o) Biannual GAO audit.—Any provision of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–95), including any amendment made by such Act, that requires the Comptroller General to conduct an audit (including a recurring audit) shall have no force or effect.

Section 46103 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (1)—

(i) in subparagraph (B) by striking “or” after the semicolon;

(ii) in subparagraph (C) by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following:

“(D) by electronic or facsimile transmission to the person to be served or the designated agent of the person; or

“(E) as designated by regulation or guidance published in the Federal Register.”; and

(B) by adding at the end the following:

“(3) The date of service made by an electronic or facsimile method is—

“(A) the date an electronic or facsimile transmission is sent; or

“(B) the date a notification is sent by an electronic or facsimile method that a notice, process, or action is immediately available and accessible in an electronic database.”; and

(2) in subsection (c) by striking the first sentence and inserting “Service on an agent designated under this section shall be made at the office or usual place of residence of the agent or at the electronic or facsimile address designated by the agent.”.

(a) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall—

(1) identify, at the discretion of the Administrator, not less than 3 processes of the FAA that result in a certification and require paper-based information exchange between external entities and the FAA or offices within the FAA (such as an aircraft certification, aircraft registration, or airmen certification) or authorization, an exemption, or a letter of authorization; and

(2) initiate the digitization of such processes.

(b) Requirements.—In carrying out the digitization required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall ensure that the digitization of any process allows for—

(1) an applicant to track the application of such applicant throughout the period of submission and review of such application; and

(2) the status of the application to be available upon demand to the applicant, as well as FAA employees responsible for reviewing and making a decision on the application.

(c) Briefing to Congress.—Not later than 2 years after the date on which the Administrator initiates the digitization under subsection (a)(2), the Administrator shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on the progress of such digitization.

(d) Definition of digitization.—In this section, the term “digitization” means the transition from a predominantly paper-based system to a system centered on the use of a data management system and the internet.

(a) In general.—The Administrator—

(1) may establish telework policies for employees of the FAA that allow for the Administrator to reduce the office footprint and associated expenses of the FAA, if appropriate, increase workforce retention, and provide flexibilities that the Administrator demonstrates increases efficiency and effectiveness of the Administration, while requiring that any such policy—

(A) does not adversely impact the mission of the FAA;

(B) does not reduce the safety or efficiency of the national airspace system;

(C) for any employee that is designated as an officer or executive in the FAA Executive System or a political appointee (as such term is defined in section 106 of title 49, United States Code)—

(i) maximizes time at a duty station for such employee, excluding official travel; and

(ii) may include telework provisions as determined appropriate by the Administrator, commensurate with official duties for such employee;

(D) provides for on-the-job training opportunities for FAA personnel that are not less than such opportunities available in 2019;

(E) reflects the appropriate work status of employees based on the job functions of such employee;

(F) optimizes the work status of inspectors, investigators, and other personnel performing safety-related functions to ensure timely completion of safety oversight activities;

(G) provides for personnel, including such personnel performing work related to aircraft certification and flight standards, who are responsible for actively working with regulated entities, external stakeholders, or other members of the public to be—

(i) routinely available on a predictable basis for in-person and virtual communications with external persons; and

(ii) not hindered from meeting with, visiting, auditing, or inspecting facilities or projects of regulated persons due to any telework policy; and

(H) provides opportunities for in-person dialogue, collaboration, and ideation for all employees;

(2) ensures that locality pay for an employee of the FAA accurately reflects the telework status and duty station of such employee;

(3) may not establish a telework policy for an employee of the FAA unless such employee will be provided with secure network capacity, communications tools, necessary and secure access to appropriate agency data assets and Federal records, and equipment sufficient to enable such employee to be fully productive; and

(4) not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, shall evaluate and address any telework policies in effect on the day before such date of enactment to ensure that such policies meet the requirements of paragraph (1).

(b) Congressional update.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and 1 year thereafter, the Administrator shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on any telework policies currently in place, the implementation of such policies, and the benefits of such policies.

(c) Consultation.—If the Administrator determines that telework agreements need to be updated to implement the requirements of subsection (a), the Administrator shall, prior to updating such agreements, consult with—

(1) exclusive bargaining representatives of air traffic controllers certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code; and

(2) labor organizations certified under such section as the exclusive bargaining representative of airway transportation systems specialists and aviation safety inspectors and engineers of the FAA.

(a) FAA review.—

(1) INITIATION OF REVIEW.—Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall initiate an inventory review of the domestic office footprint of the Department of Transportation.

(2) COMPLETION OF REVIEW.—Not later than 30 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete the inventory review required under paragraph (1).

(b) Contents of review.—In completing the review under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(1) delineate the domestic office footprint, as determined appropriate by the Secretary;

(2) determine space adequacy related to—

(A) the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.) and the corresponding accessibility guidelines established under part 1191 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations; and

(B) the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.);

(3) determine the feasible occupancy of such space, and provide the methodology used to make the determination;

(4) determine the number of individuals who are full-time equivalent employees, other support personnel, or contractors that have each such unit as a duty station and determine how telework policies will impact the usage of such space;

(5) calculate the amount of available, unused, or underutilized space in each such space;

(6) consider any lease terms for leased space contained in the domestic office footprint, including cost and effective dates for each such lease; and

(7) based on the findings in paragraphs (2) through (6), and any other metrics the Secretary determines relevant, provide recommendations for optimizing the use of office space across the Department in consultation with appropriate employee labor representatives.

(c) Report.—Not later than 4 months after completing the review under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a final report that proposes opportunities to optimize the domestic office footprint of the FAA (and associated costs). In compiling such final report, the Secretary shall describe opportunities for—

(1) consolidation of offices within a reasonable distance, as determined by the Senior Real Property Officer of the Department of Transportation, from one another;

(2) the collocation of regional or satellite offices of separate modes of the Department, including the costs and benefits of shared amenities; and

(3) the use of coworking spaces instead of permanent offices.

(d) Domestic office footprint defined.—In this section, the term “domestic office footprint” means buildings, offices, facilities, and other real property rented, owned, or occupied by the FAA or Department—

(1) in which employees report for permanent or temporary duty that are not FAA Airport Traffic Control Towers, Terminal Radar Approach Control Facilities, Air Route Traffic Control Centers, and Combined Control Facilities; and

(2) which are located within the United States.

(a) In general.—Chapter 401 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 40118 the following:

(b) Effective date.—The amendments made by this section shall be effective as of October 5, 2018, and all authority restored to the Secretary and the FAA under this section shall be treated as if such authority had never been repealed by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–254).

(c) Conforming amendment.—The analysis for chapter 401 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 40118 the following:

“40119. Sensitive security information.”.

(a) In general.—The Administrator shall encourage the participation of employees of the FAA, as appropriate, in the activities of recognized industry standards organizations to advance the adoption, reference, and acceptance rate of standards and means of compliance developed by such organizations by the Administrator.

(b) Participation.—An employee of the FAA directed by the Administrator to participate in a working group, task group, committee, or similar body of a recognized industry standards organization shall—

(1) actively participate in the discussions and work of such organization;

(2) accurately represent the position of the Administrator on the subject matter of such discussions and work;

(3) contribute to the development of work products of such organization, unless determined to be inappropriate by such organization;

(4) make reasonable efforts to identify and make any concerns of the Administrator relating to such work products known to such organization, including through providing formal comments, as may be allowed for under the procedures of such organization;

(5) provide regular updates to other FAA employees and management on the progress of such work products; and

(6) seek advice and input from other FAA employees and management, as needed.

(c) Recognized industry standards organization defined.—In this section, the term “recognized industry standards organization” means a domestic or international organization that—

(1) uses agreed upon procedures to develop aviation-related industry standards or means of compliance, including standards or means of compliance that satisfy FAA requirements or guidance;

(2) is comprised of members of the public, including subject matter experts, industry representatives, academics and researchers, and government employees; and

(3) has had at least 1 standard or means of compliance accepted by the Administrator or referenced in guidance material or a regulation issued by the FAA after the date of enactment of the Vision 100—Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act (Public Law 108–176).

It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator should make every effort to abide by the policies set forth in the circular of the Office of Management and Budget, titled “Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and Conformity Assessment Activities” (A–119).

The Administrator shall designate any aviation rulemaking committee convened under this Act pursuant to section 106(p)(5) of title 49, United States Code.

Title I of the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 (49 U.S.C. 40113 note) is amended under the heading “Administrative Services Franchise Fund” by striking “shall be paid in advance” and inserting “may be reimbursed after performance or paid in advance”.

Section 40110(d) of title 49, United States Code, is further amended—

(1) in paragraph (1) by striking “and implement” and inserting “, implement, and periodically update”;

(2) in paragraph (2) by striking “the new acquisition management system developed and implemented” and inserting “the acquisition management system developed, implemented, and periodically updated” each place it appears;

(3) in paragraph (3)—

(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—

(i) by striking “new”; and

(ii) by striking “and implemented” and inserting “, implemented, and periodically updated”; and

(B) in subparagraph (B) by striking “Within” and all that follows through “the Administrator” and inserting “The Administrator”;

(4) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and

(5) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:

“(4) COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.—In implementing and updating the acquisition management system pursuant to paragraph (1), the Administrator shall, whenever possible—

“(A) describe the requirements with respect to a solicitation for the procurement of supplies or services in terms of—

“(i) functions to be performed;

“(ii) performance required; or

“(iii) essential physical and system characteristics;

“(B) ensure that commercial services or commercial products may be procured to fulfill such solicitation, or to the extent that commercial products suitable to meet the needs of the Administration are not available, ensure that nondevelopmental items other than commercial products may be procured to fulfill such solicitation;

“(C) provide offerors of commercial services, commercial products, and nondevelopmental items other than commercial products an opportunity to compete in any solicitation for the procurement of supplies or services;

“(D) revise the procurement policies, practices, and procedures of the Administration to reduce any impediments to the acquisition of commercial products and commercial services;

“(E) ensure that any procurement of new equipment takes into account the life cycle, reliability, performance, service support, and costs to guarantee the acquisition of equipment that is of high quality and reliability resulting in greater performance and cost-related benefits; and

“(F) ensure that procurement officials—

“(i) acquire commercial services, commercial products, or nondevelopmental items other than commercial products to meet the needs of the Administration;

“(ii) in a solicitation for the procurement of supplies or services, state the specifications for such supplies or services in terms that enable and encourage bidders and offerors to supply commercial services or commercial products, or to the extent that commercial products suitable to meet the needs of the Administration are not available, to supply nondevelopmental items other than commercial products;

“(iii) require that prime contractors and subcontractors at all levels under contracts with the Administration incorporate commercial services, commercial products, or nondevelopmental items other than commercial products as components of items supplied to the Administration;

“(iv) modify procurement requirements in appropriate circumstances to ensure that such requirements can be met by commercial services or commercial products, or to the extent that commercial products suitable to meet the needs of the Administration are not available, nondevelopmental items other than commercial products; and

“(v) require training of appropriate personnel in the acquisition of commercial products and commercial services.”.

(a) Establishment.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish an Advanced Aviation Technology and Innovation Steering Committee (in this section referred to as the “Steering Committee”) to assist the FAA in planning for and integrating advanced aviation technologies.

(b) Purpose.—The Steering Committee shall—

(1) create and regularly update a comprehensive strategy and action plan for integrating advanced aviation technologies into the national airspace system and aviation ecosystem; and

(2) provide direction and resolution for complex issues related to advanced aviation technologies that span multiple offices or lines of business of the FAA, as needed.

(c) Chair.—The Deputy Administrator of the FAA shall serve as the Chair of the Steering Committee.

(d) Composition.—In addition to the Chair, the Steering Committee shall consist of the Assistant or Associate Administrator, or the designee of such Administrator, of each of the following FAA offices:

(1) Office of Aviation Safety.

(2) Air Traffic Organization.

(3) Office of Airports.

(4) Office of Commercial Space Transportation.

(5) Office of Finance and Management.

(6) Office of the Chief Counsel.

(7) Office of Rulemaking and Regulatory Improvement.

(8) Office of Policy, International Affairs, and Environment.

(9) Office of Security and Hazardous Materials Safety.

(10) Any other Office the Administrator determines necessary.

(a) Review.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall identify each categorical exclusion under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation, including any operating administration within the Department.

(b) New categorical exclusions for airport projects.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall—

(1) review the categorical exclusions applied by other operating administrations identified in subsection (a); and

(2) take such action as may be necessary to adopt, as relevant and appropriate, new categorical exclusions that meet the requirements of section 1508.4 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, from among categorical exclusions reviewed by the Secretary in paragraph (1) for use by the FAA.

(a) Implementation.—

(1) PRIORITY RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall—

(A) implement recommendations 6, 13, 14, and 15 as set forth in the Government Accountability Office report entitled “Aviation: FAA Needs to Better Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Fraud and Abuse Risks in Aircraft Registration,” (dated March 25, 2020); and

(B) to the extent that rulemaking is necessary to implement such recommendations, issue a notice of proposed rulemaking pursuant to the rulemaking authority of the FAA.

(2) REMAINING RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Administrator shall implement recommendations 1 through 5 and 8 through 12 as set forth in the Government Accountability Office report described in paragraph (1) and, to the extent that rulemaking is necessary to implement such recommendations, issue a notice of proposed rulemaking pursuant to the rulemaking authority of the FAA, on the earlier of—

(A) the date that is 90 days after the date on which the FAA implements the Civil Aviation Registry Electronic Services system; or

(B) January 1, 2026.

(b) Reports.—

(1) PRIORITY RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 60 days after the date on which the Administrator implements the recommendations under subsection (a)(1), the Administrator shall submit to the Committees on the Judiciary and Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committees on the Judiciary and Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Caucus on International Narcotics Control of the Senate a report on such implementation, including a description of any steps taken by the Administrator to complete such implementation.

(2) REMAINING RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 60 days after the date on which the Administrator implements the recommendations under subsection (a)(2), the Administrator shall submit to the Committees on the Judiciary and Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committees on the Judiciary and Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Caucus on International Narcotics Control of the Senate a report on such implementation, including a description of any steps taken by the Administrator to complete such implementation.

(a) Outdated air ambulance rulemaking requirement.—Section 44730 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(1) by striking “not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section,”;

(2) in subsection (c) by striking “address the following” and inserting “consider, or address through other means, the following”;

(3) in subsection (d) by striking “provide for the following” and inserting “consider, or address through other means, the following”; and

(4) in subsection (e)—

(A) in the heading by striking “Subsequent rulemaking” and inserting “Subsequent actions”;

(B) in paragraph (1) by striking “shall conduct a follow-on rulemaking to address the following:” and inserting “shall address through a follow-on rulemaking, or through such other means that the Administrator considers appropriate, the following:”;

(C) by striking paragraph (2); and

(D) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2).

(b) Safety management systems briefing.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on how the final rule titled “Safety Management System”, published on April 26, 2024, (89 Fed. Reg. 33068), will—

(1) improve helicopter air ambulance operations and piloting; and

(2) consider the use of safety equipment by flight crew and medical personnel on a helicopter conducting an air ambulance operation.

(c) Improvement of publication of helicopter air ambulance operations data.—Section 44731 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking subsection (d);

(2) in subsection (e)—

(A) in paragraph (1) by striking “and” at the end; and

(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

“(2) make publicly available, in part or in whole, on a website of the Federal Aviation Administration, the database developed pursuant to subsection (c); and

“(3) analyze the data submitted under subsection (a) periodically and use such data to inform efforts to improve the safety of helicopter air ambulance operations.”; and

(3) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively.

(a) FAA oversight of repair stations located outside the United States.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 44733 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(A) in the heading by striking “Inspection” and inserting “Oversight”;

(B) in subsection (a) by striking “Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the” and inserting “The”;

(C) in subsection (e)—

(i) by inserting “, without prior notice to such repair stations,” after “annually”;

(ii) by inserting “and the applicable laws of the country in which the repair station is located” after “international agreements”; and

(iii) by striking the last sentence and inserting “The Administrator may carry out announced or unannounced inspections in addition to the annual unannounced inspection required under this subsection based on identified risks and in a manner consistent with United States obligations under international agreements and the applicable laws of the country in which the part 145 repair station is located.”;

(D) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (j); and

(E) by inserting after subsection (f) the following:

“(g) Data analysis.—

“(1) IN GENERAL.—Each fiscal year in which a part 121 air carrier has had heavy maintenance work performed on an aircraft owned or operated by such carrier, such carrier shall provide to the Administrator, not later than the end of the following fiscal year, a report containing the information described in paragraph (2).

“(2) INFORMATION REQUIRED.—A report under paragraph (1) shall contain the following:

“(A) The location where any heavy maintenance work on aircraft was performed outside the United States.

“(B) A description of the work performed at each such location.

“(C) The date of completion of the work performed at each such location.

“(D) A list of all failures, malfunctions, or defects affecting the safe operation of such aircraft identified by the air carrier not later than 30 days after the date on which an aircraft is returned to service, organized by reference to aircraft registration number, that—

“(i) requires corrective action after the aircraft is approved for return to service; and

“(ii) results from such work performed on such aircraft.

“(E) The certificate number of the person approving such aircraft or on-wing aircraft engine for return to service following completion of the work performed at each such location.

“(3) ANALYSIS.—The Administrator shall—

“(A) analyze information provided under this subsection and sections 121.703, 121.705, 121.707, and 145.221 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor provisions of such title, to detect safety issues associated with heavy maintenance work on aircraft performed outside the United States; and

“(B) require appropriate actions by an air carrier or repair station in response to any safety issue identified by the analysis conducted under subparagraph (A).

“(4) CONFIDENTIALITY.—Information provided under this subsection shall be subject to the same protections given to voluntarily provided safety or security related information under section 40123.

“(h) Applications and prohibition.—

“(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may not approve any new application under part 145 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, from a person located or headquartered in a country that the Administration, through the International Aviation Safety Assessment program, has classified as Category 2.

“(2) EXCEPTION.—Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an application for the renewal of a certificate issued under part 145 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.

“(3) MAINTENANCE IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURES AGREEMENT.—The Administrator may elect not to enter into a new maintenance implementation procedures agreement with a country classified as Category 2, for as long as the country remains classified as Category 2.

“(4) PROHIBITION ON CONTINUED HEAVY MAINTENANCE WORK.—No part 121 air carrier may enter into a new contract for heavy maintenance work with a person located or headquartered in a country that the Administrator, through the International Aviation Safety Assessment program, has classified as Category 2, for as long as such country remains classified as Category 2.

“(i) Minimum qualifications for mechanics and others working on U.S. registered aircraft.—

“(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator shall require that, at each covered repair station—

“(A) all supervisory personnel of such station are appropriately certificated as a mechanic or repairman under part 65 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, or under an equivalent certification or licensing regime, as determined by the Administrator; and

“(B) all personnel of such station authorized to approve an article for return to service are appropriately certificated as a mechanic or repairman under part 65 of such title, or under an equivalent certification or licensing regime, as determined by the Administrator.

“(2) AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION.—Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator shall require any individual who is responsible for approving an article for return to service or who is directly in charge of heavy maintenance work performed on aircraft operated by a part 121 air carrier be available for consultation while work is being performed at a covered repair station.”.

(2) DEFINITIONS.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 44733(j) of title 49, United States Code (as redesignated by this section), is amended—

(i) in paragraph (1) by striking “aircraft” and inserting “aircraft (including on-wing aircraft engines)”;

(ii) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively; and

(iii) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesignated, the following:

“(1) COVERED REPAIR STATION.—The term ‘covered repair station’ means a facility that—

“(A) is located outside the United States;

“(B) is a part 145 repair station; and

“(C) performs heavy maintenance work on aircraft operated by a part 121 air carrier.”.

(B) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Section 44733(a)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking “covered part 145 repair stations” and inserting “part 145 repair stations”.

(3) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The analysis for chapter 447 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 44733 and inserting the following:

“44733. Oversight of repair stations located outside the United States.”.

(b) Alcohol and drug testing and background checks.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue a final rule carrying out the requirements of section 2112(b) of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 (49 U.S.C. 44733 note).

(2) RULEMAKING ON ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENT.—With respect to any employee not covered under the requirements of section 1554.101 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, the Administrator shall initiate a rulemaking (or request that the head of another Federal agency initiate a rulemaking) that requires a covered repair station to confirm that any such employee has successfully completed an assessment commensurate with a security threat assessment described in subpart C of part 1540 of such title.

(3) DEFINITION OF COVERED REPAIR STATION.—For purposes of this subsection, the term “covered repair station” means a facility that—

(A) is located outside the United States;

(B) is certificated under part 145 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; and

(C) performs heavy maintenance work on aircraft (including on-wing aircraft engines), operated under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.

Section 44736(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1) by striking “Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this section, the” and insert “The”; and

(2) in paragraph (3)—

(A) in subparagraph (E) by striking “and” at the end;

(B) in subparagraph (F) by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

“(G) convene a forum not less than every 2 years between ODA holders, unit members, and other organizational representatives and relevant experts, in order to—

“(i) share best practices;

“(ii) instill professionalism, ethics, and personal responsibilities in unit members; and

“(iii) foster open and transparent communication between Administration safety specialists, ODA holders, and unit members.”.

(a) Unit member annual ethics training.—Section 44736 of title 49, United States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“(g) Ethics training requirement for ODA holders.—

“(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall review and ensure each ODA holder authorized by the Administrator under section 44702(d) has in effect a recurrent training program for all ODA unit members that covers—

“(A) unit member professional obligations and responsibilities;

“(B) the ODA holder’s code of ethics as required to be established under section 102(f) of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act (49 U.S.C. 44701 note);

“(C) procedures for reporting safety concerns, as described in the respective approved procedures manual for the delegation;

“(D) the prohibition against and reporting procedures for interference from a supervisor or other ODA member described in section 44742; and

“(E) any additional information the Administrator considers relevant to maintaining ethical and professional standards across all ODA holders and unit members.

“(2) FAA REVIEW.—

“(A) REVIEW OF TRAINING PROGRAM.—The Organization Designation Authorization Office of the Administration established under subsection (b) shall review each ODA holders’ recurrent training program to ensure such program includes—

“(i) all elements described in paragraph (1); and

“(ii) training to instill professionalism and clear understanding among ODA unit members about the purpose of and procedures associated with safety management systems, including the provisions of the third edition of the Safety Management Manual issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization (Doc 9859) (or any successor edition).

“(B) CHANGES TO PROGRAM.—Such Office may require changes to the training program considered necessary to maintain ethical and professional standards across all ODA holders and unit members.

“(3) TRAINING.—As part of the recurrent training program required under paragraph (1), not later than 60 business days after being designated as an ODA unit member, and annually thereafter, each ODA unit member shall complete the ethics training required by the ODA holder of the respective ODA unit member in order to exercise the functions delegated under the ODA.

“(4) ACCOUNTABILITY.—The Administrator shall establish such processes or requirements as are necessary to ensure compliance with paragraph (3).”.

(b) Deadline.—An ODA unit member authorized to perform delegated functions under an ODA prior to the date of completion of an ethics training required under section 44736(g) of title 49, United States Code, shall complete such training not later than 60 days after the training program is approved by the Administrator pursuant to such section.

Section 44735 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) in paragraph (1) by striking “; or” and inserting a semicolon;

(B) in paragraph (2) by striking the period at the end and inserting “; or”; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

“(3) if the report, data, or other information is submitted for any purpose relating to the development and implementation of a safety management system, including a system required by regulation.”; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

(a) Oversight of organization designation authorization unit members.—Section 44741 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (f)(2)—

(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking “Not later than 90 days” and all that follows through “the Administrator shall provide a briefing” and inserting “The Administrator shall provide biannual briefings each fiscal year through September 30, 2028”; and

(B) in subparagraph (B) by striking “90-day period” and inserting “6-month period”; and

(2) in subsection (j) by striking “2023” and inserting “2028”.

(b) Integrated project teams.—Section 108(f) of division V of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (49 U.S.C. 44704 note) is amended by striking “fiscal year 2023” and inserting “fiscal year 2028”.

(c) Appeals of certification decisions.—Section 44704(g)(1)(C)(ii) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking “calendar year 2025” and inserting “calendar year 2028”.

(d) Professional development, skills enhancement, continuing education and training.—Section 44519(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking “2023” and inserting “2028”.

(e) Voluntary safety reporting program.—Section 113(f) of division V of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (49 U.S.C. 44701 note) is amended by striking “fiscal year 2023” and inserting “fiscal year 2028”.

(f) Changed product rule.—Section 117(b)(1) of division V of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (49 U.S.C. 44704 note) is amended by striking “fiscal year 2023” and inserting “fiscal year 2028”.

(g) Domestic and international pilot training.—Section 119(f)(3) of division V of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 is amended by striking “2023” and inserting “2028”.

(h) Samya Rose Stumo National Air Grant Fellowship Program.—Section 131(d) of division V of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note) is amended by striking “2025” and inserting “2028”.

Section 122 of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act (Public Law 116–260) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

“(2) conduct an annual agency-wide evaluation of the Compliance Program through fiscal year 2028 to assess the functioning and effectiveness of such program and to assess—

“(A) the need for long-term metrics that, to the maximum extent practicable, apply to all program offices, and use such metrics to assess the effectiveness of the program;

“(B) if the program ensures the highest level of compliance with safety standards;

“(C) if the program has met its stated safety goals and purpose; and

“(D) FAA employee confidence in the program.”;

(2) in subsection (c)(4) by striking “2023” and inserting “2028”; and

(3) in subsection (d) by striking “2023” and inserting “2028”.

In conducting any rulemaking to require, or implementing a regulation requiring, a safety management system, the Administrator shall consider the scalability of such safety management system requirements, to the full range of entities in terms of size or complexity that may be affected by such rulemaking or regulation, including—

(1) how an entity can demonstrate compliance using various documentation, tools, and methods, including, as appropriate, systems with multiple small operators collectively monitoring for and addressing risks;

(2) a review of traditional safety management techniques and the suitability of such techniques for small entities;

(3) the applicability of existing safety management system programs implemented by an entity;

(4) the suitability of existing requirements under part 5 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, for small entities; and

(5) other unique challenges relating to small entities the Administrator determines appropriate to consider.

(a) In general.—Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall review the final rule of the FAA titled “Safety Management Systems” and issued on April 26, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 33068).

(b) Applicability.—In reviewing the final rule under subsection (a), the Administrator shall ensure that the safety management system requirement under such final rule described in subsection (a) is applied to all certificate holders operating under the rules for commuter and on-demand operations under part 135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, commercial air tour operators operating under section 91.147 of such title, production certificate holders that are holders or licensees of a type certificate for the same product, and holders of a type certificate who license out such certificate for production under part 21 of such title.

(c) Determination.—If the Administrator determines the final rule does not apply the safety management system requirement in the manner described in subsection (b), the Administrator shall issue such regulation, guidance, or policy as may be necessary to ensure such safety management system requirement is applied in such manner.

(a) Review and study.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall seek to enter into an agreement with an appropriate federally funded research and development center, or other independent nonprofit organization that recommends solutions to aviation policy challenges through objective analysis, to conduct a review and study in accordance with the requirements and elements in this section.

(b) Elements.—The entity carrying out the review and study pursuant to subsection (a) shall provide analyses, assessments, and recommendations that address the following elements:

(1) A vision for a future state of type certification that reflects the highly complex, highly integrated nature of modern aircraft and improvements in aviation safety.

(2) An assessment of digital tools, techniques, and software systems that allow for efficient and virtual evaluation of an applicant design, associated documentation, and software or systems engineering products, including in digital 3-dimensional formats or using model-based systems engineering design techniques.

(3) How the FAA could develop a risk-based model for type certification that improves the safety of aircraft.

(4) What changes are needed to ensure that corrective actions for continued operational safety issues, including software modifications, can be approved and implemented in a timely manner while maintaining the integrity of the type certification process.

(5) What efficiencies and safety process improvements are needed in the type certification processes of the FAA to facilitate the assessment and integration of innovative technologies and advance aviation safety, such as conducting product familiarization, developing certification requirements, and demonstrating flight test safety readiness.

(6) Best practices and tools used by other certification authorities outside of the United States that could be adopted by the FAA, as well as the best practices and tools used by the FAA which can be shared with certification authorities outside of the United States.

(c) Parties to review.—In conducting the review and study pursuant to subsection (a), the Administrator shall ensure that the entity entering into an agreement under this section shall, throughout the review and study, consult with—

(1) the aircraft certification and flight standards offices or services of the Administration; and

(2) at least 3 industry members representing aircraft and aircraft part manufacturing interests.

(d) Considerations.—In conducting the review and study pursuant to subsection (a), the Administrator shall ensure the entity considers the availability, cost, interoperability, scalability, adaptability, cybersecurity, ease of adoption, and potential safety benefits of the elements described in subsection (b), including any digital tools, techniques, and software systems recommended to address such elements.

(e) Report.—Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the entity conducting the review and study pursuant to subsection (a) shall submit to the Administrator and the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the results of the review and study that includes—

(1) the findings and recommendations of the entity; and

(2) an assessment of whether digital tools, techniques, and software systems could improve the coordination, oversight, or safety of the certification and validation activities of the FAA.

(f) Congressional briefing.—Not later than 270 days after the report required under subsection (e) is received by the Administrator, the Administrator shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on—

(1) any actions the FAA proposes to take as a result of such findings and recommendations; and

(2) the rationale of the FAA for not taking action on any specific recommendation, as applicable.

(a) Assessment.—Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall complete an assessment of the use of advanced tools during the testing, analysis, and verification stages of aerospace certification projects to reduce the risks associated with high-risk flight profiles and performing limit testing.

(b) Considerations.—In carrying out the assessment under subsection (a), the Administrator shall consider—

(1) instances in which high-risk flight profiles and limit testing have occurred in the certification process and the applicability of the data produced by such testing for use in other aspects of flight testing;

(2) the safety of pilots during such testing;

(3) the value and accuracy of data collected using the advanced tools described in subsection (a);

(4) the ability to produce more extensive data sets using such advanced tools;

(5) any aspects of such testing for which the use of such advanced tools would not be valuable or applicable;

(6) the cost of using such advanced tools; and

(7) the best practices of other international civil aviation authorities that permit the use of advanced tools during aerospace certification projects.

(c) Consultation.—In carrying out the assessment under subsection (a), the Administrator shall consult with—

(1) aircraft manufacturers, including manufacturers that have designed and certified aircraft under—

(A) part 23 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations;

(B) part 25 of such title; or

(C) part 27 of such title;

(2) aircraft manufacturers that have designed and certified, or are in the process of certifying, aircraft with a novel design under part 21.17(b) of such title;

(3) associations representing aircraft manufacturers;

(4) researchers and academics in related fields; and

(5) pilots who are experts in flight testing.

(d) Congressional report.—Not later than 60 days after the completion of the assessment under subsection (a), the Administrator shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on the results of the assessment conducted under subsection (a).

(e) Required updates.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall take necessary actions based on the results of the assessment under subsection (a), including, as appropriate—

(A) amending part 21 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; and

(B) modifying any associated advisory circulars, guidance, or policy of the FAA.

(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In taking actions under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall consider—

(A) developing validation criteria and procedures whereby data produced in high-fidelity engineering laboratories and facilities may be allowed (in conjunction with, or in lieu of) data produced on a flying test article to support an applicant’s showing of compliance required under section 21.35(a)(1) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations;

(B) developing criteria and procedures whereby an Organization Designation Authorization (as defined in section 44736(c)(5) of title 49, United States Code) may recommend that certain data produced during an applicant’s flight test program may be accepted by the FAA as final compliance data in accordance with section 21.35(b) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, at the sole discretion of the FAA; and

(C) working with other international civil aviation authorities representing States of Design to—

(i) identify their best practices relative to high risk-flight testing; and

(ii) adopt such practices into the flight-testing requirements of the FAA to the maximum extent practicable.

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall publish a notice of proposed rulemaking for the item titled “Transport Airplane and Propulsion Certification Modernization”, published in Fall 2022 in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (RIN 2120–AL42).

(a) Internal regulatory review team.—

(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish an internal regulatory review team (in this section referred to as the “Team”).

(2) REVIEW.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Team shall conduct a review comparing foreign and domestic airworthiness standards and guidance for aircraft engine firewalls.

(B) REQUIREMENTS.—In conducting the review, the Team shall—

(i) identify any significant differences in standards or guidance with respect to test article selection and fire test boundaries and evaluation criteria for burn tests, including the use of certification by analysis for cases in which substantially similar designs have passed burn tests;

(ii) assess the safety implications for any products imported into the United States that do not comply with the firewall requirements of the FAA; and

(iii) consult with industry stakeholders to the maximum extent practicable.

(b) Duties of the Administrator.—The Administrator shall—

(1) not later than 60 days after the date on which the Team reports the findings of the review to the Administrator, update the Significant Standards List of the FAA based on such findings, as appropriate; and

(2) not later than 90 days after such date, submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on such findings and any recommendations for such legislative or administrative action as the Administrator determines appropriate.

(a) In general.—Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter, the Administrator shall—

(1) conduct a review of the risk-based model used by certification management offices of the FAA to inform the frequency of aircraft manufacturing or production facility inspections; and

(2) update the model to ensure such model adequately accounts for risk at facilities during periods of increased production.

(b) Briefings.—Not later than 60 days after the date on which the review is completed under subsection (a), the Administrator shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on—

(1) the results of the review;

(2) any changes made to the risk-based model described in subsection (a); and

(3) how such changes would help improve the in-plant inspection process.

(a) In general.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall seek to enter into an appropriate arrangement with a qualified third-party organization or consortium to evaluate the collection, collation, analysis, and use of aviation data across the FAA.

(b) Consultation.—In completing the evaluation under subsection (a), the qualified third-party organization or consortium shall—

(1) seek the input of experts in data analytics, including at least 1 expert in the commercial data services or analytics solutions sector;

(2) consult with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Transportation Research Board; and

(3) consult with appropriate federally funded research and development centers, to the extent that such centers are not already involved in the evaluation.

(c) Substance of evaluation.—In completing the evaluation under subsection (a), the qualified third-party organization or consortium shall—

(1) compile a list of internal and external sources, databases, and streams of information the FAA receives or has access to that provide the FAA with operational or safety information and data about the national airspace system, its users, and other regulated entities of the FAA;

(2) review data sets to determine completeness and accuracy of relevant information;

(3) identify gaps in information that the FAA could fill through sharing agreements, partnerships, or other means that would add value during safety trend analysis;

(4) assess the capabilities of the FAA, including analysis systems and workforce skillsets, to analyze relevant data and information to make informed decisions;

(5) review data and information for proper storage, identification controls, and data privacy—

(A) as required by law; and

(B) consistent with best practices for data collection, storage, and use;

(6) review the format of such data and identify methods to improve the usefulness of such data;

(7) assess internal and external access to data for—

(A) appropriateness based on data type and level of detail;

(B) proper data access protocols and precautions; and

(C) maximizing availability of safety-related data that could support the improvement of safety management systems of and trend identification by regulated entities and the FAA;

(8) examine the collation and dissemination of data within offices and between offices of the FAA;

(9) review and recommend improvements to the data analysis techniques of the FAA; and

(10) recommend investments the Administrator should consider to better collect, manage, and analyze data sets, including within and between offices of the FAA.

(d) Access to information.—The Administrator shall provide the qualified third-party organization or consortium and the experts described in subsection (b) with adequate access to safety and operational data collected by and held by the agency across all offices of the FAA, except if specific access is otherwise prohibited by law.

(e) Nondisclosure.—Prior to participating in the review, the Administrator shall ensure that each person participating in the evaluation under this section enters into an agreement with the Administrator in which the person shall be prohibited from disclosing at any time, except as required by law, to any person, foreign or domestic, any non-public information made accessible to the federally funded research and development center under this section.

(f) Report.—The qualified third-party organization or consortium carrying out the evaluation under this section shall provide a report of the findings of the center to the Administrator and include recommendations to improve the FAA’s collection, collation, analysis, and use of aviation data, including recommendations to—

(1) improve data access across offices within the FAA, as necessary, to support efficient execution of safety analysis and programs across such offices;

(2) improve data storage best practices;

(3) develop or refine methods for collating data from multiple FAA and industry sources; and

(4) procure or use available analytics tools to draw conclusions and identify previously unrecognized trends or miscategorized risks in the aviation system, particularly when identification of such information requires the analysis of multiple sets of data from multiple sources.

(g) Implementation of recommendations.—Not later than 6 months after the receipt of the report under subsection (f), the Administrator shall review, develop an implementation plan, and, if appropriate, begin the implementation of the recommendations received in such report.

(h) Review of implementation.—The qualified third-party organization or consortium that conducted the initial evaluation, and any experts who contributed to such evaluation pursuant to subsection (b)(1), shall provide regular feedback and advice to the Administrator on the implementation plan developed under subsection (g) and any implementation activities for at least 2 years beginning on the date of the receipt of the report under subsection (f).

(i) Report to Congress.—The Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress the report described in subsection (f) and the implementation plan described in subsection (g).

(j) Existing reporting systems.—Consistent with section 132 of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act (Public Law 116–260), the Executive Director of the Transportation Research Board, in consultation with the Secretary and the Administrator, may further harmonize data and sources following the implementation of recommendations under subsection (g).

(k) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit the public disclosure of information submitted under a voluntary safety reporting program or that is otherwise protected under section 44735 of title 49, United States Code.

(a) In general.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall initiate a study to examine how to improve the procurement, functionality, and sustainability of weather reporting systems, including—

(1) automated weather observing systems;

(2) automated surface observing systems;

(3) visual weather observing systems; and

(4) non-Federal weather reporting systems.

(b) Contents.—In conducting the study required under section (a), the Comptroller General shall address—

(1) the current state of the supply chain related to weather reporting systems and the components of such systems;

(2) the average age of weather reporting systems infrastructure installed in the national airspace system;

(3) challenges to maintaining and replacing weather reporting systems, including—

(A) root causes of weather reporting system outages, including failures of such systems, and supporting systems such as telecommunications infrastructure; and

(B) the degree to which such outages affect weather reporting in the national airspace system;

(4) mitigation measures to maintain aviation safety during such an outage; and

(5) alternative means of obtaining weather elements at airports, including wind direction, wind speed, barometric pressure setting, and cloud coverage, including visibility.

(c) Consultation.—In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall consult with the appropriate stakeholders and Federal agencies involved in installing, managing, and supporting weather reporting systems in the national airspace system.

(d) Report.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report describing the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).

(2) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Comptroller General shall include in the report submitted under paragraph (1) recommendations for—

(A) ways to improve the resiliency and redundancy of weather reporting systems;

(B) alternative means of compliance for obtaining weather elements at airports; and

(C) if necessary, changes to Orders of the Administration, including the following:

(i) Surface Weather Observing, Joint Order 7900.5.

(ii) Notices to Air Missions, Joint Order 7930.2.

(a) Study.—The Comptroller General shall conduct a study on the feasibility and benefits and costs of expanding the Weather Camera Program of the FAA to locations in the United States that lack weather camera services.

(b) Considerations.—In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall review—

(1) the potential effects of the existing Weather Camera Program on weather-related aviation accidents and flight interruptions;

(2) the potential benefits and costs associated with expanding the Weather Camera Program;

(3) limitations on the real-time access of weather camera information by pilots and aircraft operators;

(4) non-safety related regulatory structures or barriers to the allowable use of weather camera information for the purposes of aircraft operations;

(5) limitations of existing weather camera systems at the time of the study;

(6) alternative sources of viable weather data;

(7) funding mechanisms for weather camera installation and operations; and

(8) other considerations the Comptroller General determines appropriate.

(c) Report to congress.—Not later than 28 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the results of the study required under subsection (a).

(a) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the inspector general of the Department of Transportation shall initiate an audit of the FAA’s internal processes and procedures to communicate the position of civil aviation operators and the safety of the national airspace system to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration regarding proposed spectrum reallocations or auction decisions.

(b) Assessment.—In conducting the audit described in subsection (a), the inspector general shall assess best practices and policy recommendations for the FAA to—

(1) improve internal processes by which proposed spectrum reallocations or auctions are thoroughly reviewed in advance to ensure that any comments or technical concerns regarding aviation safety from civil aviation stakeholders are communicated to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration that are to be submitted to the Federal Communications Commission;

(2) develop internal processes and procedures to assess the effects a proposed spectrum reallocation or auction may have on the national airspace system in a timely manner to ensure safety of the national airspace system;

(3) improve external communication processes to better inform civil aviation stakeholders, including owners and operators of civil aircraft, on any comments or technical concerns of the FAA relating to a proposed spectrum reallocation or auction that may impact the national airspace system; and

(4) better communicate to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration when a proposed spectrum reallocation or auction may pose a potential risk to aviation safety.

(c) Stakeholder views.—In conducting the audit pursuant to subsection (a), the inspector general shall consult with relevant stakeholders, including—

(1) air carriers operating under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations;

(2) manufacturers of aircraft and aircraft components;

(3) wireless communication carriers;

(4) labor unions representing pilots;

(5) air traffic system safety specialists;

(6) other representatives of the communications industry;

(7) aviation safety experts;

(8) the National Telecommunications and Information Administration; and

(9) the Federal Communications Commission.

(d) Report.—Not later than 2 years after the date on which the audit is conducted pursuant to subsection (a), the inspector general shall complete and submit a report on findings and recommendations to—

(1) the Administrator;

(2) the appropriate committees of Congress; and

(3) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.

(a) In general.—Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in coordination with the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, shall collect and analyze data relating to accidents and incidents involving covered exempt aircraft that occurred within 30 nautical miles of an airport.

(b) Requirements.—The analysis required under subsection (a) shall include, with respect to covered exempt aircraft, a review of—

(1) incident and accident data since 2006 involving—

(A) midair events, including collisions;

(B) ground proximity warning system alerts;

(C) traffic collision avoidance system alerts; or

(D) a loss of separation or near miss; and

(2) the causes of the incidents and accidents described in paragraphs (1).

(c) Briefing to Congress.—Not later than 30 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on the results of the analysis required under subsection (a) and, if applicable, recommendations on how to reduce the number of incidents and accidents associated with such covered exempt aircraft.

(d) Covered exempt aircraft defined.—In this section, the term “covered exempt aircraft” means aircraft, balloons, and gliders exempt from air traffic control transponder and altitude reporting equipment and use requirements under part 91.215(b)(3) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.

(a) In general.—The Administrator shall task the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee to—

(1) review the data analysis conducted and the recommendations developed by the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee Rotorcraft Occupant Protection Working Group of the Administration;

(2) update the 2018 report of such working group on rotorcraft occupant protection by—

(A) reviewing National Transportation Safety Board data from 2016 through 2023 on post-crash fires in helicopter accidents; and

(B) determining whether and to what extent crash-resistant fuel systems could have prevented fatalities in the accidents covered by the data reviewed under subparagraph (A); and

(3) develop recommendations for either the Administrator or the helicopter industry to encourage helicopter owners and operators to expedite the installation of crash-resistant fuel systems in the aircraft of such owners and operators regardless of original certification and manufacture date.

(b) Schedule.—

(1) DEADLINE.—Not later than 18 months after the Administrator tasks the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee under subsection (a), the Committee shall submit the recommendations developed under subsection (a)(2) to the Administrator.

(2) IMPLEMENTATION.—If applicable, and not later than 180 days after receiving the recommendations under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall—

(A) begin implementing, as appropriate, any safety recommendations the Administrator receives from the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee, and brief the appropriate committees of Congress on any recommendations the Administrator does not implement; and

(B) partner with the United States Helicopter Safety Team, as appropriate, to facilitate implementation of any recommendations for the helicopter industry pursuant to subsection (a)(2).

(a) In general.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall review the recommendations made by the Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board to the Administrator contained in the safety research report titled “Preventing Turbulence-Related Injuries in Air Carrier Operations Conducted Under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121”, issued on August 10, 2021 (NTSB/SS–21/01) and provide a briefing to the appropriate committees of Congress with any planned actions in response to the recommendations of the report.

(b) Implementation.—Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall implement, as appropriate, the recommendations in the safety research report described in subsection (a).

(c) Report.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after completing the review under subsection (a), and every 2 years thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the implementation status of the recommendations in the safety research report described in subsection (a) until the earlier of—

(A) the date on which such recommendations have been adopted or adjudicated as described in paragraph (2); or

(B) the date that is 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

(2) CONTENTS.—If the Administrator decides not to implement a recommendation in the safety research report described in subsection (a), the Administrator shall provide, as a part of the report required under paragraph (1), a description of why the Administrator did not implement such recommendation.

(a) Study.—Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall seek to enter into appropriate arrangements with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine under which the National Research Council of the National Academies shall conduct a study on radiation exposure to crewmembers onboard various aircraft types operated under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.

(b) Scope of study.—In conducting the study under subsection (a), the National Research Council shall assess—

(1) radiation concentrations in such aircraft at takeoff, in-flight at high altitudes, and upon landing;

(2) the health risks and impact of radiation exposure to crewmembers onboard aircraft operating at high altitudes; and

(3) mitigation measures to prevent and reduce the health and safety impacts of radiation exposure to crewmembers.

(c) Report to Congress.—Not later than 16 months after the initiation of the study required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress the study conducted by the National Research Council pursuant to this section.

(a) Study.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall seek to enter into appropriate arrangements with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine under which the National Academies shall conduct a 1-year study on the health and safety impacts of unsafe cabin temperature with respect to passengers and crewmembers during each season in which the study is conducted.

(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the study required under paragraph (1), the National Academies shall review existing standards produced by recognized industry organizations on safe air temperatures and humidity levels in enclosed environments, including onboard aircraft, and evaluate the validity of such standards as it relates to aircraft cabin temperatures.

(3) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the study required under paragraph (1), the National Academies shall consult with the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute of the FAA, air carriers operating under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, relevant Federal agencies, and any applicable aviation labor organizations.

(b) Reports.—

(1) REPORT TO SECRETARY.—Not later than 180 days after the date on which the study under subsection (a) is completed, the National Academies shall submit to the Secretary a report on the results of such study, including any recommendations determined appropriate by the National Academies.

(2) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 60 days after the date on which the National Academies submits the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing the results of the study required under subsection (a), including any recommendations for further action determined appropriate by the Secretary.

(c) Covered aircraft defined.—In this section, the term “covered aircraft” means an aircraft operated under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.

(a) In general.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall task the Air Carrier Access Act Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the “Committee”) to conduct a review of regulations related to lithium–ion battery powered wheelchairs and mobility aids on commercial aircraft and provide recommendations to the Secretary to ensure safe transport of such wheelchairs and mobility aids in air transportation.

(b) Considerations.—In conducting the review required under subsection (a), the Committee shall consider the following:

(1) Any existing or necessary standards for lithium–ion batteries, including casings or other similar components, in such wheelchairs and mobility aids.

(2) The availability of necessary containment or storage devices, including fire containment covers or fire-resistant storage containers, for such wheelchairs and mobility aids.

(3) The policies of each air carrier (as such term is defined in part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations) pertaining to lithium–ion battery powered wheelchairs and mobility aids (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).

(4) Any other considerations the Secretary determines appropriate.

(c) Consultation requirement.—In conducting the review required under subsection (a), the Committee shall consult with the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

(d) Notification.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Upon completion of the review conducted under subsection (a), the Committee shall notify the Secretary if an air carrier does not have a policy pertaining to lithium–ion battery powered wheelchairs and mobility aids in effect.

(2) NOTIFICATION.—The Secretary shall notify an air carrier described in paragraph (1) of the status of such air carrier.

(e) Report to congress.—Not later than 90 days after submission of the recommendations to the Secretary, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress any recommendations under subsection (a), in the form of a report.

(f) Publication.—The Secretary shall publish the report required under subsection (e) on the public website of the Department of Transportation.

(a) Review.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall review relevant policies and guidance, including all advisory circulars, information bulletins, and directives, pertaining to part 60 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.

(b) Updates.—Upon completion of the review required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall, at a minimum, update relevant policies and guidance, including all advisory circulars, information bulletins, and directives, pertaining to part 60 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.

(c) Consultation.—In carrying out the review required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall convene and consult with entities required to comply with part 60 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, including representatives of—

(1) air carriers;

(2) flight schools certificated under part 141 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations;

(3) training centers certificated under part 142 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; and

(4) manufacturers and suppliers of flight simulation training devices (as defined in part 1 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, and Appendix F to part 60 of such title).

(d) GAO study on FAA National Simulator Program.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall conduct a study on the National Simulator Program of the FAA that is part of the Training and Simulation Group of the Air Transportation Division.

(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the study required under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall, at a minimum, assess—

(A) how the program described in paragraph (1) is maintained to reflect and account for advancement in technologies pertaining to flight simulation training devices (as defined in part 1 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, and appendix F to part 60 of such title);

(B) the staffing levels, critical competencies, and skills gaps of FAA personnel responsible for carrying out and supporting the program described in paragraph (1); and

(C) how the program described in paragraph (1) engages air carriers and relevant industry stakeholders, including flight schools, to ensure efficient compliance with part 60 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.

(3) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the findings of the study conducted under paragraph (1).

Not later than 240 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on the amount of time the application approval process takes for agricultural aircraft operations under part 137 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.

It is the sense of Congress that aviation provides essential services critical to the United States economy and that it is important to ensure the safety and security of aviation infrastructure and protect such infrastructure from unlawful breaches with appropriate legal safeguards.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator shall have sole regulatory and oversight jurisdiction over the maintenance and operations of aircraft owned by civilian operators and type-certificated in the restricted category under section 21.25 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.

(a) Study.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall conduct a study of foreign interchange agreements.

(b) Contents.—In carrying out the study required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall address the following:

(1) Methods for updating regulations under part 121.569 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, for foreign interchange agreements.

(2) Time limits for foreign aircraft interchange agreements.

(3) Minimum breaks between foreign aircraft interchange agreements.

(4) Limits for no more than 1 foreign aircraft interchange agreement between 2 airlines.

(5) Limits for no more than 2 foreign aircraft on the interchange agreement.

(c) Briefing.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on the results of the study required under subsection (a).

(d) Rulemaking.—Based on the results of the study required under subsection (a), the Administrator may, if appropriate, update the relevant sections of part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.

(a) In general.—Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and notwithstanding section 127 of the Aircraft Certification Safety and Accountability Act (49 U.S.C. 44513 note), the Administrator shall convene a task force on human factors in aviation safety (in this section referred to as the “Task Force”).

(b) Composition.—

(1) MEMBERS.—The Administrator shall appoint members of the Task Force—

(A) that have expertise in an operational or academic discipline that is relevant to the analysis of human errors in aviation, which may include air carrier operations, line pilot expertise, air traffic control, technical operations, aeronautical information, aircraft maintenance and mechanics psychology, linguistics, human-machine integration, general aviation operations, and organizational behavior and culture;

(B) that sufficiently represent all relevant operational or academic disciplines described in subparagraph (A);

(C) with expertise on human factors but whose experience and training are not in aviation and who have not previously been engaged in work related to the FAA or the aviation industry;

(D) that are representatives of pilot labor organizations and certificated mechanic labor organizations;

(E) that are employees of the FAA that have expertise in safety; and

(F) that are employees of other Federal agencies with expertise on human factors.

(2) NUMBER OF MEMBERS.—In appointing members under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall ensure that—

(A) at least half of the members appointed have expertise in aviation;

(B) at least one member appointed represents an exclusive bargaining representative of air traffic controllers certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code; and

(C) 3 members are employees of the FAA and 1 member is an employee of the National Transportation Safety Board.

(3) VOTING.—The members described in paragraph (2)(C) shall be non-voting members of the Task Force.

(c) Duration.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Members of the Task Force shall be appointed for the duration of the Task Force.

(2) LENGTH OF EXISTENCE.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Task Force shall have an initial duration of 2 years.

(B) OPTION.—The Administrator may extend the duration of the Task Force for an additional period of up to 2 years.

(d) Duties.—In coordination with the Research, Engineering, and Development Advisory Committee, the Task Force shall—

(1) not later than the date on which the duration of the Task Force expires under subsection (c), produce a written report in which the Task Force—

(A) to the greatest extent possible, identifies the most significant human factors and the relative contribution of such factors to aviation safety risk;

(B) identifies new research priorities for research in human factors in aviation safety;

(C) reviews existing products by other working groups related to human factors in aviation safety including the work of the Commercial Aviation Safety Team pertaining to flight crew responses to abnormal events;

(D) provides recommendations on potential revisions to any FAA regulations and guidance pertaining to the certification of aircraft under part 25 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, including sections related to presumed pilot response times and assumptions about the reliability of pilot performance during unexpected, stressful events;

(E) reviews rules, regulations, or standards regarding flight crew and maintenance personnel rest and fatigue that are used by a sample of international air carriers, including rules, regulations, or standards determined to be more stringent and less stringent than the current standards pertaining to air carriers (as such term is defined in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code), and identifies risks to the national airspace system from any variation in such rules, regulations, or standards across countries;

(F) reviews pilot training requirements and recommends any revisions necessary to ensure adequate understanding of automated systems on aircraft;

(G) reviews approach and landing misalignment and makes any recommendations for reducing misalignment events;

(H) identifies ways to enhance instrument landing system maintenance schedules;

(I) determines how a real-time smart system should be developed to inform the air traffic control system, air carriers, and airports about any changes in the state of runway and taxiway lights and identifies how such real-time smart system could be connected to the maintenance system of the FAA;

(J) analyzes, with respect to human errors related to aviation safety of air carriers operating under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations—

(i) fatigue and distraction during critical phases of work among pilots or other aviation personnel;

(ii) tasks and workload;

(iii) organizational culture;

(iv) communication among personnel;

(v) adherence to safety procedures;

(vi) mental state of personnel; and

(vii) any other relevant factors that are the cause or potential cause of human error related to aviation safety;

(K) includes a tabulation of the number of accidents, incidents, or aviation safety database entries received in which an item identified under subparagraph (J) was a cause or potential cause of human error related to aviation safety; and

(L) includes a list of causes or potential causes of human error related to aviation safety about which the Administrator believes additional information is needed; and

(2) if the Administrator extends the duration of the Task Force pursuant to subsection (c)(2)(B), not later than the date that is 2 years after the date on which the Task Force is established, produce an interim report containing the information described in paragraph (1).

(e) Methodology.—In carrying out the duties under subparagraphs (J) through (L) of subsection (d)(1), the Task Force shall consult with the National Transportation Safety Board and use all available data compiled and analysis conducted on safety incidents and irregularities collected during the relevant fiscal year from the following:

(1) Flight Operations Quality Assurance.

(2) Aviation Safety Action Program.

(3) Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing.

(4) The Aviation Safety Reporting System.

(5) Aviation safety recommendations and investigation findings of the National Transportation Safety Board.

(6) Other relevant programs or sources.

(f) Consistency.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to require changes to, or duplication of, work as required by section 127 of the Aircraft Certification Safety and Accountability Act (49 U.S.C. 44513 note).

(a) In general.—Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall update FAA standards to allow for the distribution and use of the Capstone Restricted Routes and Terminal Procedures by Wide Area Augmentation System-capable navigation equipment.

(b) Contents.—In updating standards under subsection (a), the Administrator shall ensure that such standards provide a means for allowing modifications and continued development of new routes and procedures proposed by air carriers operating such routes.

(a) In general.—The applicable Administrators shall work in collaboration to collect the real-time service status of all automated surface observation systems/automated weather observing systems (in this section referred to as “ASOS/AWOS”).

(b) Availability of results.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this section, the applicable Administrators shall make available on a publicly available website the following:

(A) The service status of all ASOS/AWOS.

(B) Information on any actions to repair or replace ASOS/AWOS that are out of service due to technical or weather-related events, including an estimated timeline to return the systems to service.

(C) A portal on such publicly available website for the public to report ASOS/AWOS outages.

(2) DATA FILES.—The applicable Administrators shall make available the underlying data required under paragraph (1) for each ASOS/AWOS in a machine-readable format.

(c) Applicable Administrators.—In this section, the term “applicable Administrators” means—

(1) the Administrator of the FAA; and

(2) the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(a) In general.—Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall task the Investigative Technologies Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the “Committee”) with reviewing and assessing the need for changes to the safety requirements related to flight data recorders, flight data monitoring, and terrain awareness and warning systems for turbine-powered rotorcraft certificated for 6 or more passenger seats.

(b) Considerations.—In reviewing and assessing the safety requirements under subsection (a), the Committee shall consider—

(1) any applicable safety recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board; and

(2) the operational requirements and safety considerations for operations under parts 121 and 135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.