[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3406 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3406

   To clarify the regulation of Alaskan Guide Pilots conducting air 
        flights in the State of Alaska, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 5, 1998

 Mr. Young of Alaska introduced the following bill; which was referred 
         to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To clarify the regulation of Alaskan Guide Pilots conducting air 
        flights in the State of Alaska, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Alaska Air Guide Regulations Act of 
1998''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Alaska covers 586,000 square miles, which is \1/5\ of 
        the area of the continental United States. There are very few 
        existing roads and the sheer size of the State demands the use 
        of airplanes to reach most of the hunting and fishing sites.
            (2) Since 1963, the Federal Aviation Administration 
        regulated Alaska guide pilots under the Federal Aviation 
        Administration's General Operating and Flight Rules.
            (3) The Federal Aviation Administration has attempted to 
        unilaterally rescind the 34-year practice and policy concerning 
        the regulation of Alaska guide pilots under the General 
        Operating and Flight Rules. The Administration is seeking to 
        impose distinct and significantly greater, and unnecessary, 
        obligations and duties on Alaska guide pilots.
            (4) The Federal Aviation Administration's substantial 
        change in practice and policy imposes unnecessary regulatory 
        burdens on guide pilots and does not improve safety. The new 
        approach threatens the livelihood of guide pilots and will 
        diminish the availability of fishing and hunting guide services 
        in Alaska.
            (5) Alaska guide pilots have recognized that some 
        additional requirements will improve safety and support 
        imposition of additional reasonable requirements related to 
        pilot training, pilot experience, and aircraft inspection.

SEC. 3. ALASKA PILOT DEFINED.

    In this Act, the term ``Alaska guide pilot'' means a pilot who--
            (1) conducts aircraft operations over or within the State 
        of Alaska;
            (2) operates single engine, fixed wing aircraft on floats, 
        wheels, or skis, providing commercial hunting or fishing 
        services and related accommodations, in the form of camps or 
        lodges; and
            (3) transports clients by such aircraft incidental to the 
        provision of hunting or fishing services.

SEC. 4. ALASKA GUIDE PILOT REGULATIONS.

    (a) Regulation Under General Operating and Flight Rules.--Beginning 
on the date of the enactment of this Act, Alaska guide pilots shall be 
regulated under the Federal Aviation Administration's General Operating 
and Flight Rules.
    (b) Authority of FAA.--The Federal Aviation Administration may 
amend the General Operating and Flight Rules to require Alaska guide 
pilots--
            (1) to be inspected no less often than after 125 hours of 
        flight time;
            (2) to participate in an annual flight review as described 
        in the Federal Aviation Administration's Certification: Pilots 
        and Flight Instructors; Subpart A--General; Flight Review;
            (3) to have a total of at least 500 hours of flight time as 
        a pilot; and
            (4) to have a commercial rating as described in Federal 
        Aviation Administration's Certification: Pilots and 
        Instructors; Subpart F--Commercial Pilots.
                                 <all>