[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2658 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2658

To amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for 
the Federal Aviation Administration for fiscal years 2016 through 2017, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 9, 2016

   Mr. Thune (for himself, Mr. Nelson, Ms. Ayotte, and Ms. Cantwell) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
           Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for 
the Federal Aviation Administration for fiscal years 2016 through 2017, 
                        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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Aviation 
Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. References to title 49, United States Code.
Sec. 3. Definition of appropriate committees of Congress.
Sec. 4. Effective date.
                        TITLE I--AUTHORIZATIONS

                  Subtitle A--Funding of FAA Programs

Sec. 1001. Airport planning and development and noise compatibility 
                            planning and programs.
Sec. 1002. Air navigation facilities and equipment.
Sec. 1003. FAA operations.
Sec. 1004. FAA research and development.
Sec. 1005. Funding for aviation programs.
Sec. 1006. Extension of expiring authorities.
         Subtitle B--Airport Improvement Program Modifications

Sec. 1201. Small airport regulation relief.
Sec. 1202. Priority review of construction projects in cold weather 
                            States.
Sec. 1203. State block grants updates.
Sec. 1204. Contract Tower Program updates.
Sec. 1205. Approval of certain applications for contract tower program.
Sec. 1206. Remote towers.
Sec. 1207. Midway Island airport.
Sec. 1208. Airport road funding.
Sec. 1209. Repeal of inherently low-emission airport vehicle pilot 
                            program.
Sec. 1210. Modification of zero-emission airport vehicles and 
                            infrastructure pilot program.
Sec. 1211. Repeal of airport ground support equipment emissions 
                            retrofit pilot program.
Sec. 1212. Funding eligibility for airport energy efficiency 
                            assessments.
Sec. 1213. Recycling plans; safety projects at unclassified airports.
Sec. 1214. Transfers of instrument landing systems.
Sec. 1215. Non-movement area surveillance pilot program.
Sec. 1216. Amendments to definitions.
Sec. 1217. Clarification of noise exposure map updates.
Sec. 1218. Provision of facilities.
Sec. 1219. Contract weather observers.
Sec. 1220. Federal share adjustment.
Sec. 1221. Miscellaneous technical amendments.
                 Subtitle C--Passenger Facility Charges

Sec. 1301. PFC streamlining.
Sec. 1302. Intermodal access projects.
Sec. 1303. Use of revenue at a previously associated airport.
Sec. 1304. Future aviation infrastructure and financing study.
                            TITLE II--SAFETY

              Subtitle A--Unmanned Aircraft Systems Reform

Sec. 2001. Definitions.
                    Part I--Privacy and Transparency

Sec. 2101. Unmanned aircraft systems privacy policy.
Sec. 2102. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 2103. Federal Trade Commission authority.
Sec. 2104. National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
                            multi-stakeholder process.
Sec. 2105. Identification standards.
Sec. 2106. Commercial and governmental operators.
Sec. 2107. Analysis of current remedies under Federal, State, local 
                            jurisdictions.
                   Part II--Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Sec. 2121. Definitions.
Sec. 2122. Utilization of unmanned aircraft system test sites.
Sec. 2123. Additional research, development, and testing.
Sec. 2124. Safety standards.
Sec. 2125. Unmanned aircraft systems in the Arctic.
Sec. 2126. Special authority for certain unmanned aircraft systems.
Sec. 2127. Additional rulemaking authority.
Sec. 2128. Governmental unmanned aircraft systems.
Sec. 2129. Special rules for model aircraft.
Sec. 2130. Unmanned aircraft systems aeronautical knowledge and safety.
Sec. 2131. Safety statements.
Sec. 2132. Treatment of unmanned aircraft operating underground.
Sec. 2133. Enforcement.
Sec. 2134. Aviation emergency safety public services disruption.
Sec. 2135. Pilot project for airport safety and airspace hazard 
                            mitigation.
Sec. 2136. Contribution to financing of regulatory functions.
Sec. 2137. Sense of Congress regarding small UAS rulemaking.
Sec. 2138. Unmanned aircraft system traffic management.
Sec. 2139. Emergency exemption process.
Sec. 2140. Public UAS operations by tribal governments.
              Part III--Transition and Savings Provisions

Sec. 2141. Senior advisor for unmanned aircraft systems integration.
Sec. 2142. Effect on other laws.
Sec. 2143. Transition language.
              Subtitle B--FAA Safety Certification Reform

                       Part I--General Provisions

Sec. 2211. Definitions.
Sec. 2212. Safety oversight and certification advisory committee.
                 Part II--Aircraft Certification Reform

Sec. 2221. Aircraft certification performance objectives and metrics.
Sec. 2222. Organization designation authorizations.
Sec. 2223. ODA review.
Sec. 2224. Type certification resolution process.
Sec. 2225. Safety enhancing technologies for small general aviation 
                            airplanes.
Sec. 2226. Streamlining certification of small general aviation 
                            airplanes.
                   Part III--Flight Standards Reform

Sec. 2231. Flight standards performance objectives and metrics.
Sec. 2232. FAA task force on flight standards reform.
Sec. 2233. Centralized safety guidance database.
Sec. 2234. Regulatory Consistency Communications Board.
Sec. 2235. Flight standards service realignment feasibility report.
Sec. 2236. Additional certification resources.
                       Part IV--Safety Workforce

Sec. 2241. Safety workforce training strategy.
Sec. 2242. Workforce study.
                     Part V--International Aviation

Sec. 2251. Promotion of United States aerospace standards, products, 
                            and services abroad.
Sec. 2252. Bilateral exchanges of safety oversight responsibilities.
Sec. 2253. FAA leadership abroad.
Sec. 2254. Registration, certification, and related fees.
          Subtitle C--Airline Passenger Safety and Protections

Sec. 2301. Pilot records database deadline.
Sec. 2302. Access to air carrier flight decks.
Sec. 2303. Aircraft tracking and flight data.
Sec. 2304. Automation reliance improvements.
Sec. 2305. Enhanced mental health screening for pilots.
Sec. 2306. Flight attendant duty period limitations and rest 
                            requirements.
Sec. 2307. Training flight attendants to identify human trafficking.
Sec. 2308. Report on obsolete test equipment.
Sec. 2309. Plan for systems to provide direct warnings of potential 
                            runway incursions.
Sec. 2310. Laser pointer incidents.
Sec. 2311. Helicopter air ambulance operations data and reports.
Sec. 2312. Part 135 accident and incident data.
Sec. 2313. Definition of human factors.
Sec. 2314. Sense of Congress; pilot in command authority.
Sec. 2315. Enhancing ASIAS.
Sec. 2316. Improving runway safety.
Sec. 2317. Safe air transportation of lithium cells and batteries.
                  Subtitle D--General Aviation Safety

Sec. 2401. Automated weather observing systems policy.
Sec. 2402. Tower marking.
Sec. 2403. Crash-resistant fuel systems.
                     Subtitle E--General Provisions

Sec. 2501. Designated agency safety and health officer.
Sec. 2502. Repair stations located outside United States.
Sec. 2503. FAA technical training.
Sec. 2504. Safety critical staffing.
   Subtitle F--Third Class Medical Reform and General Aviation Pilot 
                              Protections

Sec. 2601. Short title.
Sec. 2602. Medical certification of certain small aircraft pilots.
Sec. 2603. Expansion of pilot's bill of rights.
Sec. 2604. Limitations on reexamination of certificate holders.
Sec. 2605. Expediting updates to NOTAM program.
Sec. 2606. Accessibility of certain flight data.
Sec. 2607. Authority for legal counsel to issue certain notices.
                  TITLE III--AIR SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS

Sec. 3001. Definitions.
             Subtitle A--Passenger Air Service Improvements

Sec. 3101. Causes of airline delays or cancellations.
Sec. 3102. Involuntary changes to itineraries.
Sec. 3103. Additional consumer protections.
Sec. 3104. Addressing the needs of families of passengers involved in 
                            aircraft accidents.
Sec. 3105. Emergency medical kits.
Sec. 3106. Travelers with disabilities.
Sec. 3107. Extension of Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer 
                            Protection.
Sec. 3108. Extension of competitive access reports.
Sec. 3109. Refunds for delayed baggage.
Sec. 3110. Refunds for other fees that are not honored by a covered air 
                            carrier.
Sec. 3111. Disclosure of fees to consumers.
Sec. 3112. Seat assignments.
Sec. 3113. Child seating.
Sec. 3114. Consumer complaint process improvement.
Sec. 3115. Online access to aviation consumer protection information.
Sec. 3116. Study on in cabin wheelchair restraint systems.
Sec. 3117. Training policies regarding assistance for persons with 
                            disabilities.
Sec. 3118. Advisory committee on the air travel needs of passengers 
                            with disabilities.
Sec. 3119. Report on covered air carrier change and cancellation fees.
Sec. 3120. Enforcement of aviation consumer protection rules.
Sec. 3121. Dimensions for passenger seats.
                   Subtitle B--Essential Air Service

Sec. 3201. Essential air service.
Sec. 3202. Small community air service development program.
Sec. 3203. Small community program amendments.
Sec. 3204. Waivers.
Sec. 3205. Working group on improving air service to small communities.
                 TITLE IV--NEXTGEN AND FAA ORGANIZATION

Sec. 4001. Definitions.
         Subtitle A--Next Generation Air Transportation System

Sec. 4101. Return on investment assessment.
Sec. 4102. Ensuring FAA readiness to use new technology.
Sec. 4103. NextGen metrics report.
Sec. 4104. Facility outage contingency plans.
Sec. 4105. ADS-B mandate assessment.
Sec. 4106. NextGen interoperability.
Sec. 4107. NextGen transition management.
Sec. 4108. Implementation of NextGen operational improvements.
Sec. 4109. Cybersecurity.
Sec. 4110. Defining NextGen.
Sec. 4111. Human factors.
Sec. 4112. Major acquisition reports.
Sec. 4113. Equipage mandates.
Sec. 4114. Workforce.
Sec. 4115. Architectural leadership.
Sec. 4116. Programmatic risk management.
         Subtitle B--Administration Organization and Employees

Sec. 4121. Cost-saving initiatives.
Sec. 4122. Treatment of essential employees during furloughs.
Sec. 4123. Controller candidate interviews.
Sec. 4124. Hiring of air traffic controllers.
                         TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS

Sec. 5001. National Transportation Safety Board investigative officers.
Sec. 5002. Performance-based navigation.
Sec. 5003. Overflights of national parks.
Sec. 5004. Navigable airspace analysis for commercial space launch site 
                            runways.
Sec. 5005. Survey and report on spaceport development.
Sec. 5006. Aviation fuel.
Sec. 5007. Comprehensive Aviation Preparedness Plan.
Sec. 5008. Advanced Materials Center of Excellence.
Sec. 5009. Interference with airline employees.
Sec. 5010. Technical and conforming amendments.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 49, UNITED STATES CODE.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this Act an 
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal 
of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to 
be made to a section or other provision of title 49, United States 
Code.

SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS.

    In this Act, 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.

SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided, this Act and the amendments 
made by this Act shall take effect on the date of enactment of this 
Act.

                        TITLE I--AUTHORIZATIONS

                  Subtitle A--Funding of FAA Programs

SEC. 1001. AIRPORT PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND NOISE COMPATIBILITY 
              PLANNING AND PROGRAMS.

    (a) Authorization.--Section 48103(a) is amended by striking 
``section 47505(a)(2), and carrying out noise compatibility programs 
under section 47504(c) $3,350,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 
through 2015 and $1,675,000,000 for the period beginning on October 1, 
2015, and ending on March 31, 2016'' and inserting ``section 
47505(a)(2), carrying out noise compatibility programs under section 
47504(c), for an airport cooperative research program under section 
44511, for Airports Technology-Safety research, and Airports 
Technology-Efficiency research, $3,350,000,000 for fiscal year 2016 and 
$3,750,000,000 for fiscal year 2017''.
    (b) Obligational Authority.--Section 47104(c) is amended in the 
matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking ``After March 31, 2016'' and 
inserting ``After September 30, 2017''.

SEC. 1002. AIR NAVIGATION FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 48101(a) is amended 
by striking paragraphs (1) through (5) and inserting the following:
            ``(1) $2,855,241,025 for fiscal year 2016.
            ``(2) $2,862,020,524 for fiscal year 2017.''.

SEC. 1003. FAA OPERATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 106(k)(1) is amended by striking 
subparagraphs (A) through (E) and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) $9,910,009,314 for fiscal year 2016; and
                    ``(B) $10,025,361,111 for fiscal year 2017.''.
    (b) Authorized Expenditures.--Section 106(k)(2) is amended by 
striking ``for fiscal years 2012 through 2015'' each place it appears 
and inserting ``for fiscal years 2016 through 2017''.
    (c) Authority To Transfer Funds.--Section 106(k)(3) is amended by 
striking ``2012 through 2015 and for the period beginning on October 1, 
2015, and ending on March 31, 2016'' and inserting ``2016 through 
2017''.

SEC. 1004. FAA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    Section 48102 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``44511-44513'' and 
                        inserting ``44512-44513''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``and, for each of fiscal 
                        years 2012 through 2015, under subsection 
                        (g)'';
                    (B) in paragraph (8), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a semicolon; and
                    (C) by striking paragraph (9) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(9) $166,000,000 for fiscal year 2016; and
            ``(10) $169,000,000 for fiscal year 2017.''; and
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (3).

SEC. 1005. FUNDING FOR AVIATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Airport and Airway Trust Fund Guarantee.--Section 
48114(a)(1)(A) is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(A) In general.--The total budget resources made 
                available from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund each 
                fiscal year under sections 48101, 48102, 48103, and 
                106(k)--
                            ``(i) shall in each of fiscal years 2014 
                        through 2017, be equal to the sum of--
                                    ``(I) 90 percent of the estimated 
                                level of receipts plus interest 
                                credited to the Airport and Airway 
                                Trust Fund for that fiscal year; and
                                    ``(II) the actual level of receipts 
                                plus interest credited to the Airport 
                                and Airway Trust Fund for the second 
                                preceding fiscal year minus the total 
                                amount made available for obligation 
                                from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund 
                                for the second preceding fiscal year; 
                                and
                            ``(ii) may be used only for the aviation 
                        investment programs listed in subsection 
                        (b)(1).''.
    (b) Enforcement of Guarantees.--Section 48114(c)(2) is amended by 
striking ``2016'' and inserting ``2017''.

SEC. 1006. EXTENSION OF EXPIRING AUTHORITIES.

    (a) Discretionary Fund; Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau.--
Section 47115(j) is amended by striking ``2015 and for the period 
beginning on October 1, 2015, and ending on March 31, 2016,'' and 
inserting ``2017''.
    (b) Extension of Compatible Land Use Planning and Projects by State 
and Local Governments.--Section 47141(f) is amended by striking ``March 
31, 2016'' and inserting ``September 30, 2017''.
    (c) Inspector General Report on Participation in FAA Programs by 
Disadvantaged Small Business Concerns.--Section 140(c)(1) of the FAA 
Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-95) is amended by 
striking ``fiscal years 2013 through 2016'' and inserting ``fiscal 
years 2016 through 2017''.
    (d) Extension of Pilot Program for Redevelopment of Airport 
Properties.--Section 822(k) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 
2012 (49 U.S.C. 47141 note) is amended by striking ``March 31, 2016'' 
and inserting ``September 30, 2017''.

         Subtitle B--Airport Improvement Program Modifications

SEC. 1201. SMALL AIRPORT REGULATION RELIEF.

    Section 47114(c)(1) is amended by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(G) Special rule for fiscal years 2016 through 
                2017.--Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the Secretary 
                shall apportion to a sponsor of an airport under that 
                subparagraph for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2017 
                an amount based on the number of passenger boardings at 
                the airport during calendar year 2012 if the airport--
                            ``(i) had 10,000 or more passenger 
                        boardings during calendar year 2012;
                            ``(ii) had fewer than 10,000 passenger 
                        boardings during the calendar year used to 
                        calculate the apportionment for fiscal year 
                        2016 or 2017 under subparagraph (A); and
                            ``(iii) had scheduled air service in the 
                        calendar year used to calculate the 
                        apportionment.''.

SEC. 1202. PRIORITY REVIEW OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN COLD WEATHER 
              STATES.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration, to the extent practicable, shall schedule the 
Administrator's review of construction projects so that projects to be 
carried out in the States in which the weather during a typical 
calendar year prevents major construction projects from being carried 
out before May 1 are reviewed as early as possible.
    (b) Report.--The Administrator shall update the appropriate 
committees of Congress annually on the effectiveness of the review and 
prioritization.

SEC. 1203. STATE BLOCK GRANTS UPDATES.

    Section 47128(a) is amended by striking ``9 qualified States for 
fiscal years 2000 and 2001 and 10 qualified States for each fiscal year 
thereafter'' and inserting ``15 qualified States for fiscal year 2016 
and each fiscal year thereafter''.

SEC. 1204. CONTRACT TOWER PROGRAM UPDATES.

    (a) Special Rule.--Section 47124(b)(1)(B) is amended by striking 
``after such determination is made'' and inserting ``after the end of 
the period described in subsection (d)(6)(C)''.
    (b) Contract Air Traffic Control Tower Cost-Share Program; 
Funding.--Section 47124(b)(3)(E) is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(E) Funding.--Of the amounts appropriated under 
                section 106(k)(1), such sums as may be necessary may be 
                used to carry out this paragraph.''.
    (c) Cap on Federal Share of Cost of Construction.--Section 
47124(b)(4)(C) is amended by striking ``$2,000,000'' and inserting 
``$4,000,000''.
    (d) Cost Benefit Ratio Revision.--Section 47124 is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Cost Benefit Ratios.--
            ``(1) Contract air traffic control tower program at cost-
        share airports.--Beginning on the date of enactment of the 
        Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016, if 
        a tower is operating under the Cost-share Program, the 
        Secretary shall annually calculate a new benefit-to-cost ratio 
        for the tower.
            ``(2) Contract tower program at non-cost-share airports.--
        Beginning on the date of enactment of the Federal Aviation 
        Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016, if a tower is 
        operating under the Control Tower Program and continued under 
        subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall not calculate a new 
        benefit-to-cost ratio for the tower unless the annual aircraft 
        traffic at the airport where the tower is located decreases by 
        more than 25 percent from the previous year or by more than 60 
        percent over a 3 year period.
            ``(3) Considerations.--In establishing a benefit-to-cost 
        ratio under paragraph (1) or paragraph (2), the Secretary may 
        consider only the following costs:
                    ``(A) The Federal Aviation Administration's actual 
                cost of wages and benefits of personnel working at the 
                air traffic control contract tower.
                    ``(B) The Federal Aviation Administration's actual 
                telecommunications costs of the air traffic control 
                contract tower.
                    ``(C) Relocation and replacement costs of equipment 
                of the Federal Aviation Administration associated with 
                the tower, if paid for by the Federal Aviation 
                Administration.
                    ``(D) Logistics, such as direct costs associated 
                with establishing or updating the tower's interface 
                with other systems and equipment of the Federal 
                Aviation Administration, if paid for by the Federal 
                Aviation Administration.
            ``(4) Exclusions.--In establishing a benefit-to-cost ratio 
        under paragraph (1) or paragraph (2), the Secretary may not 
        consider the following costs:
                    ``(A) Airway facilities costs, including labor and 
                other costs associated with maintaining and repairing 
                the systems and equipment of the Federal Aviation 
                Administration.
                    ``(B) Costs for depreciating the building and 
                equipment owned by the Federal Aviation Administration.
                    ``(C) Indirect overhead costs of the Federal 
                Aviation Administration.
                    ``(D) Costs for utilities, janitorial, and other 
                services paid for or provided by the airport or the 
                State or political subdivision of a State having 
                jurisdiction over the airport where the tower is 
                located.
                    ``(E) The cost of new or replacement equipment, or 
                construction of a new or replacement tower, if the 
                costs borne were borne by the airport or the State or 
                political subdivision of a State having jurisdiction 
                over the airport where the tower is or will be located.
                    ``(F) Other expenses of the Federal Aviation 
                Administration not directly associated with the actual 
                operation of the tower.
            ``(5) Margin of error.--The Secretary shall add a 5 percent 
        margin of error to a benefit-to-cost ratio determination to 
        acknowledge and account for any direct or indirect factors that 
        are not included in the criteria the Secretary used in 
        calculating the benefit-to-cost ratio.
            ``(6) Procedures.--The Secretary shall establish 
        procedures--
                    ``(A) to allow an airport or the State or political 
                subdivision of a State having jurisdiction over the 
                airport where the tower is located not less than 90 
                days following the receipt of an initial benefit-to-
                cost ratio determination from the Secretary--
                            ``(i) to request the Secretary reconsider 
                        that determination; and
                            ``(ii) to submit updated or additional data 
                        to the Secretary in support of the 
                        reconsideration;
                    ``(B) to allow the Secretary not more than 90 days 
                to review the data submitted under subparagraph (A)(ii) 
                and respond to the request under subparagraph (A)(i);
                    ``(C) to allow the airport, State, or political 
                subdivision of a State, as applicable, 30 days 
                following the date of the response under subparagraph 
                (B) to review the response before any action is taken 
                based on a benefit-to-cost determination; and
                    ``(D) to provide, after the end of the period 
                described in subparagraph (C), an 18-month grace period 
                before cost-share payments from the airport, State, or 
                political subdivision of a State if as a result of the 
                benefit-to-cost ratio determination the airport, State, 
                or political subdivision, as applicable, is required to 
                transition to the Cost-share Program.
    ``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Control tower program.--The term `Control Tower 
        Program' means the level I air traffic control tower contract 
        program established under subsection (a) and continued under 
        subsection (b)(1).
            ``(2) Cost-share program.--The term `Cost-share Program' 
        means the cost-share program established under subsection 
        (b)(3).''.
    (e) Conforming Amendments.--Section 47124(b) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking ``the program 
        established under paragraph (3)'' and inserting ``the Cost-
        share Program'';
            (2) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) in the heading, by striking ``Contract air 
                traffic control tower program'' and inserting ``Cost-
                share program'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``contract 
                tower program established under subsection (a) and 
                continued under paragraph (1) (in this paragraph 
                referred to as the `Contract Tower Program')'' and 
                inserting ``Contract Tower Program'';
                    (C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``In carrying 
                out the program'' and inserting ``In carrying out the 
                Cost-share Program'';
                    (D) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``participate 
                in the program'' and inserting ``participate in the 
                Cost-share Program'';
                    (E) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``under the 
                program'' and inserting ``under the Cost-share 
                Program''; and
                    (F) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``the program 
                continued under paragraph (1)'' and inserting ``the 
                Control Tower Program''; and
            (3) in paragraph (4)(B)(i)(I), by striking ``contract tower 
        program established under subsection (a) and continued under 
        paragraph (1) or the pilot program established under paragraph 
        (3)'' and inserting ``Control Tower Program or the Cost-share 
        Program''.
    (f) Exemption.--Section 47124(b)(3)(D) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: ``Airports with both Part 121 air service and more 
than 25,000 passenger enplanements in calendar year 2014 shall be 
exempt from any cost share requirement under the Cost-share Program.''.
    (g) Savings Provision.--Notwithstanding the amendments made by this 
section, the towers for which assistance is being provided under 
section 41724 of title 49, United States Code, on the day before the 
date of enactment of this Act may continue to be provided such 
assistance under the terms of that section as in effect on that day.

SEC. 1205. APPROVAL OF CERTAIN APPLICATIONS FOR CONTRACT TOWER PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--If the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration has not implemented a revised cost-benefit methodology 
for purposes of determining eligibility for the Contract Tower Program 
before the date that is 30 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, any air traffic control tower with an application for 
participation in the Contract Tower Program pending as of January 1, 
2016, shall be approved for participation in the Contract Tower Program 
if the Administrator determines the tower is eligible under the 
criteria set forth in the Federal Aviation Administration report, 
Establishment and Discontinuance Criteria for Airport Traffic Control 
Towers, dated August 1990 (FAA-APO-90-7).
    (b) Definition of Contract Tower Program.--In this section, the 
term ``Contract Tower Program'' has the meaning given the term in 
section 47124(e) of title 49, United States Code.

SEC. 1206. REMOTE TOWERS.

    (a) Pilot Program.--
            (1) Establishment.--The Administrator of the Federal 
        Aviation Administration shall establish--
                    (A) in consultation with airport operators and 
                general aviation users, a pilot program at public-use 
                airports to construct and operate remote towers; and
                    (B) a selection process for participation in the 
                pilot program.
            (2) Safety considerations.--In establishing the pilot 
        program, the Administrator shall consult with operators of 
        remote towers in foreign countries to design the pilot program 
        in a manner that leverages as many safety and airspace 
        efficiency benefits as possible.
            (3) Requirements.--In selecting the airports for 
        participation in the pilot program, the Administrator shall--
                    (A) to the extent practicable, ensure that at least 
                2 different vendors of remote tower systems 
                participate;
                    (B) include at least 1 airport currently in the 
                Contract Tower Program and at least 1 airport that does 
                not have an air traffic control tower; and
                    (C) clearly identify the research questions that 
                will be addressed at each airport.
            (4) Research.--In selecting an airport for participation in 
        the pilot program, the Administrator shall consider--
                    (A) how inclusion of that airport will add research 
                value to assist the Administrator in evaluating the 
                feasibility, safety, and benefits of using remote 
                towers;
                    (B) the amount and variety of air traffic at an 
                airport; and
                    (C) the costs and benefits of including that 
                airport.
            (5) Data.--The Administrator shall clearly identify and 
        collect air traffic control information and data from 
        participating airports that will assist the Administrator in 
        evaluating the feasibility, safety, and cost-benefits of remote 
        towers.
            (6) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date the first 
        remote tower is operational, and annually thereafter, the 
        Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
        Congress a report--
                    (A) detailing any benefits, costs, or safety 
                improvements associated with the use of the remote 
                towers; and
                    (B) evaluating the feasibility of using remote 
                towers, particularly in the Contract Tower Program and 
                for airports without any air traffic control tower, or 
                to improve safety at airports with towers.
            (7) Deadline.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall select airports 
        for participation in the pilot program.
            (8) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    (A) Contract tower program.--The term ``Contract 
                Tower Program'' has the meaning given the term in 
                section 47124(e) of title 49, United States Code.
                    (B) Remote tower.--The term ``remote tower'' means 
                a system whereby air traffic services are provided to 
                operators at an airport from a location that may not be 
                on or near the airport.
    (b) AIP Funding Eligibility.--For purposes of the pilot program 
under subsection (a), and after certificated systems are available, 
constructing a remote tower or acquiring and installing air traffic 
control, communications, or related equipment for a remote tower shall 
be considered airport development (as defined in section 47102 of title 
49, United States Code) for purposes of subchapter I of chapter 471 of 
that title if components are installed and used at the airport, except 
for off-airport sensors installed on leased towers, as needed.

SEC. 1207. MIDWAY ISLAND AIRPORT.

    Section 186(d) of the Vision 100--Century of Aviation 
Reauthorization Act (Public Law 108-176; 117 Stat. 2518) is amended by 
striking ``and for the period beginning on October 1, 2015, and ending 
on March 31, 2016,'' inserting ``and for fiscal years 2016 through 
2017''.

SEC. 1208. AIRPORT ROAD FUNDING.

    (a) Airport Development Grant Assurances.--Section 47107(b) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) This subsection does not prevent the use of airport 
        revenue for the maintenance and improvement of the on-airport 
        portion of a surface transportation facility providing access 
        to an airport and non-airport locations if the surface 
        transportation facility is owned or operated by the airport 
        owner or operator and the use of airport revenue is prorated to 
        airport use and limited to portions of the facility located on 
        the airport. The Secretary shall determine the maximum 
        percentage contribution of airport revenue towards surface 
        transportation facility maintenance or improvement, taking into 
        consideration the current and projected use of the surface 
        transportation facility located on the airport for airport and 
        non-airport purposes. The de minimis use, as determined by the 
        Secretary, of a surface transportation facility for non-airport 
        purposes shall not require prorating.''.
    (b) Restrictions on the Use of Airport Revenue.--Section 47133 is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``Nothing'' and indenting 
        appropriately; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Nothing in this section may be construed to prevent 
        the use of airport revenue for the prorated maintenance and 
        improvement costs of the on-airport portion of the surface 
        transportation facility, subject to the provisions of section 
        47107(b)(4).''.

SEC. 1209. REPEAL OF INHERENTLY LOW-EMISSION AIRPORT VEHICLE PILOT 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) Repeal.--Section 47136 is repealed.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--The table of contents for 
chapter 471 is amended by striking the item relating to section 47136 
and inserting the following:

``47136. [Reserved].''.

SEC. 1210. MODIFICATION OF ZERO-EMISSION AIRPORT VEHICLES AND 
              INFRASTRUCTURE PILOT PROGRAM.

    Section 47136a is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``, including'' and 
        inserting ``used exclusively for transporting passengers on-
        airport or for employee shuttle buses within the airport, 
        including''; and
            (2) in subsection (f), by inserting ``, as in effect on the 
        day before the date of enactment of the Federal Aviation 
        Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016,'' after ``section 
        47136''.

SEC. 1211. REPEAL OF AIRPORT GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT EMISSIONS 
              RETROFIT PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Repeal.--Section 47140 is repealed.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--The table of contents for 
chapter 471 is amended by striking the item relating to section 47140 
and inserting the following:

``47140. [Reserved].''.

SEC. 1212. FUNDING ELIGIBILITY FOR AIRPORT ENERGY EFFICIENCY 
              ASSESSMENTS.

    (a) Cost Reimbursements.--Section 47140a(a) is amended by striking 
``airport.'' and inserting ``airport, and to reimburse the airport 
sponsor for the costs incurred in conducting the assessment.''.
    (b) Safety Priority.--Section 47140a(b)(2) is amending by inserting 
``, including a certification that no safety projects would be deferred 
by prioritizing a grant under this section,'' after ``an application''.

SEC. 1213. RECYCLING PLANS; SAFETY PROJECTS AT UNCLASSIFIED AIRPORTS.

    Section 47106(a) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (6)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
                striking ``for an airport that has an airport master 
                plan, the master plan addresses'' and inserting ``a 
                master plan project, it will address''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) if the project is at an unclassified airport, the 
        project will be funded with an amount apportioned under 
        subsection 47114(d)(3)(B) and is--
                    ``(A) for maintenance of the pavement of the 
                primary runway;
                    ``(B) for obstruction removal for the primary 
                runway;
                    ``(C) for the rehabilitation of the primary runway; 
                or
                    ``(D) a project that the Secretary considers 
                necessary for the safe operation of the airport.''.

SEC. 1214. TRANSFERS OF INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEMS.

    Section 44502(e) is amended by striking the first sentence and 
inserting ``An airport may transfer, without consideration, to the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration an instrument 
landing system consisting of a glide slope and localizer that conforms 
to performance specifications of the Administrator if an airport 
improvement project grant was used to assist in purchasing the system, 
and if the Federal Aviation Administration has determined that a 
satellite navigation system cannot provide a suitable approach.''.

SEC. 1215. NON-MOVEMENT AREA SURVEILLANCE PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 471 is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
``Sec. 47143. Non-movement area surveillance surface display systems 
              pilot program
    ``(a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration may carry out a pilot program to support non-Federal 
acquisition and installation of qualifying non-movement area 
surveillance surface display systems and sensors if--
            ``(1) the Administrator determines that acquisition and 
        installation of qualifying non-movement area surveillance 
        surface display systems and sensors improve safety or capacity 
        in the National Airspace System; and
            ``(2) the non-movement area surveillance surface display 
        systems and sensors are supplemental to existing movement area 
        systems and sensors at the selected airports established under 
        other programs administered by the Administrator.
    ``(b) Project Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--For purposes of carrying out the pilot 
        program, the Administrator may make a project grant out of 
        funds apportioned under paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of 
        section 47114(c) to not more than 5 eligible sponsors to 
        acquire and install qualifying non-movement area surveillance 
        surface display systems and sensors. The Administrator may 
        distribute not more than $2,000,000 per sponsor from the 
        discretionary fund. The airports selected to participate in the 
        pilot program shall have existing Federal Aviation 
        Administration movement area systems and airlines that are 
        participants in Federal Aviation Administration's Airport 
        Collaborative Decision Making process.
            ``(2) Procedures.--In accordance with the authority under 
        section 106, the Administrator may establish procurement 
        procedures applicable to grants issued under this subsection. 
        The procedures may permit the sponsor to carry out the project 
        with vendors that have been accepted in the procurement 
        procedure or using Federal Aviation Administration contracts. 
        The procedures may provide for the direct reimbursement 
        (including administrative costs) of the Administrator by the 
        sponsor using grant funds under this subsection, for the 
        ordering of system-related equipment and its installation, or 
        for the direct ordering of system-related equipment and its 
        installation by the sponsor, using such grant funds, from the 
        suppliers with which the Administrator has contracted.
            ``(3) Data exchange processes.--The Administrator may 
        establish data exchange processes to allow airport 
        participation in the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport 
        Collaborative Decision Making process and fusion of the non-
        movement surveillance data with the Administration's movement 
        area systems.
    ``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Non-movement area.--The term `non-movement area' is 
        the portion of the airfield surface that is not under the 
        control of air traffic control.
            ``(2) Non-movement area surveillance surface display system 
        and sensors.--The term `non-movement area surveillance surface 
        display system and sensors' is a non-Federal surveillance 
        system that uses on-airport sensors that track vehicles or 
        aircraft that are equipped with transponders in the non-
        movement area.
            ``(3) Qualifying non-movement area surveillance surface 
        display system and sensors.--The term `qualifying non-movement 
        area surveillance surface display system and sensors' is a non-
        movement area surveillance surface display system that--
                    ``(A) provides the required transmit and receive 
                data formats consistent with the National Airspace 
                System architecture at the appropriate service delivery 
                point;
                    ``(B) is on-airport; and
                    ``(C) is airport operated.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--The table of contents of 
chapter 471 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
47142 the following:

``47143. Non-movement area surveillance surface display systems pilot 
                            program.''.

SEC. 1216. AMENDMENTS TO DEFINITIONS.

    Section 47102 is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (10) through (28) as 
        paragraphs (12) through (30), respectively;
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (9) as 
        paragraphs (8) through (10), respectively;
            (3) in paragraph (3)(B)--
                    (A) by redesignating clauses (iii) through (x) as 
                clauses (iv) through (xi), respectively; and
                    (B) by striking clause (ii) and inserting the 
                following:
                            ``(ii) security equipment owned and 
                        operated by the airport, including explosive 
                        detection devices, universal access control 
                        systems, perimeter fencing, and emergency call 
                        boxes, which the Secretary may require by 
                        regulation for, or approve as contributing 
                        significantly to, the security of individuals 
                        and property at the airport;
                            ``(iii) safety apparatus owned and operated 
                        by the airport, which the Secretary may require 
                        by regulation for, or approve as contributing 
                        significantly to, the safety of individuals and 
                        property at the airport, and integrated in-
                        pavement lighting systems for runways and 
                        taxiways and other runway and taxiway incursion 
                        prevention devices;'';
            (4) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (K), by striking ``such project 
                will result in an airport receiving appropriate'' and 
                inserting ``the airport would be able to receive''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (L)--
                            (i) by striking ``or conversion of vehicles 
                        and'' and inserting ``of vehicles used 
                        exclusively for transporting passengers on-
                        airport, employee shuttle buses within the 
                        airport, or'';
                            (ii) by striking ``airport, to'' and 
                        inserting ``airport and equipped with''; and
                            (iii) by striking ``7505a) and if such 
                        project will result in an airport receiving 
                        appropriate'' and inserting ``[7505a)) and if 
                        the airport would be able to receive'';
            (5) in paragraph (5), by striking ``regulations'' and 
        inserting ``requirements'';
            (6) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
            ``(7) `categorized airport' means a nonprimary airport that 
        has an identified role in the National Plan of Integrated 
        Airport Systems.'';
            (7) in paragraph (9), as redesignated, by striking 
        ``public'' and inserting ``public-use'';
            (8) by inserting after paragraph (10), as redesignated, the 
        following:
            ``(11) `joint use airport' means an airport owned by the 
        Department of Defense, at which both military and civilian 
        aircraft make shared use of the airfield.'';
            (9) in paragraph (24), as redesignated, by amending 
        subparagraph (B)(i) to read as follows:
                            ``(i) determined by the Secretary to have 
                        at least--
                                    ``(I) 100 based aircraft that are 
                                currently registered with the Federal 
                                Aviation Administration under chapter 
                                445 of this title; and
                                    ``(II) 1 based jet aircraft that is 
                                currently registered with the Federal 
                                Aviation Administration where, for the 
                                purposes of this clause, `based' means 
                                the aircraft or jet aircraft overnights 
                                at the airport for the greater part of 
                                the year; or''; and
            (10) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(31) `unclassified airport' means a nonprimary airport 
        that is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport 
        Systems that is not categorized by the Administrator of the 
        Federal Aviation Administration in the most current report 
        entitled General Aviation Airports: A National Asset.''.

SEC. 1217. CLARIFICATION OF NOISE EXPOSURE MAP UPDATES.

    Section 47503(b) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``a change in the operation of the airport 
        would establish'' and inserting ``there is a change in the 
        operation of the airport that would establish''; and
            (2) by inserting after ``reduction'' the following: ``if 
        the change has occurred during the longer of--
            ``(1) the noise exposure map period forecast by the airport 
        operator under subsection (a); or
            ``(2) the implementation timeframe of the operator's noise 
        compatibility program.''.

SEC. 1218. PROVISION OF FACILITIES.

    Section 44502 is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Airport Space.--
            ``(1) Restriction.--The Administrator may not require an 
        airport owner or sponsor (as defined in section 47102) to 
        provide to the Federal Aviation Administration without cost any 
        of the following:
                    ``(A) building construction, maintenance, 
                utilities, or expenses for services relating to air 
                traffic control, air navigation, or weather reporting; 
                or
                    ``(B) space in a facility owned by the airport 
                owner or sponsor for services relating to air traffic 
                control, air navigation, or weather reporting.
            ``(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection may 
        be construed to affect--
                    ``(A) any agreement the Secretary may have or make 
                with an airport owner or sponsor for the airport owner 
                or sponsor to provide any of the items described in 
                subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) at below-
                market rates; or
                    ``(B) any grant assurance that requires an airport 
                owner or sponsor to provide land to the Administration 
                without cost for an air traffic control facility.''.

SEC. 1219. CONTRACT WEATHER OBSERVERS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall submit to the appropriate committee of Congress a report--
            (1) outlining safety risks, hazard effects, and operational 
        effects that could result from loss of contract weather 
        observer service at airports that use this service and are 
        under review by the Federal Aviation Administration;
            (2) detailing whether and how an airport described in 
        paragraph (1) can accurately report rapidly changing severe 
        weather conditions, including thunderstorms, lightning, fog, 
        visibility, cloud layers and ceilings, ice pellets, freezing 
        rain, and drizzle without contract weather observers; and
            (3) detailing the process by which the Administrator 
        analyzed the safety hazards associated with eliminating the 
        contract weather observer service.
    (b) Moratorium.--The Administrator may not finalize any 
determination regarding the continued use of the contract weather 
observer service at any airport until after the date the report is 
submitted under subsection (a).

SEC. 1220. FEDERAL SHARE ADJUSTMENT.

    Section 47109(a)(5) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(5) 95 percent for a project at an airport for which the 
        United States Government's share would otherwise be capped at 
        90 percent under paragraph (2) or paragraph (3) if the 
        Administrator determines that the project is a successive phase 
        of a multi-phased construction project for which the sponsor 
        received a grant in fiscal year 2011 or earlier.''.

SEC. 1221. MISCELLANEOUS TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Airport Security Program.--Section 47137 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``Transportation'' and 
        inserting ``Homeland Security'';
            (2) in subsection (e), by striking ``Homeland Security'' 
        and inserting ``Transportation''; and
            (3) in subsection (g), by inserting ``of Transportation'' 
        after ``Secretary'' the first place it appears.
    (b) Section 516 Property Conveyance Releases.--Section 817(a) of 
the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 47125 note) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``or section 23'' and inserting ``, section 
        23''; and
            (2) by inserting before the period at the end the 
        following: ``, or section 47125 of title 49, United States 
        Code.''.

                 Subtitle C--Passenger Facility Charges

SEC. 1301. PFC STREAMLINING.

    (a) Passenger Facility Charges; General Authority.--Section 
40117(b)(4) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
        ``, if the Secretary finds--'' and inserting a period; and
            (2) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B).
    (b) Pilot Program for Passenger Facility Charge Authorizations at 
Nonhub Airports.--Section 40117(l) is amended--
            (1) in the heading by striking ``Nonhub'' and inserting 
        ``Certain''; and
            (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``nonhub'' and inserting 
        ``nonhub, small hub, and medium hub''.

SEC. 1302. INTERMODAL ACCESS PROJECTS.

    Section 40117 is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(n) PFC Eligibility for Intermodal Ground Access Projects.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may authorize a passenger 
        facility charge imposed under subsection (b)(1) to be used to 
        finance the eligible capital costs of an intermodal ground 
        access project.
            ``(2) Definition of intermodal ground access project.--In 
        this subsection, the term `intermodal ground access project' 
        means a project for constructing a local facility owned or 
        operated by an eligible agency that--
                    ``(A) is located on airport property; and
                    ``(B) is directly and substantially related to the 
                movement of passengers or property traveling in air 
                transportation.
            ``(3) Eligible capital costs.--The eligible capital costs 
        of an intermodal ground access project shall be the lesser of--
                    ``(A) the total capital cost of the project 
                multiplied by the ratio that the number of individuals 
                projected to use the project to gain access to or 
                depart from the airport bears to the total number of 
                individuals projected to use the local facility; or
                    ``(B) the total cost of the capital improvements 
                that are located on airport property.
            ``(4) Determinations.--The Secretary shall determine the 
        projected use and cost of a project for purposes of paragraph 
        (3) at the time the project is approved under this subsection, 
        except that, in the case of a project to be financed in part 
        using funds administered by the Federal Transit Administration, 
        the Secretary shall use the travel forecasting model for the 
        project at the time the project is approved by the Federal 
        Transit Administration to enter preliminary engineering to 
        determine the projected use and cost of the project for 
        purposes of paragraph (3).
            ``(5) Nonattainment areas.--For airport property, any area 
        of which is located in a nonattainment area (as defined under 
        section 171 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7501)) for 1 or 
        more criteria pollutant, the airport emissions reductions from 
        less airport surface transportation and parking as a direct 
        result of the development of an intermodal project on the 
        airport property would be eligible for air quality emissions 
        credits.''.

SEC. 1303. USE OF REVENUE AT A PREVIOUSLY ASSOCIATED AIRPORT.

    Section 40117, as amended by section 1303, is further amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(o) Use of Revenues at a Previously Associated Airport.--
Notwithstanding the requirements relating to airport control under 
subsection (b)(1), the Secretary may authorize use of a passenger 
facility charge under subsection (b) to finance an eligible airport-
related project if--
            ``(1) the eligible agency seeking to impose the new charge 
        controls an airport where a $2.00 passenger facility charge 
        became effective on January 1, 2013; and
            ``(2) the location of the project to be financed by the new 
        charge is at an airport that was under the control of the same 
        eligible agency that had controlled the airport described in 
        paragraph (1).''.

SEC. 1304. FUTURE AVIATION INFRASTRUCTURE AND FINANCING STUDY.

    (a) Future Aviation Infrastructure and Financing Study.--Not later 
than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall enter into an agreement with the Transportation 
Research Board of the National Academies to conduct a study and make 
recommendations on the actions needed to upgrade and restore the 
national aviation infrastructure system to its role as a premier system 
that meets the growing and shifting demands of the 21st century, 
including airport infrastructure needs and existing financial resources 
for commercial service airports.
    (b) Consultation.--In carrying out the study, the Transportation 
Research Board shall convene and consult with a panel of national 
experts, including--
            (1) nonhub airports;
            (2) small hub airports;
            (3) medium hub airports;
            (4) large hub airports;
            (5) airports with international service;
            (6) non-primary airports;
            (7) local elected officials;
            (8) relevant labor organizations;
            (9) passengers; and
            (10) air carriers.
    (c) Considerations.--In carrying out the study, the Transportation 
Research Board shall consider--
            (1) the ability of airport infrastructure to meet current 
        and projected passenger volumes;
            (2) the available financial tools and resources for 
        airports of different sizes;
            (3) the current debt held by airports, and its impact on 
        future construction and capacity needs;
            (4) the impact of capacity constraints on passengers and 
        ticket prices;
            (5) the purchasing power of the passenger facility charge 
        from the last increase in 2000 to the year of enactment of this 
        Act;
            (6) the impact to passengers and airports of indexing the 
        passenger facility charge for inflation;
            (7) how long airports are constrained with current 
        passenger facility charge collections;
            (8) the impact of passenger facility charges to promote 
        competition;
            (9) the additional resources or options to fund terminal 
        construction projects;
            (10) the resources eligible for use toward noise reduction 
        and emission reduction projects;
            (11) the gap between AIP-eligible projects and the annual 
        Federal funding provided;
            (12) the impact of regulatory requirements on airport 
        infrastructure financing needs;
            (13) airline competition;
            (14) airline ancillary fees and their impact on ticket 
        pricing and taxable revenue; and
            (15) the ability of airports to finance necessary safety, 
        security, capacity, and environmental projects identified in 
        capital improvement plans.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 15 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Transportation Research Board shall submit to the 
Secretary and the appropriate committees of Congress a report on its 
findings and recommendations.
    (e) Funding.--The Secretary is authorized to use such sums as are 
necessary to carry out the requirements of this section.

                            TITLE II--SAFETY

              Subtitle A--Unmanned Aircraft Systems Reform

SEC. 2001. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) In General.--Unless expressly provided otherwise, the terms 
used in this subtitle have the meanings given the terms in section 
44801 of title 49, United States Code, as added by section 2121 of this 
Act.
    (b) Definition of Civil Aircraft.--The term ``civil aircraft'' has 
the meaning given the term in section 40102 of title 49, United States 
Code.

                    PART I--PRIVACY AND TRANSPARENCY

SEC. 2101. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS PRIVACY POLICY.

    It is the policy of the United States that the operation of any 
unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system shall be carried out in a 
manner that respects and protects personal privacy consistent with 
Federal, State, and local law.

SEC. 2102. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) each person that uses an unmanned aircraft system for 
        compensation or hire, or in the furtherance of a business 
        enterprise, should have a written privacy policy consistent 
        with section 2101 regarding the collection, use, retention, and 
        dissemination of any data collected during the operation of an 
        unmanned aircraft system;
            (2) each privacy policy described in paragraph (1) should 
        be periodically reviewed and updated as necessary; and
            (3) each privacy policy described in paragraph (1) should 
        be publicly available.

SEC. 2103. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AUTHORITY.

    A violation of a privacy policy by a person that uses an unmanned 
aircraft system for compensation or hire, or in the furtherance of a 
business enterprise, in the national airspace system shall be an unfair 
and deceptive practice in violation of section 5(a) of the Federal 
Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45(a)).

SEC. 2104. NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION 
              MULTI-STAKEHOLDER PROCESS.

    Not later than July 31, 2016, the Administrator of the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration shall submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a report on the industry privacy 
best practices developed through the multi-stakeholder engagement 
process (established under Presidential Memorandum of February 15, 2015 
(80 Fed. Reg. 9355)) on unmanned aircraft systems transparency and 
accountability. In addition to the agreed upon best practices, this 
report shall include relevant stakeholder recommendations for 
legislative or regulatory action regarding privacy, accountability, and 
transparency, including ways to encourage the adoption of privacy 
policies by companies that use unmanned aircraft systems for 
compensation or hire, or in the furtherance of a business enterprise.

SEC. 2105. IDENTIFICATION STANDARDS.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, in collaboration with the Administrator of 
the Federal Aviation Administration, and in consultation with the 
Secretary of Transportation, the President of the Radio Technical 
Commission for Aeronautics, and the Administrator of the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration, shall convene 
industry stakeholders to facilitate the development of consensus 
standards for remotely identifying operators and owners of unmanned 
aircraft systems and associated unmanned aircraft.
    (b) Considerations.--As part of the standards developed under 
subsection (a), the Director shall consider--
            (1) requirements for remote identification of unmanned 
        aircraft systems;
            (2) appropriate requirements for different classifications 
        of unmanned aircraft systems operations, including public and 
        civil;
            (3) the role of manufacturers, the Federal Aviation 
        Administration, and the owners of the systems described in 
        paragraphs (1) and (2) in reporting and verifying 
        identification data; and
            (4) the feasibility of the development and operation of a 
        publicly searchable online database to further enable the 
        immediate remote identification of any unmanned aircraft and 
        its operator by the general public.
    (c) Deadline.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Director shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report on the consensus identification standards.
    (d) Guidance.--Not later than 1 year after the date that the 
Director submits the report on the consensus identification standards 
under subsection (c), the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall issue regulatory guidance based on the consensus 
identification standards.

SEC. 2106. COMMERCIAL AND GOVERNMENTAL OPERATORS.

    (a) In General.--Except for model aircraft under section 44808 of 
title 49, United States Code, in authorizing the operation of any 
public unmanned aircraft system or the operation of any unmanned 
aircraft system by a person conducting civil aircraft operations, the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, to the extent 
practicable and consistent with applicable law and without compromising 
national security, homeland defense, or law enforcement, shall make the 
identifying information in subsection (b) available to the public via 
an online searchable database.
    (b) Contents.--The database described in subsection (a) shall 
contain the following:
            (1) The name of each individual, or agency, as applicable, 
        authorized to conduct civil or public unmanned aircraft systems 
        operations described in subsection (a).
            (2) The name of each owner of an unmanned aircraft system 
        described in paragraph (1).
            (3) The expiration date of any authorization related to a 
        person identified in paragraph (1) or paragraph (2).
            (4) The contact information for each person identified in 
        paragraphs (1) and (2), including a telephone number and an 
        electronic mail address, in accordance with applicable privacy 
        laws.
            (5) The tail number or specific identification number of 
        all unmanned aircraft authorized for use that links each 
        unmanned aircraft to the owner of that aircraft.
    (c) Records.--Each person described in subsection (b)(1), to the 
extent practicable without compromising national security, homeland 
defense, or law enforcement shall maintain and make available to the 
Administrator for not less than 1 year a record of the name and contact 
information of each person on whose behalf the unmanned aircraft system 
has been operated.
    (d) Deadline.--The Administrator shall make the database available 
not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (e) Termination.--The Administrator may cease the operation of such 
database on the date that the Administrator issues regulatory guidance 
on the consensus identification standards in section 2105.

SEC. 2107. ANALYSIS OF CURRENT REMEDIES UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL 
              JURISDICTIONS.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct and submit to 
the appropriate committees of Congress a review of the privacy issues 
and concerns associated with the operation of unmanned aircraft systems 
in the national airspace system that--
            (1) examines and identifies the existing Federal, State, or 
        local laws, including constitutional law, that protect an 
        individual's personal privacy;
            (2) identifies specific issues and concerns that may limit 
        the availability of existing civil or criminal legal remedies 
        regarding inappropriate operation of unmanned aircraft systems 
        in the national airspace system;
            (3) identifies any deficiencies in current Federal, State, 
        or local privacy protections; and
            (4) recommends legislative or other actions to address the 
        limitations and deficiencies identified in paragraphs (2) and 
        (3).

                   PART II--UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS

SEC. 2121. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) In General.--Part A of subtitle VII is amended by inserting 
after chapter 447 the following:

                ``CHAPTER 448--UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS

``Sec.
``44801. Definitions.
``Sec. 44801. Definitions
    ``In this chapter--
            ``(1) `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.
            ``(2) `Arctic' means the United States zone of the Chukchi 
        Sea, Beaufort Sea, and Bering Sea north of the Aleutian chain.
            ``(3) `certificate of waiver' and `certificate of 
        authorization' mean a Federal Aviation Administration grant of 
        approval for a specific flight operation.
            ``(4) `permanent areas' means areas on land or water that 
        provide for launch, recovery, and operation of small unmanned 
        aircraft.
            ``(5) `public unmanned aircraft system' means an unmanned 
        aircraft system that meets the qualifications and conditions 
        required for operation of a public aircraft (as defined in 
        section 40102(a)).
            ``(6) `sense and avoid capability' means the capability of 
        an unmanned aircraft to remain a safe distance from and to 
        avoid collisions with other airborne aircraft.
            ``(7) `small unmanned aircraft' means an unmanned aircraft 
        weighing less than 55 pounds, including the weight of anything 
        attached to or carried by the aircraft.
            ``(8) `test range' means a defined geographic area where 
        research and development are conducted as authorized by the 
        Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
            ``(9) `test site' means any of the 6 test ranges 
        established by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
        Administration under section 332(c) of the FAA Modernization 
        and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note), as in effect on 
        the day before the date of enactment of the Federal Aviation 
        Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016.
            ``(10) `unmanned aircraft' means an aircraft that is 
        operated without the possibility of direct human intervention 
        from within or on the aircraft.
            ``(11) `unmanned aircraft system' means an unmanned 
        aircraft and associated elements (including communication links 
        and the components that control the unmanned aircraft) that are 
        required for the operator to operate safely and efficiently in 
        the national airspace system.''.
    (b) Table of Chapters.--The table of chapters for subtitle VII is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 447 the 
following:

``448. Unmanned Aircraft Systems............................   44801''.

SEC. 2122. UTILIZATION OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM TEST SITES.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 448, as designated by section 2121 of this 
Act, is amended by inserting after section 44801 the following:
``Sec. 44802. Unmanned aircraft system test sites
    ``(a)(1) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall establish and update, as appropriate, a program 
for the use of the 6 test sites established under section 332(c) of the 
FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note) to 
facilitate the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the 
national airspace system.
    ``(2) Termination.--The program shall terminate on September 30, 
2017.
    ``(b) Program Requirements.--In establishing the program under 
subsection (a), the Administrator shall--
            ``(1) designate airspace for safely testing the integration 
        of unmanned flight operations in the national airspace system;
            ``(2) develop operational standards and air traffic 
        requirements for unmanned flight operations at test sites, 
        including test ranges;
            ``(3) coordinate with and leverage the resources of the 
        National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the 
        Department of Defense;
            ``(4) address both civil and public unmanned aircraft 
        systems;
            ``(5) ensure that the program is coordinated with relevant 
        aspects of the Next Generation Air Transportation System;
            ``(6) provide for verification of the safety of unmanned 
        aircraft systems and related navigation procedures as it 
        relates to continued development of standards for integration 
        into the national airspace system;
            ``(7) engage each test site operator in projects for 
        research, development, testing, and evaluation of unmanned 
        aircraft systems to facilitate the Federal Aviation 
        Administration's development of standards for the safe 
        integration of unmanned aircraft into the national airspace 
        system, which may include solutions for--
                    ``(A) developing and enforcing geographic and 
                altitude limitations;
                    ``(B) classifications of airspace where 
                manufacturers must prevent flight of an unmanned 
                aircraft system;
                    ``(C) classifications of airspace where 
                manufacturers of unmanned aircraft systems must alert 
                the operator to hazards or limitations on flight;
                    ``(D) sense and avoid capabilities; and
                    ``(E) beyond-line-of-sight, nighttime operations 
                and unmanned traffic management, or other critical 
                research priorities;
            ``(8) coordinate periodically with all test site operators 
        to ensure test site operators know which data should be 
        collected, what procedures should be followed, and what 
        research would advance efforts to safely integrate unmanned 
        aircraft systems into the national airspace system;
            ``(9) allow a test site to develop multiple test ranges 
        within the test site;
            ``(10) streamline the approval process for test sites when 
        processing unmanned aircraft certificates of waiver or 
        authorization for operations at the test sites;
            ``(11) require each test site operator to protect 
        proprietary technology, sensitive data, or sensitive research 
        of any civil or private entity when using that test site 
        without the need to obtain an experimental or special 
        airworthiness certificate;
            ``(12) evaluate options for the operation of 1 or more 
        small unmanned aircraft systems beyond the visual line of sight 
        of the operator for testing under controlled conditions that 
        assure the safety of persons and property, including on the 
        ground; and
            ``(13) allow test site operators to receive Federal 
        funding, other than from the Federal Aviation Administration, 
        including in-kind contributions, from test site participants in 
        the furtherance of research, development, and testing 
        objectives.
    ``(c) Test Site Locations.--In determining the location of a test 
site under subsection (a), the Administrator shall--
            ``(1) take into consideration geographic and climatic 
        diversity;
            ``(2) take into consideration the location of ground 
        infrastructure and research needs; and
            ``(3) consult with the Administrator of the National 
        Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Secretary of 
        Defense.
    ``(d) Report to Congress.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the Federal Aviation Administration 
        Reauthorization Act of 2016, the Administrator shall submit to 
        the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the 
        establishment and implementation of the program under 
        subsection (a).
            ``(2) Briefings.--Beginning 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of the Federal Aviation Administration 
        Reauthorization Act of 2016, and every 180 days thereafter 
        until September 30, 2017, the Administrator shall provide to 
        the appropriate committees of Congress a briefing that 
        includes--
                    ``(A) a current summary of unmanned aircraft 
                systems operations at the test sites since the last 
                briefing to Congress;
                    ``(B) a description of all of the data generated 
                from the operations described in subparagraph (A), and 
                shared with the Federal Aviation Administration through 
                a cooperative research and development agreement 
                authorized in section 2123 of the Federal Aviation 
                Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016, that relate 
                to unmanned aircraft systems research priorities, 
                including beyond-line-of-sight, unmanned traffic 
                management, nighttime operations, and sense and avoid 
                technology;
                    ``(C) a description of how the data described in 
                subparagraph (B) will be or is used--
                            ``(i) to advance Federal Aviation 
                        Administration priorities;
                            ``(ii) to validate the safety of unmanned 
                        aircraft systems and related technology; and
                            ``(iii) to inform future rulemaking related 
                        to the integration of unmanned aircraft systems 
                        into the national airspace;
                    ``(D) an evaluation of the activities and specific 
                outcomes from activities at the test sites that support 
                the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems under 
                this chapter; and
                    ``(E) recommendations for future Federal Aviation 
                Administration test site operations that would generate 
                data necessary to inform future rulemaking related to 
                unmanned aircraft systems.
    ``(e) Review of Operations by Test Site Operators.--The operator of 
each test site under subsection (a) shall--
            ``(1) review the operations of unmanned aircraft systems 
        conducted at the test site, including--
                    ``(A) ongoing or completed research; and
                    ``(B) data regarding operations by private and 
                public operators; and
            ``(2) submit to the Administrator, in such form and manner 
        as specified by the Administrator, the results of the review, 
        including recommendations to further enable private research 
        and development operations at the test sites that contribute to 
        the Federal Aviation Administration's safe integration of 
        unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system, on 
        a quarterly basis until the program terminates.
    ``(f) Testing.--The Secretary may authorize an operator of a test 
site described in subsection (a) to administer testing requirements 
established by the Administrator for unmanned aircraft systems 
operations.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Table of contents.--The table of contents for chapter 
        448, as added by section 2121 of this Act, is further amended 
        by inserting after the item relating to section 44801 the 
        following:

``44802. Unmanned aircraft system test sites.''.
            (2) Pilot projects.--Section 332 of the FAA Modernization 
        and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note) is amended by 
        striking subsection (c).

SEC. 2123. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND TESTING.

    (a) Research Plan.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration and the United States Unmanned Aircraft System Executive 
Committee, jointly, and in coordination with industry, users, the 
Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, and test site 
operators, shall develop a research plan to identify ongoing research 
into the broad range of technical, procedural, and policy concerns 
arising from the integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the 
national airspace system, and research needs regarding those concerns. 
In developing the plan, the Administrator shall determine and engage 
the appropriate entities to meet the research needs identified in the 
plan.
    (b) Collaborative Research and Development Agreements.--The 
Administrator may use the other transaction authority under section 
106(l)(6) of title 49, United States Code, and enter into collaborative 
research and development agreements, to direct research related to 
unmanned aircraft systems, including at any test site under section 
44802(a) of that title.

SEC. 2124. SAFETY STANDARDS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 448, as amended by section 2122 of this 
Act, is further amended by inserting after section 44802 the following:

``SEC. 44803. AIRCRAFT SAFETY STANDARDS.

    ``(a) Consensus Aircraft Safety Standards.--Not later than 60 days 
after the date of enactment of the Federal Aviation Administration 
Reauthorization Act of 2016, the Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration, in consultation with government and industry 
stakeholders and appropriate standards-setting organizations, shall 
initiate a collaborative process to develop risk-based, consensus 
industry airworthiness standards related to the safe integration of 
small unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system.
    ``(b) Considerations.--In developing the consensus aircraft safety 
standards, the Director and Administrator shall consider the following:
            ``(1) Technologies or standards related to geographic 
        limitations, altitude limitations, and sense and avoid 
        capabilities.
            ``(2) Using performance-based standards.
            ``(3) Predetermined action to maintain safety in the event 
        that a communications link between a small unmanned aircraft 
        and its operator is lost or compromised.
            ``(4) Detectability and identifiability to pilots, the 
        Federal Aviation Administration, and air traffic controllers, 
        as appropriate.
            ``(5) Means to prevent tampering with or modification of 
        any system, limitation, or other safety mechanism or standard 
        under this section or any other provision of law, including a 
        means to identify any tampering or modification that has been 
        made.
            ``(6) Remote identification capability standards under 
        section 2105.
            ``(7) How to update or modify a small unmanned aircraft 
        system that was commercially distributed prior to the 
        development of the standards so that, to the greatest extent 
        practicable, such systems meet the standards.
            ``(8) Any technology or standard related to small unmanned 
        aircraft systems that promotes aviation safety.
    ``(c) Consultation.--In developing the consensus industry standards 
under subsection (a), the Director and Administrator shall consult 
with--
            ``(1) the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and 
        Space Administration;
            ``(2) the President of RTCA, Inc.;
            ``(3) the Secretary of Defense;
            ``(4) each operator of a test site under section 44802;
            ``(5) the Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft 
        Systems;
            ``(6) unmanned aircraft systems stakeholders; and
            ``(7) community-based aviation organizations.
    ``(d) FAA Approval.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 
2016, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
establish a process for the approval of small unmanned aircraft systems 
make and models based upon safety standards developed under subsection 
(a). The consensus safety standards developed under subsection (a) 
shall allow the Administrator to approve small unmanned aircraft 
systems for operation within the national airspace system without 
requiring the type certification process in parts 21 and 23 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations.
    ``(e) Eligibility.--The standards for approval of small unmanned 
aircraft systems developed under this section shall set eligibility 
requirements for an airworthiness approval of a small unmanned aircraft 
system which shall include the following:
            ``(1) An applicant must provide the FAA with--
                    ``(A) the aircraft's operating instructions; and
                    ``(B) the manufacturer's statement of compliance as 
                described in paragraph (e) of this section.
            ``(2) A sample aircraft must be inspected by the Federal 
        Aviation Administration and found to be in a condition for safe 
        operation and in compliance with the standards required by the 
        Administrator in subsection (d).
    ``(f) Manufacturer's Statement of Compliance for Small UAS.--The 
manufacturer's statement of compliance required in subsection (e)(1)(B) 
shall--
            ``(1) identify the aircraft make and model, and consensus 
        standard used;
            ``(2) state that the aircraft make and model meets the 
        provisions of the identified consensus standard;
            ``(3) state that the aircraft make and model conforms to 
        the manufacturer's design data, using the manufacturer's 
        quality assurance system that meets the identified consensus 
        standard adopted by the Administrator in subsection (d), and is 
        manufactured in way that ensures consistency in the production 
        process so that every unit produced meets the applicable 
        standards;
            ``(4) state that the manufacturer will make available to 
        any interested person--
                    ``(A) the aircraft's operating instructions, that 
                meet the identified consensus standard; and
                    ``(B) the aircraft's maintenance and inspection 
                procedures, that meet the identified consensus 
                standard;
            ``(5) state that the manufacturer will monitor and correct 
        safety-of-flight issues through a continued airworthiness 
        system that meets the identified consensus standard;
            ``(6) state that at the request of the Administration, the 
        manufacturer will provide access by the Administration to its 
        facilities; and
            ``(7) state that the manufacturer, in accordance with a 
        production acceptance test procedure that meets an applicable 
        consensus standard has--
                    ``(A) ground and flight tested random samples of 
                the aircraft;
                    ``(B) found the sample aircraft performance 
                acceptable; and
                    ``(C) determined that the make and model of 
                aircraft is suitable for safe operation.
    ``(g) Prohibition.--It shall be unlawful for any person to 
introduce or deliver for introduction into interstate commerce any 
unmanned aircraft manufactured on or after the date that the 
Administrator adopts a relevant consensus standard under this section, 
unless the manufacturer has received approval under subsection (d) for 
each make and model.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for chapter 448, as 
amended by section 2122 of this Act, is further amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 44802 the following:

``44803. Aircraft safety standards.''.

SEC. 2125. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS IN THE ARCTIC.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 448, as amended by section 2124 of this 
Act, is further amended by inserting after section 44803 the following:
``Sec. 44804. Unmanned aircraft systems in the Arctic
    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation shall develop a 
plan and initiate a process to work with relevant Federal agencies and 
national and international communities to designate permanent areas in 
the Arctic where small unmanned aircraft may operate 24 hours per day 
for research and commercial purposes.
    ``(b) Plan Contents.--The plan under subsection (a) shall include 
the development of processes to facilitate the safe operation of 
unmanned aircraft beyond line of sight.
    ``(c) Requirements.--Each permanent area designated under 
subsection (a) shall enable over-water flights from the surface to at 
least 2,000 feet in altitude, with ingress and egress routes from 
selected coastal launch sites.
    ``(d) Agreements.--To implement the plan under subsection (a), the 
Secretary may enter into an agreement with relevant national and 
international communities.
    ``(e) Aircraft Approval.--Not later than 1 year after the entry 
into force of an agreement necessary to effectuate the purposes of this 
section, the Secretary shall work with relevant national and 
international communities to establish and implement a process, or may 
apply an applicable process already established, for approving the use 
of unmanned aircraft in the designated permanent areas in the Arctic 
without regard to whether an unmanned aircraft is used as a public 
aircraft, a civil aircraft, or a model aircraft.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Table of contents.--The table of contents for chapter 
        448, as amended by section 2124 of this Act, is further amended 
        by inserting after the item relating to section 44803 the 
        following:

``44804. Unmanned aircraft systems in the Arctic.''.
            (2) Expanding use of unmanned aircraft systems in arctic.--
        Section 332 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 
        U.S.C. 40101 note) is amended by striking subsection (d).

SEC. 2126. SPECIAL AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 448, as amended by section 2125 of this 
Act, is further amended by inserting after section 44804 the following:
``Sec. 44805. Special authority for certain unmanned aircraft systems
    ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other requirement of this 
chapter, the Secretary of Transportation shall use a risk-based 
approach to determine if certain unmanned aircraft systems may operate 
safely in the national airspace system notwithstanding completion of 
the comprehensive plan and rulemaking required by section 332 of the 
FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note) or the 
guidance required by section 44807.
    ``(b) Assessment of Unmanned Aircraft Systems.--In making the 
determination under subsection (a), the Secretary shall determine, at a 
minimum--
            ``(1) which types of unmanned aircraft systems, if any, as 
        a result of their size, weight, speed, operational capability, 
        proximity to airports and populated areas, and operation within 
        or beyond visual line of sight, or operation during the day or 
        night, do not create a hazard to users of the national airspace 
        system or the public; and
            ``(2) whether a certificate under section 44703 or section 
        44704 of this title, or a certificate of waiver or certificate 
        of authorization, is required for the operation of unmanned 
        aircraft systems identified under paragraph (1) of this 
        subsection.
    ``(c) Requirements for Safe Operation.--If the Secretary determines 
under this section that certain unmanned aircraft systems may operate 
safely in the national airspace system, the Secretary shall establish 
requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft systems in the 
national airspace system, including operation related to research, 
development, and testing of proprietary systems.
    ``(d) Pilot Certification Exemption.--If the Secretary proposes, 
under this section, to require an operator of an unmanned aircraft 
system to hold an airman certificate, a medical certificate, or to have 
a minimum number of hours operating a manned aircraft, the Secretary 
shall set forth the reasoning for such proposal and seek public notice 
and comment before imposing any such requirements.
    ``(e) Sunset.--The authority under this section for the Secretary 
to determine if certain unmanned aircraft systems may operate safely in 
the national airspace system terminates effective September 30, 
2017.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Table of contents.--The table of contents for chapter 
        448, as amended by section 2125 of this Act, is further amended 
        by inserting after the item relating to section 44804 the 
        following:

``44805. Special rules for certain unmanned aircraft systems.''.
            (2) Special rules for certain unmanned aircraft systems.--
        Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 
        U.S.C. 40101 note) and the item relating to that section in the 
        table of contents under section 1(b) of that Act (126 Stat. 13) 
        are repealed.

SEC. 2127. ADDITIONAL RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) beyond visual line of sight operations of unmanned 
        aerial systems have tremendous potential--
                    (A) to enhance research and development both 
                commercially and in academics;
                    (B) to spur economic growth and development through 
                innovative applications of this emerging technology; 
                and
                    (C) to improve emergency response efforts as it 
                relates to assessing damage to critical infrastructure 
                such as roads, bridges, and public utilities, including 
                water and power, ultimately speeding response time;
            (2) advancements in miniaturization of safety technologies, 
        including for aircraft weighing under 4.4 pounds, have 
        increased economic opportunities for using unmanned aircraft 
        systems while reducing kinetic energy and risk compared to 
        unmanned aircraft that may weigh as much as 55 pounds;
            (3) advancements in unmanned technology will have the 
        capacity to ultimately improve manned aircraft safety; and
            (4) integrating unmanned aircraft systems safely into the 
        national airspace, including beyond visual line of sight 
        operations on a routine basis should remain a top priority for 
        the Federal Aviation Administration as it pursues additional 
        rulemakings under the amendments made by this section.
    (b) In General.--Chapter 448, as amended by section 2126 of this 
Act, is further amended by inserting after section 44805 the following:
``Sec. 44806. Additional rulemaking authority
    ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding the rulemaking required by 
section 332 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 
40101 note) or the guidance required by section 44807 of this title and 
subject to subsection (b)(2) of this section and section 44808, the 
Administrator may issue regulations under which a person may operate 
certain unmanned aircraft systems (as determined by the Administrator) 
in the United States--
            ``(1) without an airman certificate;
            ``(2) without an airworthiness certificate for the 
        associated unmanned aircraft; or
            ``(3) that are not registered with the Federal Aviation 
        Administration.
    ``(b) Scope of Regulations.--
            ``(1) In general.--In determining whether a person may 
        operate an unmanned aircraft system under 1 or more of the 
        circumstances described under paragraphs (1) through (3) of 
        subsection (a), the Administrator shall use a risk-based 
        approach and consider, at a minimum, the physical and 
        functional characteristics of the unmanned aircraft system.
            ``(2) Limitation.--The Administrator may only issue 
        regulations under this section for unmanned aircraft systems 
        that the Administrator determines may be operated safely in the 
        national airspace system.
    ``(c) Rules of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
construed--
            ``(1) to prohibit a person from operating an unmanned 
        aircraft system under a circumstance described under paragraphs 
        (1) through (3) of subsection (a) if--
                    ``(A) the circumstance is allowed by regulations 
                issued under this section; and
                    ``(B) the person operates the unmanned aircraft 
                system in a manner prescribed by the regulations; and
            ``(2) to limit or affect in any way the Administrator's 
        authority to conduct a rulemaking, make a determination, or 
        carry out any activity related to unmanned aircraft or unmanned 
        aircraft systems under any other provision of law.''.
    (c) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for chapter 448, as 
amended by section 2126 of this Act, is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 44805 the following:

``44806. Additional rulemaking authority.''.

SEC. 2128. GOVERNMENTAL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 448, as amended by section 2127 of this 
Act, is further amended by inserting after section 44806 the following:
``Sec. 44807. Public unmanned aircraft systems
    ``(a) Guidance.--The Secretary of Transportation shall issue 
guidance regarding the operation of a public unmanned aircraft system--
            ``(1) to streamline the process for the issuance of a 
        certificate of authorization or a certificate of waiver;
            ``(2) to provide for a collaborative process with public 
        agencies to allow for an incremental expansion of access to the 
        national airspace system as technology matures and the 
        necessary safety analyses and data become available, and until 
        standards are completed and technology issues are resolved;
            ``(3) to facilitate the capability of public agencies to 
        develop and use test ranges, subject to operating restrictions 
        required by the Federal Aviation Administration, to test and 
        operate public unmanned aircraft systems; and
            ``(4) to provide guidance on a public agency's 
        responsibilities when operating an unmanned aircraft without a 
        civil airworthiness certificate issued by the Administration.
    ``(b) Standards for Operation and Certification.--The Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration shall develop and implement 
operational and certification requirements for the operation of a 
public unmanned aircraft system in the national airspace system.
    ``(c) Agreements With Government Agencies.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall enter into an 
        agreement with each appropriate public agency to simplify the 
        process for issuing a certificate of waiver or a certificate of 
        authorization with respect to an application for authorization 
        to operate a public unmanned aircraft system in the national 
        airspace system.
            ``(2) Contents.--An agreement under paragraph (1) shall--
                    ``(A) with respect to an application described in 
                paragraph (1)--
                            ``(i) provide for an expedited review of 
                        the application;
                            ``(ii) require a decision by the 
                        Administrator on approval or disapproval not 
                        later than 60 business days after the date of 
                        submission of the application;
                            ``(iii) allow for an expedited appeal if 
                        the application is disapproved; and
                            ``(iv) if applicable, include verification 
                        of the data minimization policy required under 
                        subsection (d);
                    ``(B) allow for a one-time approval of similar 
                operations carried out during a fixed period of time; 
                and
                    ``(C) allow a Government public safety agency to 
                operate an unmanned aircraft weighing 25 pounds or less 
                if that unmanned aircraft is operated--
                            ``(i) within or beyond the line of sight of 
                        the operator;
                            ``(ii) less than 400 feet above the ground;
                            ``(iii) during daylight conditions;
                            ``(iv) within Class G airspace; and
                            ``(v) outside of 5 statute miles from any 
                        airport, heliport, seaplane base, spaceport, or 
                        other location with aviation activities.
    ``(d) Data Minimization for Certain Public Unmanned Aircraft System 
Operators.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the 
Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016 each 
Federal agency authorized by the Secretary to operate an unmanned 
aircraft system shall develop and update a data minimization policy 
that requires, at a minimum, that--
            ``(1) prior to the deployment of any new unmanned aircraft 
        system technology, and at least every 3 years, existing 
        policies and procedures relating to the collection, use, 
        retention, and dissemination of information obtained by an 
        unmanned aircraft system must be examined to ensure that 
        privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties are protected;
            ``(2) if the unmanned aircraft system is the platform for 
        information collection, information must be collected, used, 
        retained, and disseminated consistent with the Constitution, 
        Federal law, and other applicable regulations and policies, 
        such as the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a);
            ``(3) the Federal agency or person operating on its behalf, 
        only collect information using the unmanned aircraft system, or 
        use unmanned aircraft system-collected information, to the 
        extent that the collection or use is consistent with and 
        relevant to an authorized purpose as determined by the head of 
        a Federal agency and consistent with the law;
            ``(4) any information collected, using an unmanned aircraft 
        or an unmanned aircraft system, that may contain personal 
        information will not be retained by any Federal agency for more 
        than 180 days after the date of collection unless--
                    ``(A) the head of the Federal agency determines 
                that retention of the information is relevant and 
                necessary to accomplish a purpose of the Federal agency 
                required to be accomplished by statute or by Executive 
                order of the President;
                    ``(B) that Federal agency maintains the information 
                in a system of records under section 552a of title 5; 
                or
                    ``(C) the information is required to be retained 
                for a longer period under other applicable law, 
                including regulations;
            ``(5) any information collected, using an unmanned aircraft 
        or unmanned aircraft system, that is not maintained in a system 
        of records under section 552a of title 5, will not be 
        disseminated outside of that Federal agency unless--
                    ``(A) dissemination is required by law; or
                    ``(B) dissemination satisfies an authorized purpose 
                and complies with that Federal agency's disclosure 
                requirements;
            ``(6) to the extent it does not compromise law enforcement 
        or national security a Federal agency shall--
                    ``(A) provide notice to the public regarding where 
                in the national airspace system the Federal agency is 
                authorized to operate the unmanned aircraft system;
                    ``(B) keep the public informed about the Federal 
                agency's unmanned aircraft system program, including 
                any changes to that program that would significantly 
                affect privacy, civil rights, or civil liberties;
                    ``(C) make available to the public, on an annual 
                basis, a general summary of the Federal agency's 
                unmanned aircraft system operations during the previous 
                fiscal year, including--
                            ``(i) a brief description of types or 
                        categories of missions flown; and
                            ``(ii) the number of times the Federal 
                        agency provided assistance to other agencies or 
                        to State, local, tribal, or territorial 
                        governments; and
                    ``(D) make available on a public and searchable 
                Internet website the data minimization policy of the 
                Federal agency;
            ``(7) ensures oversight of the Federal agency's unmanned 
        aircraft system use, including--
                    ``(A) the use of audits or assessments that comply 
                with existing Federal agency policies and regulations;
                    ``(B) the verification of the existence of rules of 
                conduct and training for Federal Government personnel 
                and contractors who work on programs, and procedures 
                for reporting suspected cases of misuse or abuse of 
                unmanned aircraft system technologies;
                    ``(C) the establishment of policies and procedures, 
                or confirmation that policies and procedures are in 
                place, that provide meaningful oversight of individuals 
                who have access to sensitive information, including 
                personal information, collected using an unmanned 
                aircraft system;
                    ``(D) ensuring that any data-sharing agreements or 
                policies, data use policies, and record management 
                policies applicable to an unmanned aircraft system 
                conform to applicable laws, regulations, and policies;
                    ``(E) the establishment of policies and procedures, 
                or confirmation that policies and procedures are in 
                place, to authorize the use of an unmanned aircraft 
                system in response to a request for unmanned aircraft 
                system assistance in support of Federal, State, local, 
                tribal, or territorial government operations; and
                    ``(F) a requirement that State, local, tribal, and 
                territorial government recipients of Federal grant 
                funding for the purchase or use of unmanned aircraft 
                systems for their own operations have in place policies 
                and procedures to safeguard individuals' privacy, civil 
                rights, and civil liberties prior to expending such 
                funds; and
            ``(8) ensures the protection of civil rights and civil 
        liberties, including--
                    ``(A) ensuring that policies are in place to 
                prohibit the collection, use, retention, or 
                dissemination of data in any manner that would violate 
                the First Amendment or in any manner that would 
                discriminate against persons based upon their 
                ethnicity, race, gender, national origin, religion, 
                sexual orientation, or gender identity, in violation of 
                law;
                    ``(B) ensuring that unmanned aircraft system 
                activities are performed in a manner consistent with 
                the Constitution and applicable laws, Executive orders, 
                and other Presidential directives; and
                    ``(C) ensuring that adequate procedures are in 
                place to receive, investigate, and address, as 
                appropriate, privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties 
                complaints.
    ``(e) Law Enforcement and National Security.--Each Federal agency 
shall effectuate a requirement under subsection (d) only to the extent 
it does not compromise law enforcement or national security.
    ``(f) Definition of Federal Agency.--In subsections (d) and (e), 
the term `Federal agency' has the meaning given the term `agency' in 
section 552(f) of title 5, United States Code.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Table of contents.--The table of contents for chapter 
        448, as amended by section 2127 of this Act, is amended by 
        inserting after the item relating to section 44806 the 
        following:

``44807. Public unmanned aircraft systems.''.
            (2) Public unmanned aircraft systems.--Section 334 of the 
        FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note) 
        and the item relating to that section in the table of contents 
        under section 1(b) of that Act (126 Stat. 13) are repealed.

SEC. 2129. SPECIAL RULES FOR MODEL AIRCRAFT.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 448, as amended by section 2128 of this 
Act, is further amended by inserting after section 44807 the following:
``Sec. 44808. Special rules for model aircraft
    ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law 
relating to the incorporation of unmanned aircraft systems into Federal 
Aviation Administration plans and policies, including this chapter, the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may not promulgate 
any new rule or regulation specific only to an unmanned aircraft 
operating as a model aircraft if--
            ``(1) the aircraft is flown strictly for hobby or 
        recreational use;
            ``(2) the aircraft is operated in accordance with a 
        community-based set of safety guidelines and within the 
        programming of a nationwide community-based organization;
            ``(3) not flown beyond visual line of sight of persons co-
        located with the operator or in direct communication with the 
        operator;
            ``(4) the aircraft is operated in a manner that does not 
        interfere with and gives way to any manned aircraft;
            ``(5) when flown within 5 miles of an airport, the operator 
        of the aircraft provides the airport operator, where 
        applicable, and the airport air traffic control tower (when an 
        air traffic facility is located at the airport) with prior 
        notice and receives approval, to the extent practicable, for 
        the operation from each (model aircraft operators flying from a 
        permanent location within 5 miles of an airport should 
        establish a mutually agreed upon operating procedure with the 
        airport operator and the airport air traffic control tower 
        (when an air traffic facility is located at the airport));
            ``(6) the aircraft is flown from the surface to not more 
        than 400 feet in altitude; and
            ``(7) the operator has passed an aeronautical knowledge and 
        safety test administered by the Federal Aviation Administration 
        online for the operation of unmanned aircraft systems subject 
        to the requirements of section 44809 and maintains proof of 
        test passage to be made available to the Administrator or law 
        enforcement upon request.
    ``(b) Updates.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator, in collaboration with 
        government and industry stakeholders, including nationwide 
        community-based organizations, shall initiate a process to 
        update the operational parameters under subsection (a), as 
        appropriate.
            ``(2) Considerations.--In updating an operational parameter 
        under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall consider--
                    ``(A) appropriate operational limitations to 
                mitigate aviation safety risk and risk to the 
                uninvolved public;
                    ``(B) operations outside the membership, 
                guidelines, and programming of a nationwide community-
                based organization;
                    ``(C) physical characteristics, technical 
                standards, and classes of aircraft operating under this 
                section;
                    ``(D) trends in use, enforcement, or incidents 
                involving unmanned aircraft systems; and
                    ``(E) ensuring, to the greatest extent practicable, 
                that updates to the operational parameters correspond 
                to, and leverage, advances in technology.
            ``(3) Savings clause.--Nothing in this subsection shall be 
        construed as expanding the authority of the Administrator to 
        require operators of model aircraft under the exemption of this 
        subsection to be required to seek permissive authority of the 
        Administrator prior to operation in the national airspace 
        system.
    ``(c) Statutory Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to limit the authority of the Administrator to pursue 
enforcement action against persons operating personal unmanned 
aircraft.
    ``(d) Model Aircraft Defined.--In this section, the term `model 
aircraft' means an unmanned aircraft that--
            ``(1) is capable of sustained flight in the atmosphere; and
            ``(2) is limited to weighing not more than 55 pounds, 
        including the weight of anything attached to or carried by the 
        aircraft, unless otherwise approved through a design, 
        construction, inspection, flight test, and operational safety 
        program administered by a community-based organization.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Table of contents.--The table of contents for chapter 
        448, as amended by section 2128 of this Act, is further amended 
        by inserting after the item relating to section 44807 the 
        following:

``44808. Special rules for model aircraft.''.
            (2) Special rule for model aircraft.--Section 336 of the 
        FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note) 
        and the item relating to that section in the table of contents 
        under section 1(b) of that Act (126 Stat. 13) are repealed.

SEC. 2130. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS AERONAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SAFETY.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 448, as amended by section 2129 of this 
Act, is further amended by inserting after section 44808 the following:
``Sec. 44809. Aeronautical knowledge and safety test
    ``(a) In General.--An individual may not operate an unmanned 
aircraft system unless--
            ``(1) the individual has successfully completed an 
        aeronautical knowledge and safety test under subsection (c);
            ``(2) the individual has authority to operate an unmanned 
        aircraft under other Federal law; or
            ``(3) the individual is a holder of an airmen certificate 
        issued under section 44703.
    ``(b) Exception.--This section shall not apply to the operation of 
an unmanned aircraft system that has been authorized by the Federal 
Aviation Administration under section 44802, section 44805, section 
44806, or section 44807.
    ``(c) Aeronautical Knowledge and Safety Test.--Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of the Federal Aviation Administration 
Reauthorization Act of 2016, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration, in consultation with manufacturers of unmanned aircraft 
systems, other industry stakeholders, and community-based aviation 
organizations, shall develop an aeronautical knowledge and safety test 
that can be administered electronically.
    ``(d) Requirements.--The Administrator shall ensure that the 
aeronautical knowledge and safety test is designed to adequately 
demonstrate an operator's--
            ``(1) understanding of aeronautical safety knowledge, as 
        applicable; and
            ``(2) knowledge of Federal Aviation Administration 
        regulations and requirements pertaining to the operation of an 
        unmanned aircraft system in the national airspace system.
    ``(e) Record of Compliance.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each operator of an unmanned aircraft 
        system described under subsection (a) shall maintain and make 
        available for inspection, upon request by the Administrator or 
        a Federal, State, or local law enforcement officer, a record of 
        compliance with this section through--
                    ``(A) an identification number, issued by the 
                Federal Aviation Administration certifying passage of 
                the aeronautical knowledge and safety test;
                    ``(B) if the individual has authority to operate an 
                unmanned aircraft system under other Federal law, the 
                requisite proof of authority under that law; or
                    ``(C) an airmen certificate issued under section 
                44703.
            ``(2) Coordination.--The Administrator may coordinate the 
        identification number under paragraph (1)(A) with an operator's 
        registration number to the extent practicable.
            ``(3) Limitation.--No fine or penalty may be imposed for 
        the initial failure of an operator of an unmanned aircraft 
        system to comply with paragraph (1) unless the Administrator 
        finds that the conduct of the operator actually posed a risk to 
        the national airspace system.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for chapter 448, as 
amended by section 2129 of this Act, is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 44808 the following:

``44809. Aeronautical knowledge and safety test.''.

SEC. 2131. SAFETY STATEMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 448, as amended by section 2130 of this 
Act, is further amended by inserting after section 44809 the following:
``Sec. 44810. Safety statements
    ``(a) Prohibition.--Except as provided in subsection (d), it shall 
be unlawful for any person to introduce or deliver for introduction 
into interstate commerce any unmanned aircraft manufactured on or after 
the date this section takes effect unless a safety statement is 
attached to the unmanned aircraft or accompanying the unmanned aircraft 
in its packaging.
    ``(b) Safety Statement.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the Federal Aviation Administration 
        Reauthorization Act of 2016, the Administrator of the Federal 
        Aviation Administration shall issue guidance for implementing 
        this section.
            ``(2) Requirements.--A safety statement described in 
        subsection (a) shall include--
                    ``(A) information about laws and regulations 
                applicable to unmanned aircraft systems;
                    ``(B) recommendations for using unmanned aircraft 
                in a manner that promotes the safety of persons and 
                property;
                    ``(C) the date that the safety statement was 
                created or last modified; and
                    ``(D) language approved by the Administrator 
                regarding the following:
                            ``(i) A person may operate the unmanned 
                        aircraft as a model aircraft (as defined in 
                        section 44808) or otherwise in accordance with 
                        Federal Aviation Administration authorization 
                        or regulation, including requirements for the 
                        completion of the aeronautical knowledge and 
                        safety test under section 44809.
                            ``(ii) The definition of a model aircraft 
                        under section 44808.
                            ``(iii) The requirements regarding a model 
                        aircraft under paragraphs (1) through (7) of 
                        section 44808(a).
                            ``(iv) The Administrator of the Federal 
                        Aviation Administration may pursue enforcement 
                        action against a person operating model 
                        aircraft who endangers the safety of the 
                        national airspace system.
    ``(c) Civil Penalty.--A person who violates subsection (a) shall be 
liable for each violation to the United States Government for a civil 
penalty described in section 46301(a).
    ``(d) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the date 
of enactment of this Act, except that subsection (a) of this section 
shall take effect 1 year after the date of publication of the guidance 
under subsection (b).''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for chapter 448, as 
amended by section 2130 of this Act, is further amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 44809 the following:

``44810. Safety statements.''.

SEC. 2132. TREATMENT OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT OPERATING UNDERGROUND.

    An unmanned aircraft system that is operated underground for mining 
purposes shall not be subject to regulation or enforcement by the 
Federal Aviation Administration under chapter 448 of title 49, United 
States Code.

SEC. 2133. ENFORCEMENT.

    (a) UAS Safety Enforcement.--The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall establish a program to utilize available 
remote detection and identification technologies for safety oversight, 
including enforcement actions against operators of unmanned aircraft 
systems that are not in compliance with applicable Federal aviation 
laws, including regulations.
    (b) Civil Penalties.--
            (1) In general.--Section 46301 is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a)(1)(A), by inserting ``chapter 
                448,'' after ``chapter 447 (except sections 44717 and 
                44719-44723),'';
                    (B) in subsection (a)(5), by inserting ``chapter 
                448,'' after ``chapter 447 (except sections 44717-
                44723),'';
                    (C) in subsection (d)(2), by inserting ``chapter 
                448,'' after ``chapter 447 (except sections 44717 and 
                44719-44723),''; and
                    (D) in subsection (f), by inserting ``chapter 
                448,'' after ``chapter 447 (except 44717 and 44719-
                44723),''.
            (2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall 
        be construed to limit the authority of the Administrator to 
        pursue an enforcement action for a violation of this Act, a 
        regulation prescribed or order or authority issued under this 
        Act, or any other applicable provision of aviation safety law 
        or regulation.
    (c) Reporting.--As part of the program, the Administrator shall 
establish and publicize a mechanism for the public and law enforcement, 
including State and local law enforcement, to report a suspected abuse 
or a violation of chapter 448 for enforcement action.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 2016 through 2017.

SEC. 2134. AVIATION EMERGENCY SAFETY PUBLIC SERVICES DISRUPTION.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 463 is amended--
            (1) in section 46301(d)(2), by inserting ``section 46320,'' 
        after ``section 46319,''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 46320. Interference with firefighting, law enforcement, or 
              emergency response activities
    ``(a) Prohibition.--No person may operate an aircraft so as to 
interfere with firefighting, law enforcement, or emergency response 
activities.
    ``(b) Definition.--For purposes of this section, an aircraft 
interferes with the activities specified in subsection (a) when its 
operation prevents the initiation of, interrupts, or endangers a person 
or property engaged in those activities.
    ``(c) Civil Penalty.--A person violating subsection (a) shall be 
liable for a civil penalty of not more than $20,000.
    ``(d) Compromise and Setoff.--The United States Government may 
deduct the amount of a civil penalty imposed or compromised under this 
section from the amounts the Government owes the person liable for the 
penalty.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for chapter 463 is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 46319 the 
following:

``46320. Interference with firefighting, law enforcement, or emergency 
                            response activities.''.

SEC. 2135. PILOT PROJECT FOR AIRPORT SAFETY AND AIRSPACE HAZARD 
              MITIGATION.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall carry out a pilot program for airspace hazard 
mitigation at airports and other critical infrastructure.
    (b) Consultation.--In carrying out the pilot program under 
subsection (a), the Administrator shall work with the Secretary of 
Defense, Secretary of Homeland Security, and the heads of relevant 
Federal agencies for the purpose of ensuring technologies that are 
developed, tested, or deployed by those departments and agencies to 
mitigate threats posed by errant or hostile unmanned aircraft system 
operations do not adversely impact or interfere with safe airport 
operations, navigation, and air traffic services.
    (c) Authorization.--There is authorized to be appropriated from the 
Airport and Airway Trust Fund to carry out this section $6,000,000, and 
to remain available until expended.

SEC. 2136. CONTRIBUTION TO FINANCING OF REGULATORY FUNCTIONS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 448, as amended by section 2131 of this 
Act, is further amended by inserting after section 44810 the following:
``Sec. 44811. Regulatory and administrative fees
    ``(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), the Administrator may 
assess and collect regulatory and administrative fees to recover the 
costs of regulatory and administrative activities under this chapter, 
including enforcement activities, policy and rulemaking activities, and 
applications for authorization to operate unmanned aircraft systems for 
compensation or hire, or in the furtherance of a business enterprise.
    ``(b) Limitations.--Fees authorized under subsection (a) shall be 
reasonable, cost-based relative to the regulatory or administrative 
activity, and may not be discriminatory or a deterrent to compliance.
    ``(c) Receipts Credited to Account.--Notwithstanding section 3302 
of title 31, all fees and amounts collected under this section shall be 
credited to the separate account established under section 45303(c).
    ``(d) Regulations.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 
2016, the Administrator shall issue regulations to carry out this 
section.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for chapter 448, as 
amended by section 2131 of this Act, is further amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 44810 the following:

``44811. Regulatory and administrative fees.''.

SEC. 2137. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING SMALL UAS RULEMAKING.

    It is the sense of the Congress that the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration and the Secretary of Transportation 
should take every necessary action to expedite final action on the 
notice of proposed rulemaking dated February 23, 2015 (80 Fed. Reg. 
9544), entitled ``Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned 
Aircraft Systems''.

SEC. 2138. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT.

    (a) Research Plan for UTM Development.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
        Administration, in coordination with the Administrator of the 
        National Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall develop a 
        research plan for unmanned traffic management development.
            (2) Requirements.--In developing the research plan under 
        paragraph (1), the Administrator shall--
                    (A) identify research goals;
                    (B) assess the operational parameters and system 
                requirements necessary to evaluate unmanned traffic 
                management systems;
                    (C) research--
                            (i) operational parameters related to 
                        altitude, geographic coverage, classes of 
                        airspace, and critical infrastructure;
                            (ii) avionics capability requirements or 
                        standards;
                            (iii) operator identification and 
                        authentication requirements and capabilities;
                            (iv) communication protocols with air 
                        traffic control facilities that will not 
                        interfere with existing responsibility to 
                        deconflict manned aircraft in the national 
                        airspace system;
                            (v) collision avoidance requirements;
                            (vi) separation standards for manned and 
                        unmanned aircraft; and
                            (vii) spectrum needs;
                    (D) evaluate options for the administration and 
                management structure for the traffic management of low 
                altitude operations of small unmanned aircraft systems; 
                and
                    (E) ensure the plan is consistent with the broader 
                Federal Aviation Administration regulatory and 
                operational framework encompassing all unmanned 
                aircraft system operations expected to be authorized in 
                the national airspace system.
            (3) Assessment.--The research plan under paragraph (1) 
        shall include an assessment of--
                    (A) the ability to allow near-term small unmanned 
                aircraft system operations without need of an automated 
                traffic management system;
                    (B) the full range of operational capability any 
                automated traffic management system should possess;
                    (C) the operational characteristics and metrics 
                that would drive incremental adoption of automated 
                capability and procedures consistent with a rising 
                aggregate community demand for service for low altitude 
                operations of small unmanned aircraft; and
                    (D) the integration points for small unmanned 
                aircraft system traffic management with the existing 
                national airspace system planning and traffic 
                management systems.
            (4) Deadlines.--The Administrator shall--
                    (A) initiate development of the research plan not 
                later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this 
                Act; and
                    (B) not later than 180 days after the date of 
                enactment of this Act--
                            (i) complete the research plan;
                            (ii) submit the research plan to the 
                        appropriate committees of Congress; and
                            (iii) publish the research plan on the 
                        Federal Aviation Administration's Web site.
    (b) Pilot Program.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date the 
        research plan under subsection (a) is submitted under 
        subsection (a)(4)(B), the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
        Administration shall coordinate with the Administrator of the 
        National Aeronautics and Space Administration and small 
        unmanned aircraft industry to develop operational concepts and 
        top-level system requirements for an unmanned aircraft traffic 
        management pilot program, consistent with subsection (a).
            (2) Solicitation.--The Administrator shall issue a 
        solicitation for operational prototype systems that meet these 
        objectives for use in a pilot program to demonstrate, validate, 
        or modify, as appropriate, these concepts and requirements.
    (c) Comprehensive Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the date the 
        pilot program under subsection (b) is complete, the 
        Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, in 
        coordination with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics 
        and Space Administration, and in consultation with the head of 
        each relevant Federal agency, shall develop a comprehensive 
        plan for the deployment of unmanned aircraft traffic management 
        systems in the national airspace.
            (2) System requirements.--The comprehensive plan under 
        paragraph (1) shall include requirements or standards 
        consistent with established or planned rulemaking for, at a 
        minimum--
                    (A) the flight of small unmanned aircraft in 
                controlled and uncontrolled airspace;
                    (B) communications, as applicable--
                            (i) among small unmanned aircraft;
                            (ii) between small unmanned aircraft and 
                        manned aircraft operating in the same airspace; 
                        and
                            (iii) between small unmanned aircraft and 
                        air traffic control as considered necessary; 
                        and
                    (C) air traffic management for small unmanned 
                aircraft operations.
    (d) System Implementation.--Based on the comprehensive plan under 
subsection (c), including the requirements under paragraph (2) of that 
subsection, and the pilot program under section (b), the Administrator 
shall determine the operational need and implementation schedule for 
evolutionary use of automation support systems to separate and 
deconflict manned and unmanned aircraft.

SEC. 2139. EMERGENCY EXEMPTION PROCESS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall publish guidance for the application for and procedures for the 
processing of, on an emergency basis, exemptions or certificates of 
authorization or waiver for the use of unmanned aircraft systems for 
emergency response operations. This guidance shall outline procedures 
for operations under both sections 44805 and 44807, United States Code, 
with priority given to applications for public unmanned aircraft 
systems engaged in emergency response activities.
    (b) Requirements.--In providing guidance under subsection (a), the 
Administrator shall--
            (1) if applicable, make explicit any safety requirements 
        that must be met for the consideration of applications that 
        include requests for beyond visual line of sight and nighttime 
        operations; and
            (2) if applicable, explicitly state the procedures for 
        coordinating with an incident commander to ensure operations 
        granted under procedures developed under subsection (a) do not 
        interfere with manned emergency response operations or 
        otherwise impact response efforts.

SEC. 2140. PUBLIC UAS OPERATIONS BY TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS.

    (a) Public UAS Operations by Tribal Governments.--Section 
40102(a)(41) is amended by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) An unmanned aircraft that is owned and 
                operated by an Indian tribal government (as defined in 
                section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
                and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)), except 
                as provided in section 40125(b).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 40125(b) is amended by striking 
``or (D)'' and inserting ``(D), or (F)''.

              PART III--TRANSITION AND SAVINGS PROVISIONS

SEC. 2141. SENIOR ADVISOR FOR UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS INTEGRATION.

    (a) In General.--There shall be in the Federal Aviation 
Administration a Senior Advisor for Unmanned Aircraft Systems 
Integration.
    (b) Qualifications.--The Senior Advisor for Unmanned Aircraft 
Systems Integration shall have a demonstrated ability in management and 
knowledge of or experience in aviation.
    (c) Responsibilities.--Unless otherwise determined by the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration--
            (1) the Senior Advisor shall report directly to the Deputy 
        Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration; and
            (2) the responsibilities of the Senior Advisor shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) Providing advice to the Administrator and 
                Deputy Administrator related to the integration of 
                unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace 
                system.
                    (B) Reviewing and evaluating Federal Aviation 
                Administration policies, activities, and operations 
                related to unmanned aircraft systems.
                    (C) Facilitating coordination and collaboration 
                among components of the Federal Aviation Administration 
                with respect to activities related to unmanned aircraft 
                systems integration.
                    (D) Interacting with Congress, and Federal, State, 
                or local agencies, and stakeholder organizations whose 
                operations and interests are affected by the activities 
                of the Federal Aviation Administration on matters 
                related to unmanned aircraft systems integration.

SEC. 2142. EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.

    (a) Federal Preemption.--No State or political subdivision of a 
State may enact or enforce any law, regulation, or other provision 
having the force and effect of law relating to the design, manufacture, 
testing, licensing, registration, certification, operation, or 
maintenance of an unmanned aircraft system, including airspace, 
altitude, flight paths, equipment or technology requirements, purpose 
of operations, and pilot, operator, and observer qualifications, 
training, and certification.
    (b) Preservation of State and Local Authority.--Nothing in this 
subtitle shall be construed to limit a State or local government's 
authority to enforce Federal, State, or local laws relating to 
nuisance, voyeurism, harassment, reckless endangerment, wrongful death, 
personal injury, property damage, or other illegal acts arising from 
the use of unmanned aircraft systems if such laws are not specifically 
related to the use of an unmanned aircraft system for those illegal 
acts.
    (c) No Preemption of Common Law or Statutory Causes of Action.--
Nothing in this subtitle, nor any standard, rule, requirement, standard 
of performance, safety determination, or certification implemented 
pursuant to this subtitle, shall be construed to preempt, displace, or 
supplant any State or Federal common law rights or any State or Federal 
statute creating a remedy for civil relief, including those for civil 
damage, or a penalty for a criminal conduct. Notwithstanding any other 
provision of this subtitle, nothing in this subtitle, nor any 
amendments made by this subtitle, shall preempt or preclude any cause 
of action for personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, or 
other injury based on negligence, strict liability, products liability, 
failure to warn, or any other legal theory of liability under any State 
law, maritime law, or Federal common law or statutory theory if such 
laws are not specifically related to the use of an unmanned aircraft 
system.

SEC. 2143. TRANSITION LANGUAGE.

    (a) Regulations.--Notwithstanding the repeals under sections 
2122(b)(2), 2125(b)(2), 2126(b)(2), 2128(b)(2), and 2129(b)(2) of this 
Act, all orders, determinations, rules, regulations, permits, grants, 
and contracts, which have been issued under any law described under 
subsection (b) of this section on or before the effective date of this 
Act shall continue in effect until modified or revoked by the Secretary 
of Transportation, acting through the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, as applicable, by a court of competent 
jurisdiction, or by operation of law other than this Act.
    (b) Laws Described.--The laws described under this subsection are 
as follows:
            (1) Section 332(c) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act 
        of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note).
            (2) Section 332(d) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act 
        of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note).
            (3) Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 
        2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note).
            (4) Section 334 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 
        2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note).
            (5) Section 336 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 
        2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note).
    (c) Effect on Pending Proceedings.--This Act shall not affect 
administrative or judicial proceedings pending on the effective date of 
this Act.

              Subtitle B--FAA Safety Certification Reform

                       PART I--GENERAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 2211. DEFINITIONS.

    In this subtitle:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
            (2) Advisory committee.--The term ``Advisory Committee'' 
        means the Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory Committee 
        established under section 2212.
            (3) FAA.--The term ``FAA'' means the Federal Aviation 
        Administration.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Transportation.
            (5) Systems safety approach.--The term ``systems safety 
        approach'' means the application of specialized technical and 
        managerial skills to the systematic, forward-looking 
        identification and control of hazards throughout the lifecycle 
        of a project, program, or activity.

SEC. 2212. SAFETY OVERSIGHT AND CERTIFICATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a Safety Oversight 
and Certification Advisory Committee in accordance with this section.
    (b) Duties.--The Advisory Committee shall provide advice to the 
Secretary on policy-level issues facing the aviation community that are 
related to FAA safety oversight and certification programs and 
activities, including the following:
            (1) Aircraft and flight standards certification processes, 
        including efforts to streamline those processes.
            (2) Implementation and oversight of safety management 
        systems.
            (3) Risk-based oversight efforts.
            (4) Utilization of delegation and designation authorities, 
        including organization designation authorization.
            (5) Regulatory interpretation standardization efforts.
            (6) Training programs.
            (7) Expediting the rulemaking process and prioritizing 
        safety-related rules.
            (8) Enhancing global competitiveness of U.S. manufactured 
        and FAA type-certificate aircraft products and services 
        throughout the world.
    (c) Functions.--In carrying out its duties under subsection (b) 
related to FAA safety oversight and certification programs and 
activities, the Advisory Committee shall--
            (1) foster aviation stakeholder collaboration in an open 
        and transparent manner;
            (2) consult with, and ensure participation by--
                    (A) the private sector, including representatives 
                of--
                            (i) general aviation;
                            (ii) commercial aviation;
                            (iii) aviation labor;
                            (iv) aviation, aerospace, and avionics 
                        manufacturing; and
                            (v) unmanned aircraft systems industry; and
                    (B) the public;
            (3) recommend consensus national goals, strategic 
        objectives, and priorities for the most efficient, streamlined, 
        and cost-effective safety oversight and certification processes 
        in order to maintain the safety of the aviation system while 
        allowing the FAA to meet future needs and ensure that aviation 
        stakeholders remain competitive in the global marketplace;
            (4) provide policy recommendations for the FAA's safety 
        oversight and certification efforts;
            (5) periodically review and provide recommendations 
        regarding the FAA's safety oversight and certification efforts;
            (6) periodically review and evaluate registration, 
        certification, and related fees;
            (7) provide appropriate legislative, regulatory, and 
        guidance recommendations for the air transportation system and 
        the aviation safety regulatory environment;
            (8) recommend performance objectives for the FAA and 
        aviation industry;
            (9) recommend performance metrics for the FAA and the 
        aviation industry to be tracked and reviewed as streamlining 
        certification reform, flight standards reform, and regulation 
        standardization efforts progress;
            (10) provide a venue for tracking progress toward national 
        goals and sustaining joint commitments;
            (11) recommend recruiting, hiring, staffing levels, 
        training, and continuing education objectives for FAA aviation 
        safety engineers and aviation safety inspectors;
            (12) provide advice and recommendations to the FAA on how 
        to prioritize safety rulemaking projects;
            (13) improve the development of FAA regulations by 
        providing information, advice, and recommendations related to 
        aviation issues;
            (14) encourage the validation of U.S. manufactured and FAA 
        type-certificate aircraft products and services throughout the 
        world; and
            (15) any other functions as determined appropriate by the 
        chairperson of the Advisory Committee and the Administrator.
    (d) Membership.--
            (1) Voting members.--The Advisory Committee shall be 
        composed of the following voting members:
                    (A) The Administrator, or the Administrator's 
                designee.
                    (B) At least 1 representative, appointed by the 
                Secretary, of each of the following:
                            (i) Aircraft and engine manufacturers.
                            (ii) Avionics and equipment manufacturers.
                            (iii) Aviation labor organizations, 
                        including collective bargaining representatives 
                        of FAA aviation safety inspectors and aviation 
                        safety engineers.
                            (iv) General aviation operators.
                            (v) Air carriers.
                            (vi) Business aviation operators.
                            (vii) Unmanned aircraft systems 
                        manufacturers and operators.
                            (viii) Aviation safety management experts.
            (2) Nonvoting members.--
                    (A) In general.--In addition to the members 
                appointed under paragraph (1), the Advisory Committee 
                shall be composed of nonvoting members appointed by the 
                Secretary from among individuals representing FAA 
                safety oversight program offices.
                    (B) Duties.--A nonvoting member may--
                            (i) take part in deliberations of the 
                        Advisory Committee; and
                            (ii) provide input with respect to any 
                        report or recommendation of the Advisory 
                        Committee.
                    (C) Limitation.--A nonvoting member may not 
                represent any stakeholder interest other than that of 
                an FAA safety oversight program office.
            (3) Terms.--Each voting member and nonvoting member of the 
        Advisory Committee shall be appointed for a term of 2 years.
            (4) Rule of construction.--Public Law 104-65 (2 U.S.C. 1601 
        et seq.) may not be construed to prohibit or otherwise limit 
        the appointment of any individual as a member of the Advisory 
        Committee.
    (e) Committee Characteristics.--The Advisory Committee shall have 
the following characteristics:
            (1) Each voting member under subsection (d)(1)(B) shall be 
        an executive that has decision authority within the member's 
        organization and can represent and enter into commitments on 
        behalf of that organization in a way that serves the entire 
        group of organizations that member represents under that 
        subsection.
            (2) The ability to obtain necessary information from 
        experts in the aviation and aerospace communities.
            (3) A membership size that enables the Advisory Committee 
        to have substantive discussions and reach consensus on issues 
        in an expeditious manner.
            (4) Appropriate expertise, including expertise in 
        certification and risk-based safety oversight processes, 
        operations, policy, technology, labor relations, training, and 
        finance.
    (f) Chairperson.--
            (1) In general.--The chairperson of the Advisory Committee 
        shall be appointed by the Secretary from among the voting 
        members under subsection (d)(1)(B).
            (2) Term.--Each member appointed under paragraph (1) shall 
        serve a term of 2 years as chairperson.
    (g) Meetings.--
            (1) Frequency.--The Advisory Committee shall convene at 
        least 2 meetings a year at the call of the chairperson.
            (2) Public attendance.--Each meeting of the Advisory 
        Committee shall be open and accessible to the public.
    (h) Special Committees.--
            (1) Establishment.--The Advisory Committee may establish 1 
        or more special committees composed of private sector 
        representatives, members of the public, labor representatives, 
        and other relevant parties in complying with consultation and 
        participation requirements under subsection (c)(2).
            (2) Rulemaking advice.--A special committee established by 
        the Advisory Committee may--
                    (A) provide rulemaking advice and recommendations 
                to the Advisory Committee;
                    (B) provide the FAA additional opportunities to 
                obtain firsthand information and insight from those 
                persons that are most affected by existing and proposed 
                regulations; and
                    (C) assist in expediting the development, revision, 
                or elimination of rules in accordance with, and without 
                circumventing, established public rulemaking processes 
                and procedures.
            (3) Federal advisory committee act.--The Federal Advisory 
        Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to a special 
        committee under this subsection.
    (i) Sunset.--The Advisory Committee shall cease to exist on 
September 30, 2017.

                 PART II--AIRCRAFT CERTIFICATION REFORM

SEC. 2221. AIRCRAFT CERTIFICATION PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES AND METRICS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date the 
Advisory Committee is established under section 2212, the Administrator 
shall establish performance objectives and apply and track performance 
metrics for the FAA and the aviation industry relating to aircraft 
certification in accordance with this section.
    (b) Collaboration.--The Administrator shall carry out this section 
in collaboration with the Advisory Committee and update agency 
performance objectives and metrics after considering the proposals 
recommended by the Advisory Committee under paragraphs (8) and (9) of 
section 2212(c).
    (c) Performance Objectives.--In establishing performance objectives 
under subsection (a), the Administrator shall ensure progress is made 
toward, at a minimum--
            (1) eliminating certification delays and improving cycle 
        times;
            (2) increasing accountability for both FAA and the aviation 
        industry;
            (3) achieving full utilization of FAA delegation and 
        designation authorities, including organizational designation 
        authorization;
            (4) fully implementing risk management principles and a 
        systems safety approach;
            (5) reducing duplication of effort;
            (6) increasing transparency;
            (7) developing and providing training, including recurrent 
        training, in auditing and a systems safety approach to 
        certification oversight;
            (8) improving the process for approving or accepting the 
        certification actions between the FAA and bilateral partners;
            (9) maintaining and improving safety;
            (10) streamlining the hiring process for--
                    (A) qualified systems safety engineers at staffing 
                levels to support the FAA's efforts to implement a 
                systems safety approach; and
                    (B) qualified systems safety engineers to guide the 
                engineering of complex systems within the FAA; and
            (11) maintaining the leadership of the United States in 
        international aviation and aerospace.
    (d) Performance Metrics.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Administrator shall--
            (1) apply and track performance metrics for the FAA and the 
        aviation industry; and
            (2) transmit to the appropriate committees of Congress an 
        annual report on tracking the progress toward full 
        implementation of the recommendations under section 2212.
    (e) Data.--
            (1) Baselines.--Not later than 1 year after the date the 
        Advisory Committee recommends initial performance metrics under 
        section 2212(c)(9), the Administrator shall generate initial 
        data with respect to each of the performance metrics applied 
        and tracked under this section.
            (2) Benchmarks.--The Administrator shall use the 
        performance metrics applied and tracked under this section to 
        generate data on an ongoing basis and to measure progress 
        toward the consensus national goals, strategic objectives, and 
        priorities recommended under section 2212(c)(3).
    (f) Publication.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the 
        Administrator shall make data generated using the performance 
        metrics applied and tracked under this section available in a 
        searchable, sortable, and downloadable format through the 
        Internet Web site of the FAA or other appropriate methods.
            (2) Limitations.--The Administrator shall make the data 
        under paragraph (1) available in a manner that--
                    (A) protects from disclosure identifying 
                information regarding an individual or entity; and
                    (B) protects from inappropriate disclosure 
                proprietary information.

SEC. 2222. ORGANIZATION DESIGNATION AUTHORIZATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 447 is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
``Sec. 44736. Organization designation authorizations
    ``(a) Delegations of Functions.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), in 
        the oversight of an ODA holder, the Administrator of the 
        Federal Aviation Administration, in accordance with Federal 
        Aviation Administration standards, shall--
                    ``(A) require, based on an application submitted by 
                the ODA holder and approved by the Administrator (or 
                the Administrator's designee), a procedures manual that 
                addresses all procedures and limitations regarding the 
                specified functions to be performed by the ODA holder 
                subject to regulations prescribed by the Administrator;
                    ``(B) delegate fully to the ODA holder each of the 
                functions specified in the procedures manual, unless 
                the Administrator determines, after the date of the 
                delegation and as a result of an inspection or other 
                investigation, that the public interest and safety of 
                air commerce requires a limitation with respect to 1 or 
                more of the functions; and
                    ``(C) conduct oversight activities, including by 
                inspecting the ODA holder's delegated functions and 
                taking action based on validated inspection findings.
            ``(2) Duties of oda holders.--An ODA holder shall--
                    ``(A) perform each specified function delegated to 
                the ODA holder in accordance with the approved 
                procedures manual for the delegation;
                    ``(B) make the procedures manual available to each 
                member of the appropriate ODA unit; and
                    ``(C) cooperate fully with oversight activities 
                conducted by the Administrator in connection with the 
                delegation.
            ``(3) Existing oda holders.--With regard to an ODA holder 
        operating under a procedures manual approved by the 
        Administrator before the date of enactment of the Federal 
        Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016, the 
        Administrator shall--
                    ``(A) at the request of the ODA holder, and in an 
                expeditious manner, consider revisions to the ODA 
                holder's procedures manual;
                    ``(B) delegate fully to the ODA holder each of the 
                functions specified in the procedures manual, unless 
                the Administrator determines, after the date of the 
                delegation and as a result of an inspection or other 
                investigation, that the public interest and safety of 
                air commerce requires a limitation with respect to 1 or 
                more of the functions; and
                    ``(C) conduct oversight activities, including by 
                inspecting the ODA holder's delegated functions and 
                taking action based on validated inspection findings.
    ``(b) ODA Office.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--Not later than 120 days after the 
        date of enactment of Federal Aviation Administration 
        Reauthorization Act of 2016, the Administrator shall identify, 
        within the Office of Aviation Safety, a centralized policy 
        office to be responsible for the organization designation 
        authorization (referred to in this subsection as the ODA 
        Office). The Director of the ODA Office shall report to the 
        Director of the Aircraft Certification Service.
            ``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the ODA Office shall be to 
        provide oversight and ensure consistency of the Federal 
        Aviation Administration audit functions under the ODA program 
        across the agency.
            ``(3) Functions.--The ODA Office shall--
                    ``(A) improve the Administration and the ODA holder 
                performance and ensure full use of the authorities 
                delegated under the ODA program;
                    ``(B) develop a more consistent approach to audit 
                priorities, procedures, and training under the ODA 
                program;
                    ``(C) expeditiously review a random sample of 
                limitations on delegated authorities under the ODA 
                program to determine if the limitations are 
                appropriate; and
                    ``(D) ensure national consistency in the 
                interpretation and application of the requirements of 
                the ODA program and in the performance of the ODA 
                program.
    ``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) ODA or organization designation authorization.--The 
        term `ODA' or `organization designation authorization' means an 
        authorization under section 44702(d) to perform approved 
        functions on behalf of the Administrator of the Federal 
        Aviation Administration.
            ``(2) ODA holder.--The term `ODA holder' means an entity 
        authorized under section 44702(d)--
                    ``(A) to which the Administrator of the Federal 
                Aviation Administration issues an ODA letter of 
                designation under subpart D of part 183 of title 14, 
                Code of Federal Regulations (or any corresponding 
                similar regulation or ruling); and
                    ``(B) that is responsible for administering 1 or 
                more ODA units.
            ``(3) ODA program.--The term `ODA program' means the 
        program to standardize Federal Aviation Administration 
        oversight of the organizations that are approved to perform 
        certain functions on behalf of the Administration under section 
        44702(d).
            ``(4) ODA unit.--The term `ODA unit' means a group of 2 or 
        more individuals under the supervision of an ODA holder who 
        perform the specified functions under an ODA.
            ``(5) Organization.--The term `organization' means a firm, 
        a partnership, a corporation, a company, an association, a 
        joint-stock association, or a governmental entity.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--The table of contents of 
chapter 447 is amended by adding after the item relating to section 
44735 the following:

``44736. Organization designation authorizations.''.

SEC. 2223. ODA REVIEW.

    (a) Expert Review Panel.--
            (1) Establishment.--Not later than 60 days after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the FAA shall 
        convene a multidisciplinary expert review panel (referred to in 
        this section as the ``Panel'').
            (2) Composition.--
                    (A) In general.--The Panel shall be composed of not 
                more than 20 members appointed by the Administrator.
                    (B) Qualifications.--The members appointed to the 
                Panel shall--
                            (i) each have a minimum of 5 years of 
                        experience in processes and procedures under 
                        the ODA program; and
                            (ii) include representatives of ODA 
                        holders, aviation manufacturers, safety 
                        experts, and FAA labor organizations, including 
                        labor representatives of FAA aviation safety 
                        inspectors and aviation safety engineers.
    (b) Survey.--The Panel shall survey ODA holders and ODA program 
applicants to document FAA safety oversight and certification programs 
and activities, including the FAA's use of the ODA program and the 
speed and efficiency of the certification process. In carrying out this 
subsection, the Administrator shall consult with the appropriate survey 
experts and the panel established under subsection (a) to best design 
and conduct the survey.
    (c) Assessment.--The Panel shall--
            (1) conduct an assessment of--
                    (A) the FAA's processes and procedures under the 
                ODA program and whether the processes and procedures 
                function as intended;
                    (B) the best practices of and lessons learned by 
                ODA holders and the FAA personnel who provide oversight 
                of ODA holders;
                    (C) the performance incentive policies, related to 
                the ODA program for FAA personnel, that do not conflict 
                with the public interest;
                    (D) the training activities related to the ODA 
                program for FAA personnel and ODA holders; and
                    (E) the impact, if any, that oversight of the ODA 
                program has on FAA resources and the FAA's ability to 
                process applications for certifications outside of the 
                ODA program; and
            (2) make recommendations for improving FAA safety oversight 
        and certification programs and activities based on the results 
        of the survey under subsection (b) and each element of the 
        assessment under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date the Panel is 
convened under subsection (a), the Panel shall submit to the 
Administrator, the Advisory Committee, and the appropriate committees 
of Congress a report on results of the survey under subsection (b) and 
the assessment and recommendations under subsection (c).
    (e) Definitions.--The terms used in this section have the meanings 
given the terms in section 44736 of title 49, United States Code.
    (f) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Panel.
    (g) Sunset.--The Panel shall terminate on the date the report is 
submitted under subsection (d).

SEC. 2224. TYPE CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION PROCESS.

    (a) In General.--Section 44704(a) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
            ``(6) Type certification resolution process.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 15 months after 
                the date of enactment of Federal Aviation 
                Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016, the 
                Administrator shall establish an effective, 
                expeditious, and milestone-based issue resolution 
                process for type certification activities under this 
                subsection.
                    ``(B) Process requirements.--The resolution process 
                shall provide for--
                            ``(i) the resolution of technical issues at 
                        pre-established stages of the certification 
                        process, as agreed to by the Administrator and 
                        the type certificate applicant;
                            ``(ii) the automatic escalation to 
                        appropriate management personnel of the Federal 
                        Aviation Administration and the type 
                        certificate applicant of any major 
                        certification process milestone that is not 
                        completed or resolved within a specific period 
                        of time agreed to by the Administrator and the 
                        type certificate applicant; and
                            ``(iii) the resolution of a major 
                        certification process milestone escalated under 
                        clause (ii) within a specific period of time 
                        agreed to by the Administrator and the type 
                        certificate applicant.
                    ``(C) Definition of major certification process 
                milestone.--In this paragraph, the term `major 
                certification process milestone' means a milestone 
                related to a type certification basis, type 
                certification plan, type inspection authorization, 
                issue paper, or other major type certification activity 
                agreed to by the Administrator and the type certificate 
                applicant.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--Section 44704 is amended 
in the heading by striking ``airworthiness certificates,,'' and 
inserting ``airworthiness certificates,''.

SEC. 2225. SAFETY ENHANCING TECHNOLOGIES FOR SMALL GENERAL AVIATION 
              AIRPLANES.

    (a) Policy.--In a manner consistent with the Small Airplane 
Revitalization Act of 2013 (49 U.S.C. 44704 note), not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
establish and begin implementing a risk-based policy that streamlines 
the installation of safety enhancing technologies for small general 
aviation airplanes in a manner that reduces regulatory delays and 
significantly improves safety.
    (b) Inclusions.--The safety enhancing technologies for small 
general aviation airplanes described in subsection (a) shall include, 
at a minimum, the replacement or retrofit of primary flight displays, 
auto pilots, engine monitors, and navigation equipment.
    (c) Collaboration.--In carrying out this section, the Administrator 
shall collaborate with general aviation operators, general aviation 
manufacturers, and appropriate FAA labor organizations, including 
representatives of FAA aviation safety inspectors and aviation safety 
engineers, certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code.
    (d) Definition of Small General Aviation Airplane.--In this 
section, the term ``small general aviation airplane'' means an airplane 
that--
            (1) is certified to the standards of part 23 of title 14, 
        Code of Federal Regulations;
            (2) has a seating capacity of not more than 9 passengers; 
        and
            (3) is not used in scheduled passenger-carrying operations 
        under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.

SEC. 2226. STREAMLINING CERTIFICATION OF SMALL GENERAL AVIATION 
              AIRPLANES.

    (a) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.--Not later than June 1, 2016, 
the Administrator shall issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to comply 
with section 3 of the Small Airplane Revitalization Act of 2013 (49 
U.S.C. 44704 note).
    (b) Government Review.--The Federal Government's review process 
shall be streamlined to meet the deadline in subsection (a).
    (c) Final Rulemaking.--Not later than December 31, 2016, the 
Administrator shall issue a final rulemaking to comply with section 3 
of the Small Airplane Revitalization Act of 2013 (49 U.S.C. 44704 
note).

                   PART III--FLIGHT STANDARDS REFORM

SEC. 2231. FLIGHT STANDARDS PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES AND METRICS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date the 
Advisory Committee is established under section 2212, the Administrator 
shall establish performance objectives and apply and track performance 
metrics for the FAA and the aviation industry relating to flight 
standards activities in accordance with this section.
    (b) Collaboration.--The Administrator shall carry out this section 
in collaboration with the Advisory Committee and update agency 
performance objectives and metrics after considering the 
recommendations of the Advisory Committee under paragraphs (8) and (9) 
of section 2212(c).
    (c) Performance Objectives.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Administrator shall ensure that progress is made toward, at a minimum--
            (1) eliminating delays with respect to such activities;
            (2) increasing accountability for both FAA and the aviation 
        industry;
            (3) fully implementing risk management principles and a 
        systems safety approach;
            (4) reducing duplication of effort;
            (5) promoting appropriate compliance activities and 
        eliminating inconsistent regulatory interpretations and 
        inconsistent enforcement activities;
            (6) improving and providing greater opportunities for 
        training, including recurrent training, in auditing and a 
        systems safety approach to oversight;
            (7) developing and allowing the use of a single master 
        source for guidance;
            (8) providing and using a streamlined appeal process for 
        the resolution of regulatory interpretation questions;
            (9) maintaining and improving safety; and
            (10) increasing transparency.
    (d) Performance Metrics.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Administrator shall--
            (1) apply and track performance metrics for the FAA and the 
        aviation industry; and
            (2) transmit to the appropriate committees of Congress an 
        annual report tracking the progress toward full implementation 
        of the performance metrics under section 2212.
    (e) Data.--
            (1) Baselines.--Not later than 1 year after the date the 
        Advisory Committee recommends initial performance metrics under 
        section 2212(c)(9), the Administrator shall generate initial 
        data with respect to each of the performance metrics applied 
        and tracked that are approved based on the recommendations 
        required under this section.
            (2) Benchmarks.--The Administrator shall use the 
        performance metrics applied and tracked under this section to 
        generate data on an ongoing basis and to measure progress 
        toward the consensus national goals, strategic objectives, and 
        priorities recommended under section 2212(c)(3).
    (f) Publication.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the 
        Administrator shall make data generated using the performance 
        metrics applied and tracked under this section available in a 
        searchable, sortable, and downloadable format through the 
        Internet Web site of the FAA or other appropriate methods.
            (2) Limitations.--The Administrator shall make the data 
        under paragraph (1) available in a manner that--
                    (A) protects from disclosure identifying 
                information regarding an individual or entity; and
                    (B) protects from inappropriate disclosure 
                proprietary information.

SEC. 2232. FAA TASK FORCE ON FLIGHT STANDARDS REFORM.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish the FAA Task 
Force on Flight Standards Reform (referred to in this section as the 
``Task Force'').
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Appointment.--The membership of the Task Force shall be 
        appointed by the Administrator.
            (2) Number.--The Task Force shall be composed of not more 
        than 20 members.
            (3) Representation requirements.--The membership of the 
        Task Force shall include representatives, with knowledge of 
        flight standards regulatory processes and requirements, of--
                    (A) air carriers;
                    (B) general aviation;
                    (C) business aviation;
                    (D) repair stations;
                    (E) unmanned aircraft systems operators;
                    (F) flight schools;
                    (G) labor unions, including those representing FAA 
                aviation safety inspectors and those representing FAA 
                aviation safety engineers; and
                    (H) aviation safety experts.
    (c) Duties.--The duties of the Task Force shall include, at a 
minimum, identifying cost-effective best practices and providing 
recommendations with respect to--
            (1) simplifying and streamlining flight standards 
        regulatory processes;
            (2) reorganizing the Flight Standards Service to establish 
        an entity organized by function rather than geographic region, 
        if appropriate;
            (3) FAA aviation safety inspector training opportunities;
            (4) FAA aviation safety inspector standards and 
        performance; and
            (5) achieving, across the FAA, consistent--
                    (A) regulatory interpretations; and
                    (B) application of oversight activities.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Task Force shall submit to the Administrator, Advisory 
Committee, and appropriate committees of Congress a report detailing--
            (1) the best practices identified and recommendations 
        provided by the Task Force under subsection (c); and
            (2) any recommendations of the Task Force for additional 
        regulatory action or cost-effective legislative action.
    (e) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Task Force.
    (f) Sunset.--The Task Force shall cease to exist on the date that 
the Task Force submits the report required under subsection (d).

SEC. 2233. CENTRALIZED SAFETY GUIDANCE DATABASE.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the FAA shall establish a 
centralized safety guidance database for all of the regulatory guidance 
issued by the FAA Office of Aviation Safety regarding compliance with 1 
or more aviation safety-related provisions of the Code of Federal 
Regulations.
    (b) Requirements.--The database under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) for each guidance, include a link to the specific 
        provision of the Code of Federal Regulations;
            (2) subject to paragraph (3), be accessible to the public; 
        and
            (3) be provided in a manner that--
                    (A) protects from disclosure identifying 
                information regarding an individual or entity; and
                    (B) protects from inappropriate disclosure 
                proprietary information.
    (c) Data Entry Timing.--
            (1) Existing documents.--Not later than 14 months after the 
        date the database is established, the Administrator shall have 
        completed entering into the database any applicable regulatory 
        guidance that are in effect and were issued before that date.
            (2) New regulatory guidance and updates.--Beginning on the 
        date the database is established, the Administrator shall 
        ensure that any applicable regulatory guidance that are issued 
        on or after that date are entered into the database as they are 
        issued.
    (d) Consultation Requirement.--In establishing the database under 
subsection (a), the Administrator shall consult and collaborate with 
appropriate stakeholders, including labor organizations (including 
those representing aviation workers, FAA aviation safety engineers, and 
FAA aviation safety inspectors) and aviation industry stakeholders.
    (e) Definition of Regulatory Guidance.--In this section, the term 
``regulatory guidance'' means all forms of written information issued 
by the FAA that an individual or entity may use to interpret or apply 
FAA regulations and requirements, including information an individual 
or entity may use to determine acceptable means of compliance with such 
regulations and requirements, such as an order, manual, circular, 
policy statement, and legal interpretation memorandum.

SEC. 2234. REGULATORY CONSISTENCY COMMUNICATIONS BOARD.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the FAA shall establish a 
Regulatory Consistency Communications Board (referred to in this 
section as the ``Board'').
    (b) Consultation Requirement.--In establishing the Board, the 
Administrator shall consult and collaborate with appropriate 
stakeholders, including FAA labor organizations (including labor 
organizations representing FAA aviation safety inspectors and labor 
organizations representing FAA aviation safety engineers) and aviation 
industry stakeholders.
    (c) Membership.--The Board shall be composed of FAA 
representatives, appointed by the Administrator, from--
            (1) the Flight Standards Service;
            (2) the Aircraft Certification Service; and
            (3) the Office of the Chief Counsel.
    (d) Functions.--The Board shall carry out the following functions:
            (1) Recommend, at a minimum, processes by which--
                    (A) FAA personnel and persons regulated by the FAA 
                may submit regulatory interpretation questions without 
                fear of retaliation;
                    (B) FAA personnel may submit written questions as 
                to whether a previous approval or regulatory 
                interpretation issued by FAA personnel in another 
                office or region is correct or incorrect; and
                    (C) any other person may submit anonymous 
                regulatory interpretation questions.
            (2) Meet on a regular basis to discuss and resolve 
        questions submitted under paragraph (1) and the appropriate 
        application of regulations and policy with respect to each 
        question.
            (3) Provide to a person that submitted a question under 
        subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) an expeditious written 
        response to the question.
            (4) Recommend a process to make the resolution of common 
        regulatory interpretation questions publicly available to FAA 
        personnel and the public in a manner that--
                    (A) does not reveal any identifying data of the 
                person that submitted a question; and
                    (B) protects any proprietary information.
            (5) Ensure that responses to questions under this 
        subsection are incorporated into regulatory guidance (as 
        defined in section 2233(e)).
    (e) Performance Metrics, Timelines, and Goals.--Not later than 180 
days after the date that the Advisory Committee recommends performance 
objectives and performance metrics for the FAA and the aviation 
industry under paragraphs (8) and (9) of section 2212(c), the 
Administrator, in collaboration with the Advisory Committee, shall--
            (1) establish performance metrics, timelines, and goals to 
        measure the progress of the Board in resolving regulatory 
        interpretation questions submitted under subsection (d)(1); and
            (2) implement a process for tracking the progress of the 
        Board in meeting the performance metrics, timelines, and goals 
        under paragraph (1).

SEC. 2235. FLIGHT STANDARDS SERVICE REALIGNMENT FEASIBILITY REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with relevant industry 
stakeholders, shall--
            (1) determine the feasibility of realigning flight 
        standards service regional field offices to specialized areas 
        of aviation safety oversight and technical expertise; and
            (2) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
        report on the findings under paragraph (1).
    (b) Considerations.--In making a determination under subsection 
(a), the Administrator shall consider a flight standards service 
regional field office providing support in the area of its technical 
expertise to flight standards district offices and certificate 
management offices.

SEC. 2236. ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATION RESOURCES.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and 
subject to the requirements of subsection (b), the Administrator may 
enter into a reimbursable agreement with an applicant or certificate-
holder for the reasonable travel and per diem expenses of the FAA 
associated with official travel to expedite the acceptance or 
validation by a foreign authority of an FAA certificate or design 
approval.
    (b) Conditions.--The Administrator may enter into an agreement 
under subsection (a) only if--
            (1) the travel covered under the agreement is determined to 
        be necessary, by both the Administrator and the applicant or 
        certificate-holder, to expedite the acceptance or validation of 
        the relevant certificate or approval;
            (2) the travel is conducted at the request of the applicant 
        or certificate-holder;
            (3) the travel plans and expenses are approved by the 
        applicant or certificate-holder prior to travel; and
            (4) the agreement requires payment in advance of FAA 
        services and is consistent with the processes under section 
        106(l)(6) of title 49, United States Code.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees 
of Congress a report on--
            (1) the number of occasions on which the Administrator 
        entered into reimbursable agreements under this section;
            (2) the number of occasions on which the Administrator 
        declined a request by an applicant or certificate-holder to 
        enter into a reimbursable agreement under this section;
            (3) the amount of reimbursements collected in accordance 
        with agreements under this section; and
            (4) the extent to which reimbursable agreements under this 
        section assisted in reducing the amount of time necessary for 
        foreign authorities' validations of FAA certificates and design 
        approvals.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Applicant.--The term ``applicant'' means a person that 
        has applied to a foreign authority for the acceptance or 
        validation of an FAA certificate or design approval.
            (2) Certificate-holder.--The term ``certificate-holder'' 
        means a person that holds a certificate issued by the 
        Administrator under part 21 of title 14, Code of Federal 
        Regulations.

                       PART IV--SAFETY WORKFORCE

SEC. 2241. SAFETY WORKFORCE TRAINING STRATEGY.

    (a) Safety Workforce Training Strategy.--Not later than 60 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the FAA 
shall review and revise its safety workforce training strategy to 
ensure that it--
            (1) aligns with an effective risk-based approach to safety 
        oversight;
            (2) best utilizes available resources;
            (3) allows FAA employees participating in organization 
        management teams or conducting ODA program audits to complete, 
        expeditiously, appropriate training, including recurrent 
        training, in auditing and a systems safety approach to 
        oversight;
            (4) seeks knowledge-sharing opportunities between the FAA 
        and the aviation industry in new technologies, best practices, 
        and other areas of interest related to safety oversight;
            (5) fosters an inspector and engineer workforce that has 
        the skills and training necessary to improve risk-based 
        approaches that focus on requirements management and auditing 
        skills; and
            (6) includes, as appropriate, milestones and metrics for 
        meeting the requirements of paragraphs (1) through (5).
    (b) Report.--Not later that 270 days after the date the strategy is 
established under subsection (a), the Administrator shall submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a report on the implementation of 
the strategy and progress in meeting any milestones or metrics included 
in the strategy.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) ODA holder.--The term ``ODA holder'' has the meaning 
        given the term in section 44736 of title 49, United States 
        Code.
            (2) ODA program.--The term ``ODA program'' means the 
        program to standardize FAA oversight of the organizations that 
        are approved to perform certain functions on behalf of the FAA 
        under section 44702(d) of title 49, United States Code.
            (3) Organization management team.--The term ``organization 
        management team'' means a group of FAA employees consisting of 
        FAA aviation safety engineers, flight test pilots, and aviation 
        safety inspectors overseeing an ODA holder and its specified 
        function delegated under section 44702.

SEC. 2242. WORKFORCE STUDY.

    (a) Workforce Study.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall conduct a study to assess the workforce and training needs of the 
Office of Aviation Safety of the Federal Aviation Administration and 
taking into consideration how those needs could be met.
    (b) Contents.--The study under subsection (a) shall include--
            (1) a review of the current staffing levels and 
        requirements for hiring and training, including recurrent 
        training, of aviation safety inspectors and aviation safety 
        engineers;
            (2) an analysis of the skills and qualifications required 
        of aviation safety inspectors and aviation safety engineers for 
        successful performance in the current and future projected 
        aviation safety regulatory environment, including an analysis 
        of the need for a systems engineering discipline within the 
        Federal Aviation Administration to guide the engineering of 
        complex systems, with an emphasis on auditing an ODA holder (as 
        defined in section 44736(c) of title 49, United States Code);
            (3) a review of current performance incentive policies of 
        the Federal Aviation Administration, as applied to the Office 
        of Aviation Safety, including awards for performance;
            (4) an analysis of ways the Federal Aviation Administration 
        can work with the aviation industry and FAA labor force to 
        establish knowledge-sharing opportunities between the Federal 
        Aviation Administration and the aviation industry in new 
        technologies, best practices, and other areas that could 
        improve the aviation safety regulatory system; and
            (5) recommendations on the best and most cost-effective 
        approaches to address the needs of the current and future 
        projected aviation safety regulatory system, including 
        qualifications, training programs, and performance incentives 
        for relevant agency personnel.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 270 days 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).

                     PART V--INTERNATIONAL AVIATION

SEC. 2251. PROMOTION OF UNITED STATES AEROSPACE STANDARDS, PRODUCTS, 
              AND SERVICES ABROAD.

    Section 40104 is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Promotion of United States Aerospace Standards, Products, and 
Services Abroad.--The Secretary shall take appropriate actions--
            ``(1) to promote United States aerospace-related safety 
        standards abroad;
            ``(2) to facilitate and vigorously defend approvals of 
        United States aerospace products and services abroad;
            ``(3) with respect to bilateral partners, to use bilateral 
        safety agreements and other mechanisms to improve validation of 
        United States type certificated aeronautical products and 
        services and enhance mutual acceptance in order to eliminate 
        redundancies and unnecessary costs; and
            ``(4) with respect to the aeronautical safety authorities 
        of a foreign country, to streamline that country's validation 
        of United States aerospace standards, products, and 
        services.''.

SEC. 2252. BILATERAL EXCHANGES OF SAFETY OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITIES.

    Section 44701(e) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Foreign airworthiness directives.--
                    ``(A) Acceptance.--The Administrator shall accept 
                an airworthiness directive (as defined in section 39.3 
                of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations) issued by an 
                aeronautical safety authority of a foreign country, and 
                leverage that aeronautical safety authority's 
                regulatory process, if--
                            ``(i) the country is the state of design 
                        for the product that is the subject of the 
                        airworthiness directive;
                            ``(ii) the United States has a bilateral 
                        safety agreement relating to aircraft 
                        certification with the country;
                            ``(iii) as part of the bilateral safety 
                        agreement with the country, the Administrator 
                        has determined that the aeronautical safety 
                        authority has an aircraft certification system 
                        relating to safety that produces a level of 
                        safety equivalent to the level produced by the 
                        system of the Federal Aviation Administration; 
                        and
                            ``(iv) the aeronautical safety authority 
                        utilizes an open and transparent public notice 
                        and comment process in the issuance of 
                        airworthiness directives.
                    ``(B) Alternative approval process.--
                Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the Administrator may 
                issue a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness 
                directive instead of accepting the airworthiness 
                directive issued by the aeronautical safety authority 
                of a foreign country if the Administrator determines 
                that such issuance is necessary for safety or 
                operational reasons due to the complexity or unique 
                features of the Federal Aviation Administration 
                airworthiness directive or the United States aviation 
                system.
                    ``(C) Alternative means of compliance.--The 
                Administrator may--
                            ``(i) accept an alternative means of 
                        compliance, with respect to an airworthiness 
                        directive under subparagraph (A), that was 
                        approved by the aeronautical safety authority 
                        of the foreign country that issued the 
                        airworthiness directive; or
                            ``(ii) notwithstanding subparagraph (A), 
                        and at the request of any person affected by an 
                        airworthiness directive under that 
                        subparagraph, the Administrator may approve an 
                        alternative means of compliance with respect to 
                        the airworthiness directive.''.

SEC. 2253. FAA LEADERSHIP ABROAD.

    (a) In General.--To promote United States aerospace safety 
standards, reduce redundant regulatory activity, and facilitate 
acceptance of FAA design and production approvals abroad, the 
Administrator shall--
            (1) attain greater expertise in issues related to dispute 
        resolution, intellectual property, and export control laws to 
        better support FAA certification and other aerospace regulatory 
        activities abroad;
            (2) work with United States companies to more accurately 
        track the amount of time it takes foreign authorities, 
        including bilateral partners, to validate United States type 
        certificated aeronautical products;
            (3) provide assistance to United States companies who have 
        experienced significantly long foreign validation wait times;
            (4) work with foreign authorities, including bilateral 
        partners, to collect and analyze data to determine the 
        timeliness of the acceptance and validation of FAA design and 
        production approvals by foreign authorities and the acceptance 
        and validation of foreign-certified products by the FAA;
            (5) establish appropriate benchmarks and metrics to measure 
        the success of bilateral aviation safety agreements and to 
        reduce the validation time for United States type certificated 
        aeronautical products abroad; and
            (6) work with foreign authorities, including bilateral 
        partners, to improve the timeliness of the acceptance and 
        validation of FAA design and production approvals by foreign 
        authorities and the acceptance and validation of foreign-
        certified products by the FAA.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees 
of Congress a report that--
            (1) describes the Administrator's strategic plan for 
        international engagement;
            (2) describes the structure and responsibilities of all FAA 
        offices that have international responsibilities, including the 
        Aircraft Certification Office, and all the activities conducted 
        by those offices related to certification and production;
            (3) describes current and forecasted staffing and travel 
        needs for the FAA's international engagement activities, 
        including the needs of the Aircraft Certification Office in the 
        current and forecasted budgetary environment;
            (4) provides recommendations, if appropriate, to improve 
        the existing structure and personnel and travel policies 
        supporting the FAA's international engagement activities, 
        including the activities of the Aviation Certification Office, 
        to better support the growth of United States aerospace 
        exports; and
            (5) identifies regulatory initiatives or cost-effective 
        legislative initiatives needed to improve and enhance the 
        timely acceptance of United States aerospace products abroad.
    (c) International Travel.--The Administrator of the FAA, or the 
Administrator's designee, may authorize international travel for any 
FAA employee, without the approval of any other person or entity, if 
the Administrator determines that the travel is necessary--
            (1) to promote United States aerospace safety standards; or
            (2) to support expedited acceptance of FAA design and 
        production approvals.

SEC. 2254. REGISTRATION, CERTIFICATION, AND RELATED FEES.

    Section 45305 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) by striking ``Subject to subsection 
        (b)'' and inserting ``Subject to subsection (c)'';
            (2) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections 
        (c) and (d), respectively; and
            (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
    ``(b) Certification Services.--Subject to subsection (c), and 
notwithstanding section 45301(a), the Administrator may establish and 
collect a fee from a foreign government or entity for services related 
to certification, regardless of where the services are provided, if the 
fee--
            ``(1) is established and collected in a manner consistent 
        with aviation safety agreements; and
            ``(2) does not exceed the estimated costs of the 
        services.''.

          Subtitle C--Airline Passenger Safety and Protections

SEC. 2301. PILOT RECORDS DATABASE DEADLINE.

    Section 44703(i)(2) is amended by striking ``The Administrator 
shall establish'' and inserting ``Not later than April 30, 2017, the 
Administrator shall establish and make available for use''.

SEC. 2302. ACCESS TO AIR CARRIER FLIGHT DECKS.

    The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
collaborate with other aviation authorities to advance of a global 
standard for access to air carrier flight decks and redundancy 
requirements consistent with the flight deck access and redundancy 
requirements in the United States.

SEC. 2303. AIRCRAFT TRACKING AND FLIGHT DATA.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall assess current performance standards, and as appropriate, conduct 
a rulemaking to revise the standards to improve near-term and long-term 
aircraft tracking and flight data recovery, including retrieval, 
access, and protection of such data after an incident or accident.
    (b) Considerations.--In revising the performance standards under 
subsection (a) the Administrator may consider--
            (1) various methods for improving detection and retrieval 
        of flight data, including--
                    (A) low frequency underwater locating devices; and
                    (B) extended battery life for underwater locating 
                devices;
            (2) automatic deployable flight recorders;
            (3) triggered transmission of flight data, and other 
        satellite-based solutions;
            (4) distress-mode tracking; and
            (5) protections against disabling flight recorder systems.
    (c) Coordination.--In revising the performance standards under 
subsection (a), the Administrator shall coordinate with international 
regulatory authorities and the International Civil Aviation 
Organization to ensure that any new international standard for aircraft 
tracking and flight data recovery is consistent with a performance-
based approach and is implemented in a globally harmonized manner.

SEC. 2304. AUTOMATION RELIANCE IMPROVEMENTS.

    (a) Modernization of Training.--Not later than October 1, 2017, the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall review, and 
update as necessary, recent guidance regarding pilot flight deck 
monitoring that an air carrier can use to train and evaluate its pilots 
to ensure that air carrier pilots are trained to use and monitor 
automation systems while also maintaining proficiency in manual flight 
operations consistent with the final rule entitled, ``Qualification, 
Service, and Use of Crewmembers and Aircraft Dispatchers'', published 
on November 12, 2013 (78 Fed. Reg. 67799).
    (b) Considerations.--In reviewing and updating the guidance, the 
Administrator shall--
            (1) consider casualty driven scenarios during initial and 
        recurrent simulator instruction that focus on automation 
        complacency during system failure, including flight segments 
        when automation is typically engaged and should result in hand 
        flying the aircraft into a safe position while employing crew 
        resource management principles;
            (2) consider the development of metrics or measurable tasks 
        an air carrier may use to evaluate the ability of pilots to 
        appropriately monitor flight deck systems;
            (3) consider the development of metrics an air carrier may 
        use to evaluate manual flying skills and improve related 
        training;
            (4) convene an expert panel, including members with 
        expertise in human factors, training, and flight operations--
                    (A) to evaluate and develop methods for training 
                flight crews to understand the functionality of 
                automated systems for flight path management;
                    (B) to identify and recommend to the Administrator 
                the most effective training methods that ensure that 
                pilots can apply manual flying skills in the event of 
                flight deck automation failure or an unexpected event; 
                and
                    (C) to identify and recommend to the Administrator 
                revision in the training guidance for flight crews to 
                address the needs identified in subparagraphs (A) and 
                (B); and
            (5) develop any additional standards to be used for 
        guidance the Administrator considers necessary to determine 
        whether air carrier pilots receive sufficient training 
        opportunities to develop, maintain, and demonstrate manual 
        flying skills.
    (c) DOT IG Review.--Not later than 2 years after the date the 
Administrator reviews the guidance under subsection (a), the Inspector 
General of the Department of Transportation shall review the air 
carriers implementation of the guidance and the ongoing work of the 
expert panel.

SEC. 2305. ENHANCED MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING FOR PILOTS.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall consider 
the recommendations of the Pilot Fitness Aviation Rulemaking Committee 
in determining whether to implement, as part of a comprehensive medical 
certification process for pilots with a first- or second-class airman 
medical certificate, additional screening for mental health conditions, 
including depression and suicidal thoughts or tendencies, and access 
treatment that would address any risk associated with such conditions.

SEC. 2306. FLIGHT ATTENDANT DUTY PERIOD LIMITATIONS AND REST 
              REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Modification of Final Rule.--Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall revise the flight attendant duty period 
limitations and rest requirements under section 121.467 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations.
    (b) Contents.--Except as provided in subsection (b), in revising 
the rule under subsection (a), the Administrator shall ensure that a 
flight attendant scheduled to a duty period of 14 hours or less is 
given a scheduled rest period of at least 10 consecutive hours.
    (c) Exception.--The rest period required under subsection (b) may 
be scheduled or reduced to 9 consecutive hours if the flight attendant 
is provided a subsequent rest period of at least 11 consecutive hours.

SEC. 2307. TRAINING FLIGHT ATTENDANTS TO IDENTIFY HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

    Section 44734(a) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2) by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (3) by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) identifying and timely alerting of appropriate 
        government personnel or a law enforcement officer and filing a 
        report of a potential victim or incidence of human 
        trafficking.''.

SEC. 2308. REPORT ON OBSOLETE TEST EQUIPMENT.

    (a) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the 
National Test Equipment Program (referred to in this section as the 
``Program'').
    (b) Contents.--The report shall include--
            (1) a list of all known outstanding requests for test 
        equipment, cataloged by type and location, under the Program;
            (2) a description of the current method under the Program 
        of ensuring calibrated equipment is in place for utilization;
            (3) a plan by the Administrator for appropriate inventory 
        of such equipment; and
            (4) the Administrator's recommendations for increasing 
        multi-functionality in future test equipment to be developed 
        and all known and foreseeable manufacturer technological 
        advances.

SEC. 2309. PLAN FOR SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE DIRECT WARNINGS OF POTENTIAL 
              RUNWAY INCURSIONS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than June 30, 2016, the Administrator of 
the Federal Aviation Administration shall--
            (1) assess available technologies to determine whether it 
        is feasible, cost-effective, and appropriate to install and 
        deploy, at any airport, systems to provide a direct warning 
        capability to flight crews and air traffic controllers of 
        potential runway incursions; and
            (2) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
        report on the assessment under paragraph (1), including any 
        recommendations.
    (b) Considerations.--In conducting the assessment under subsection 
(a), the Administration shall consider National Transportation Safety 
Board findings and relevant aviation stakeholder views relating to 
runway incursions.

SEC. 2310. LASER POINTER INCIDENTS.

    (a) In General.--Beginning 90 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, in 
coordination with the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 
shall provide quarterly updates to the appropriate committees of 
Congress regarding--
            (1) the number of incidents involving the beam from a laser 
        pointer (as defined in section 39A of title 18, United States 
        Code) being aimed at, or in the flight path of, an aircraft in 
        the airspace jurisdiction of the United States;
            (2) the number of civil or criminal enforcement actions 
        taken by the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of 
        Transportation, or Department of Justice with regard to the 
        incidents described in paragraph (1), including the amount of 
        the civil or criminal penalties imposed on violators;
            (3) the resolution of any incidents that did not result in 
        a civil or criminal enforcement action; and
            (4) any actions the Department of Transportation or 
        Department of Justice has taken on its own, or in conjunction 
        with other Federal agencies or local law enforcement agencies, 
        to deter the type of activity described in paragraph (1).
    (b) Civil Penalties.--The Administrator shall revise the maximum 
civil penalty that may be imposed on an individual who aims the beam of 
a laser pointer at an aircraft in the airspace jurisdiction of the 
United States, or at the flight path of such an aircraft, to be 
$25,000.

SEC. 2311. HELICOPTER AIR AMBULANCE OPERATIONS DATA AND REPORTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, 
in collaboration with helicopter air ambulance industry stakeholders, 
shall assess the availability of information to the general public 
related to the location of heliports and helipads used by helicopters 
providing air ambulance services, including helipads and helipads 
outside of those listed as part of any existing databases of Airport 
Master Record (5010) forms.
    (b) Requirements.--Based on the assessment under subsection (a), 
the Administrator shall--
            (1) update, as necessary, any existing guidance on what 
        information is included in the current databases of Airport 
        Master Record (5010) forms to include information related to 
        heliports and helipads used by helicopters providing air 
        ambulance services; or
            (2) develop, as appropriate and in collaboration with 
        helicopter air ambulance industry stakeholders, a new database 
        of heliports and helipads used by helicopters providing air 
        ambulance services.
    (c) Reports.--
            (1) Assessment.--Not later than 30 days after the date the 
        assessment under subsection (a) is complete, the Administrator 
        shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
        on the assessment, including any recommendations on how to make 
        information related to the location of heliports and helipads 
        used by helicopters providing air ambulance services available 
        to the general public.
            (2) Implementation.--Not later than 30 days after 
        completing action under paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of 
        subsection (b), the Administrator shall submit to the 
        appropriate committees of Congress a report on the 
        implementation of that action.
    (d) Incident and Accident Data.--Section 44731 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``not later than 1 year after the date of 
                enactment of this section, and annually thereafter'' 
                and inserting ``annually'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``flights and 
                hours flown, by registration number, during which 
                helicopters operated by the certificate holder were 
                providing helicopter air ambulance services'' and 
                inserting ``hours flown by the helicopters operated by 
                the certificate holder'';
                    (C) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by striking ``of flight'' and inserting 
                        ``of patients transported and the number of 
                        patient transport'';
                            (ii) by inserting ``or'' after 
                        ``interfacility transport,''; and
                            (iii) by striking ``, or ferry or 
                        repositioning flight'';
                    (D) in paragraph (5)--
                            (i) by striking ``flights and''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``while providing air 
                        ambulance services''; and
                    (E) by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows:
            ``(6) The number of hours flown at night by helicopters 
        operated by the certificate holder.'';
            (2) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) by striking ``Not later than 2 years after the 
                date of enactment of this section, and annually 
                thereafter, the Administrator shall submit'' and 
                inserting ``The Administrator shall submit annually''; 
                and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following: ``The 
                report shall include the number of accidents 
                experienced by helicopter air ambulance operations, the 
                number of fatal accidents experienced by helicopter air 
                ambulance operations, and the rate, per 100,000 flight 
                hours, of accidents and fatal accidents experienced by 
                operators providing helicopter air ambulance 
                services.'';
            (3) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and
            (4) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
    ``(e) Implementation.--In carrying out this section, the 
Administrator, in collaboration with part 135 certificate holders 
providing helicopter air ambulance services, shall--
            ``(1) propose and develop a method to collect and store the 
        data submitted under subsection (a), including a method to 
        protect the confidentiality of any trade secret or proprietary 
        information submitted; and
            ``(2) ensure that the database under subsection (c) and the 
        report under subsection (d) include data and analysis that will 
        best inform efforts to improve the safety of helicopter air 
        ambulance operations.''.

SEC. 2312. PART 135 ACCIDENT AND INCIDENT DATA.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall--
            (1) determine, in collaboration with the National 
        Transportation Safety Board and Part 135 industry stakeholders, 
        what, if any, additional data should be reported as part of an 
        accident or incident notice to more accurately measure the 
        safety of on-demand Part 135 aircraft activity, to pinpoint 
        safety problems, and to form the basis for critical research 
        and analysis of general aviation issues; and
            (2) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
        report on the findings under paragraph (1), including a 
        description of the additional data to be collected, a timeframe 
        for implementing the additional data collection, and any 
        potential obstacles to implementation.

SEC. 2313. DEFINITION OF HUMAN FACTORS.

    Section 40102(a) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (24) through (47) as 
        paragraphs (25) through (48), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (23) the following:
            ``(24) `human factors' means a multidisciplinary field that 
        generates and compiles information about human capabilities and 
        limitations and applies it to design, development, and 
        evaluation of equipment, systems, facilities, procedures, jobs, 
        environments, staffing, organizations, and personnel management 
        for safe, efficient, and effective human performance, including 
        people's use of technology.''.

SEC. 2314. SENSE OF CONGRESS; PILOT IN COMMAND AUTHORITY.

    It is the sense of Congress that the pilot in command of an 
aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, 
the operation of that aircraft, as set forth in section 91.3(a) of 
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation 
thereto).

SEC. 2315. ENHANCING ASIAS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, 
in consultation with relevant aviation industry stakeholders, shall 
assess what, if any, improvements are needed to develop the predictive 
capability of the Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing 
program (referred to in this section as ``ASIAS'') with regard to 
identifying precursors to accidents.
    (b) Contents.--In conducting the assessment under subsection (a), 
the Administrator shall--
            (1) determine what actions are necessary--
                    (A) to improve data quality and standardization; 
                and
                    (B) to increase the data received from additional 
                segments of the aviation industry, such as small 
                airplane, helicopter, and business jet operations;
            (2) consider how to prioritize the actions described in 
        paragraph (1); and
            (3) review available methods for disseminating safety trend 
        data from ASIAS to the aviation safety community, including the 
        inspector workforce, to inform in their risk-based 
        decisionmaking efforts.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date the assessment 
under subsection (a) is complete, the Administrator shall submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a report on the assessment, 
including recommendations regarding paragraphs (1) through (3) of 
subsection (b).

SEC. 2316. IMPROVING RUNWAY SAFETY.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall expedite the development of metrics--
            (1) to allow the Federal Aviation Administration to 
        determine whether runway incursions are increasing; and
            (2) to assess the effectiveness of implemented runway 
        safety initiatives.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees 
of Congress a report on the progress in developing the metrics 
described in subsection (a).

SEC. 2317. SAFE AIR TRANSPORTATION OF LITHIUM CELLS AND BATTERIES.

    (a) Restrictions on Transportation of Lithium Batteries on 
Passenger Aircraft.--Pursuant to section 828 of the FAA Modernization 
and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 44701 note)--
            (1) not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of 
        this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
        Administration shall update applicable regulations to implement 
        the revised standards adopted by the International Civil 
        Aviation Organization (ICAO) on February 22, 2016, regarding--
                    (A) prohibiting the bulk air transportation of 
                lithium ion batteries on passenger aircraft; and
                    (B) prohibiting bulk air transport cargo shipment 
                of lithium batteries with an internal charge above 30 
                percent; and
            (2) the Secretary of Transportation may initiate a review 
        of existing regulations under parts 171-181 of title 49, Code 
        of Federal Regulations, and any applicable regulations under 
        title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, regarding the air 
        transportation, including passenger-carrying and cargo 
        aircraft, of lithium batteries and cells.
            (3) Savings clause.--Nothing in this section shall be 
        construed as expanding or constricting any other authority the 
        Secretary of Transportation has under section 828 of the FAA 
        Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 44701 note) to 
        promulgate additional emergency or permanent regulations as 
        permitted by subsection (b) of that section.
    (b) Lithium Battery Safety Working Group.--Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall establish 
a lithium battery safety working group to promote and coordinate 
efforts related to the promotion of the safe manufacture, use, and 
transportation of lithium batteries and cells.
            (1) Composition.--
                    (A) In general.--The working group shall be 
                composed of at least 1 representative from each of the 
                following:
                            (i) Consumer Product Safety Commission.
                            (ii) Department of Transportation.
                            (iii) National Institute on Standards and 
                        Technology.
                    (B) Additional members.--The working group may 
                include not more than 4 additional members with 
                expertise in the safe manufacture, use, or 
                transportation of lithium batteries and cells.
                    (C) Subcommittees.--The President, or members of 
                the working group, may--
                            (i) establish working group subcommittees 
                        to focus on specific issues related to the safe 
                        manufacture, use, or transportation of lithium 
                        batteries and cells; and
                            (ii) include in a subcommittee the 
                        participation of non-member stakeholders with 
                        expertise in areas that the President or 
                        members consider necessary.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date it is 
        established under subsection (b), the working group shall--
                    (A) research--
                            (i) additional ways to decrease the risk of 
                        fires and explosions from lithium batteries and 
                        cells;
                            (ii) additional ways to ensure uniform 
                        transportation requirements for both bulk and 
                        individual batteries; and
                            (iii) new or existing technologies that 
                        could reduce the fire and explosion risk of 
                        lithium batteries and cells; and
                    (B) transmit to the appropriate committees of 
                Congress a report on the research under subparagraph 
                (A), including any legislative recommendations to 
                effectuate the safety improvements described in clauses 
                (i) through (iii) of that subparagraph.
            (3) Exemption from faca.--The Federal Advisory Committee 
        Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the working group.
            (4) Termination.--The working group, and any working group 
        subcommittees, shall terminate 90 days after the date the 
        report is transmitted under paragraph (2).

                  Subtitle D--General Aviation Safety

SEC. 2401. AUTOMATED WEATHER OBSERVING SYSTEMS POLICY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall--
            (1) update automated weather observing systems standards to 
        maximize the use of new technologies that promote the reduction 
        of equipment or maintenance cost for non-Federal automated 
        weather observing systems, including the use of remote 
        monitoring and maintenance, unless demonstrated to be 
        ineffective;
            (2) review, and if necessary update, existing policies in 
        accordance with the standards developed under paragraph (1); 
        and
            (3) establish a process under which appropriate on site 
        airport personnel or an aviation official may, with appropriate 
        manufacturer training or alternative training as determined by 
        the Administrator, be permitted to conduct the minimum tri-
        annual preventative maintenance checks under the advisory 
        circular for non-Federal automated weather observing systems 
        (AC 150/5220-16D).
    (b) Permission.--Permission to conduct the minimum tri-annual 
preventative maintenance checks described under subsection (a)(3) shall 
not be withheld but for specific cause.
    (c) Standards.--In updating the standards under subsection (a)(1), 
the Administrator shall--
            (1) ensure the standards are performance-based;
            (2) use risk analysis to determine the accuracy of the 
        automated weather observing systems outputs required for pilots 
        to perform safe aircraft operations; and
            (3) provide a cost benefit analysis to determine whether 
        the benefits outweigh the cost for any requirement not directly 
        related to safety.
    (d) Report.--Not later than September 30, 2017, the Administrator 
shall provide a report to the appropriate committees of Congress on the 
implementation of requirements under this section.

SEC. 2402. TOWER MARKING.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall issue regulations to require the marking of covered towers.
    (b) Marking Required.--The regulations under subsection (a) shall 
require that a covered tower be clearly marked in a manner that is 
consistent with applicable guidance under the Federal Aviation 
Administration Advisory Circular issued December 4, 2015 (AC 70/7460-
1L), or other relevant safety guidance, as determined by the 
Administrator.
    (c) Application.--The regulations issued under subsection (a) shall 
ensure that--
            (1) all covered towers constructed on or after the date on 
        which such regulations take effect are marked in accordance 
        with subsection (b); and
            (2) a covered tower constructed before the date on which 
        such regulations take effect is marked in accordance with 
        subsection (b) not later than 6 months after such effective 
        date.
    (d) Definition of Covered Tower.--
            (1) In general.--In this section, the term ``covered 
        tower'' means a structure that--
                    (A) is self-standing or supported by guy wires and 
                ground anchors;
                    (B) is 6 feet or less in diameter at the above-
                ground base, excluding concrete footing;
                    (C) at the highest point of the structure is at 
                least 50 feet above ground level;
                    (D) at the highest point of the structure is not 
                more than 200 feet above ground level;
                    (E) has accessory facilities on which an antenna, 
                sensor, camera, meteorological instrument, or other 
                equipment is mounted; and
                    (F) is located--
                            (i) outside the boundaries of an 
                        incorporated city or town; or
                            (ii) on land that is--
                                    (I) undeveloped; or
                                    (II) used for agricultural 
                                purposes.
            (2) Exclusions.--The term ``covered tower'' does not 
        include any structure that--
                    (A) is adjacent to a house, barn, electric utility 
                station, or other building;
                    (B) is within the curtilage of a farmstead;
                    (C) supports electric utility transmission or 
                distribution lines;
                    (D) is a wind powered electrical generator with a 
                rotor blade radius that exceeds 6 feet; or
                    (E) is a street light erected or maintained by a 
                Federal, State, local, or tribal entity.
    (e) Database.--The Administrator shall--
            (1) develop a publicly available database that contains the 
        location and height of each covered tower;
            (2) keep the database current to the extent practicable; 
        and
            (3) ensure that any proprietary information in the database 
        is protected from disclosure in accordance with law.

SEC. 2403. CRASH-RESISTANT FUEL SYSTEMS.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall evaluate and 
update, as necessary, standards for crash-resistant fuel systems for 
civilian rotorcraft.

                     Subtitle E--General Provisions

SEC. 2501. DESIGNATED AGENCY SAFETY AND HEALTH OFFICER.

    (a) In General.--Section 106 is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(u) Designated Agency Safety and Health Officer.--
            ``(1) Appointment.--There shall be a Designated Agency 
        Safety and Health Officer appointed by the Administrator who 
        shall exclusively fulfill the duties prescribed in this 
        subsection.
            ``(2) Responsibilities.--The Designated Agency Safety and 
        Health Officer shall have responsibility and accountability 
        for--
                    ``(A) auditing occupational safety and health 
                issues across the Administration;
                    ``(B) overseeing Administration-wide compliance 
                with relevant Federal occupational safety and health 
                statutes and regulations, national industry and 
                consensus standards, and Administration policies; and
                    ``(C) encouraging a culture of occupational safety 
                and health to complement the Administration's existing 
                safety culture.
            ``(3) Reporting structure.--The Designated Agency Safety 
        and Health Officer shall occupy a full-time, senior executive 
        position and shall report directly to the Assistant 
        Administrator for Human Resource Management.
            ``(4) Qualifications and removal.--
                    ``(A) Qualifications.--The Designated Agency Safety 
                and Health Officer shall have demonstrated ability and 
                experience in the establishment and administration of 
                comprehensive occupational safety and health programs 
                and knowledge of relevant Federal occupational safety 
                and health statutes and regulations, national industry 
                and consensus standards, and Administration policies.
                    ``(B) Removal.--The Designated Agency Safety and 
                Health Officer shall serve at the pleasure of the 
                Administrator.''.
    (b) Deadline for Appointment.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall appoint an individual to serve as the 
Designated Agency Safety and Health Officer under section 106(u) of 
title 49, United States Code.

SEC. 2502. REPAIR STATIONS LOCATED OUTSIDE UNITED STATES.

    (a) Risk-Based Oversight.--Section 44733 is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g);
            (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
    ``(f) Risk-Based Oversight.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        enactment of the Federal Aviation Administration 
        Reauthorization Act of 2016, the Administrator shall take 
        measures to ensure that the safety assessment system 
        established under subsection (a)--
                    ``(A) places particular consideration on 
                inspections of part 145 repair stations located outside 
                the United States that conduct scheduled heavy 
                maintenance work on part 121 air carrier aircraft; and
                    ``(B) accounts for the frequency and seriousness of 
                any corrective actions that part 121 air carriers must 
                implement to aircraft following such work at such 
                repair stations.
            ``(2) International agreements.--The Administrator shall 
        take the measures required under paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) in accordance with the United States 
                obligations under applicable international agreements; 
                and
                    ``(B) in a manner consistent with the applicable 
                laws of the country in which a repair station is 
                located.
            ``(3) Access to data.--The Administrator may access and 
        review such information or data in the possession of a part 121 
        air carrier as the Administrator may require in carrying out 
        paragraph (1)(B).''; and
            (3) in subsection (g), as redesignated--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
                paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting before paragraph (2), as 
                redesignated, the following:
            ``(1) Heavy maintenance work.--The term `heavy maintenance 
        work' means a C-check, a D-check, or equivalent maintenance 
        operation with respect to the airframe of a transport-category 
        aircraft.''.
    (b) Alcohol and Controlled Substances Testing.--The Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration shall ensure that--
            (1) not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of 
        this Act, a notice of proposed rulemaking required pursuant to 
        section 44733(d)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is 
        published in the Federal Register; and
            (2) not later than 1 year after the date on which the 
        notice of proposed rulemaking is published in the Federal 
        Register, the rulemaking is finalized.
    (c) Background Investigations.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall ensure that each employee of a repair 
station certificated under part 145 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations, who performs a safety-sensitive function on an air carrier 
aircraft has undergone a pre-employment background investigation 
sufficient to determine whether the individual presents a threat to 
aviation safety, in a manner that is--
            (1) determined acceptable by the Administrator;
            (2) consistent with the applicable laws of the country in 
        which the repair station is located; and
            (3) consistent with the United States obligations under 
        international agreements.

SEC. 2503. FAA TECHNICAL TRAINING.

    (a) E-Learning Training Pilot Program.--Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration, in collaboration with the exclusive 
bargaining representatives of covered FAA personnel, shall establish an 
e-learning training pilot program in accordance with the requirements 
of this section.
    (b) Curriculum.--The pilot program shall--
            (1) include a recurrent training curriculum for covered FAA 
        personnel to ensure that the covered FAA personnel receive 
        instruction on the latest aviation technologies, processes, and 
        procedures;
            (2) focus on providing specialized technical training for 
        covered FAA personnel, as determined necessary by the 
        Administrator;
            (3) include training courses on applicable regulations of 
        the Federal Aviation Administration; and
            (4) consider the efficacy of instructor-led online 
        training.
    (c) Pilot Program Termination.--The pilot program shall terminate 1 
year after the date of establishment of the pilot program.
    (d) E-Learning Training Program.--Upon termination of the pilot 
program, the Administrator shall assess and establish or update an e-
learning training program that incorporates lessons learned for covered 
FAA personnel as a result of the pilot program.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Covered faa personnel.--The term ``covered FAA 
        personnel'' means airway transportation systems specialists and 
        aviation safety inspectors of the Federal Aviation 
        Administration.
            (2) E-learning training.--The term ``e-learning training'' 
        means learning utilizing electronic technologies to access 
        educational curriculum outside of a traditional classroom.

SEC. 2504. SAFETY CRITICAL STAFFING.

    (a) Audit by DOT Inspector General.--Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the 
Department of Transportation shall conduct and complete an audit of the 
staffing model used by the Federal Aviation Administration to determine 
the number of aviation safety inspectors that are needed to fulfill the 
mission of the Federal Aviation Administration and adequately ensure 
aviation safety.
    (b) Contents.--The audit shall include, at a minimum--
            (1) a review of the staffing model and an analysis of how 
        consistently the staffing model is applied throughout the 
        Federal Aviation Administration's aviation safety lines of 
        business;
            (2) a review of the assumptions and methods used in 
        devising and implementing the staffing model to assess the 
        adequacy of the staffing model to predict the number of 
        aviation safety inspectors needed to properly fulfill the 
        mission of the Federal Aviation Administration and meet the 
        future growth of the aviation industry; and
            (3) a determination on whether the current staffing model 
        takes into account the Federal Aviation Administration's 
        authority to fully utilize designees.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the date of completion of 
the audit, the Inspector General shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the results of the audit.

   Subtitle F--Third Class Medical Reform and General Aviation Pilot 
                              Protections

SEC. 2601. SHORT TITLE.

    This subtitle may be cited as the ``Pilot's Bill of Rights 2''.

SEC. 2602. MEDICAL CERTIFICATION OF CERTAIN SMALL AIRCRAFT PILOTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall issue or revise regulations to ensure that an 
individual may operate as pilot in command of a covered aircraft if--
            (1) the individual possesses a valid driver's license 
        issued by a State, territory, or possession of the United 
        States and complies with all medical requirements or 
        restrictions associated with that license;
            (2) the individual holds a medical certificate issued by 
        the Federal Aviation Administration on the date of enactment of 
        this Act, held such a certificate at any point during the 10-
        year period preceding such date of enactment, or obtains such a 
        certificate after such date of enactment;
            (3) the most recent medical certificate issued by the 
        Federal Aviation Administration to the individual--
                    (A) indicates whether the certificate is first, 
                second, or third class;
                    (B) may include authorization for special issuance;
                    (C) may be expired;
                    (D) cannot have been revoked or suspended; and
                    (E) cannot have been withdrawn;
            (4) the most recent application for airman medical 
        certification submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration 
        by the individual cannot have been completed and denied;
            (5) the individual has completed a medical education course 
        described in subsection (c) during the 24 calendar months 
        before acting as pilot in command of a covered aircraft and 
        demonstrates proof of completion of the course;
            (6) the individual, when serving as a pilot in command, is 
        under the care and treatment of a physician if the individual 
        has been diagnosed with any medical condition that may impact 
        the ability of the individual to fly;
            (7) the individual has received a comprehensive medical 
        examination from a State-licensed physician during the previous 
        48 months and--
                    (A) prior to the examination, the individual--
                            (i) completed the individual's section of 
                        the checklist described in subsection (b); and
                            (ii) provided the completed checklist to 
                        the physician performing the examination; and
                    (B) the physician conducted the comprehensive 
                medical examination in accordance with the checklist 
                described in subsection (b), checking each item 
                specified during the examination and addressing, as 
                medically appropriate, every medical condition listed, 
                and any medications the individual is taking; and
            (8) the individual is operating in accordance with the 
        following conditions:
                    (A) The covered aircraft is carrying not more than 
                5 passengers.
                    (B) The individual is operating the covered 
                aircraft under visual flight rules or instrument flight 
                rules.
                    (C) The flight, including each portion of that 
                flight, is not carried out--
                            (i) for compensation or hire, including 
                        that no passenger or property on the flight is 
                        being carried for compensation or hire;
                            (ii) at an altitude that is more than 
                        18,000 feet above mean sea level;
                            (iii) outside the United States, unless 
                        authorized by the country in which the flight 
                        is conducted; or
                            (iv) at an indicated air speed exceeding 
                        250 knots.
    (b) Comprehensive Medical Examination.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall develop a 
        checklist for an individual to complete and provide to the 
        physician performing the comprehensive medical examination 
        required in subsection (a)(7).
            (2) Requirements.--The checklist shall contain--
                    (A) a section, for the individual to complete that 
                contains--
                            (i) boxes 3 through 13 and boxes 16 through 
                        19 of the Federal Aviation Administration Form 
                        8500-8 (3-99); and
                            (ii) a signature line for the individual to 
                        affirm that--
                                    (I) the answers provided by the 
                                individual on that checklist, including 
                                the individual's answers regarding 
                                medical history, are true and complete;
                                    (II) the individual understands 
                                that he or she is prohibited under 
                                Federal Aviation Administration 
                                regulations from acting as pilot in 
                                command, or any other capacity as a 
                                required flight crew member, if he or 
                                she knows or has reason to know of any 
                                medical deficiency or medically 
                                disqualifying condition that would make 
                                the individual unable to operate the 
                                aircraft in a safe manner; and
                                    (III) the individual is aware of 
                                the regulations pertaining to the 
                                prohibition on operations during 
                                medical deficiency and has no medically 
                                disqualifying conditions in accordance 
                                with applicable law;
                    (B) a section with instructions for the individual 
                to provide the completed checklist to the physician 
                performing the comprehensive medical examination 
                required in subsection (a)(7); and
                    (C) a section, for the physician to complete, that 
                instructs the physician--
                            (i) to perform a clinical examination of--
                                    (I) head, face, neck, and scalp;
                                    (II) nose, sinuses, mouth, and 
                                throat;
                                    (III) ears, general (internal and 
                                external canals), and eardrums 
                                (perforation);
                                    (IV) eyes (general), 
                                ophthalmoscopic, pupils (equality and 
                                reaction), and ocular motility 
                                (associated parallel movement, 
                                nystagmus);
                                    (V) lungs and chest (not including 
                                breast examination);
                                    (VI) heart (precordial activity, 
                                rhythm, sounds, and murmurs);
                                    (VII) vascular system (pulse, 
                                amplitude, and character, and arms, 
                                legs, and others);
                                    (VIII) abdomen and viscera 
                                (including hernia);
                                    (IX) anus (not including digital 
                                examination);
                                    (X) skin;
                                    (XI) G-U system (not including 
                                pelvic examination);
                                    (XII) upper and lower extremities 
                                (strength and range of motion);
                                    (XIII) spine and other 
                                musculoskeletal;
                                    (XIV) identifying body marks, 
                                scars, and tattoos (size and location);
                                    (XV) lymphatics;
                                    (XVI) neurologic (tendon reflexes, 
                                equilibrium, senses, cranial nerves, 
                                and coordination, etc.);
                                    (XVII) psychiatric (appearance, 
                                behavior, mood, communication, and 
                                memory);
                                    (XVIII) general systemic;
                                    (XIX) hearing;
                                    (XX) vision (distant, near, and 
                                intermediate vision, field of vision, 
                                color vision, and ocular alignment);
                                    (XXI) blood pressure and pulse; and
                                    (XXII) anything else the physician, 
                                in his or her medical judgment, 
                                considers necessary;
                            (ii) to exercise medical discretion to 
                        address, as medically appropriate, any medical 
                        conditions identified, and to exercise medical 
                        discretion in determining whether any medical 
                        tests are warranted as part of the 
                        comprehensive medical examination;
                            (iii) to discuss all drugs the individual 
                        reports taking (prescription and 
                        nonprescription) and their potential to 
                        interfere with the safe operation of an 
                        aircraft or motor vehicle;
                            (iv) to sign the checklist, stating: ``I 
                        certify that I discussed all items on this 
                        checklist with the individual during my 
                        examination, discussed any medications the 
                        individual is taking that could interfere with 
                        their ability to safely operate an aircraft or 
                        motor vehicle, and performed an examination 
                        that included all of the items on this 
                        checklist. I certify that I am not aware of any 
                        medical condition that, as presently treated, 
                        could interfere with the individual's ability 
                        to safely operate an aircraft.''; and
                            (v) to provide the date the comprehensive 
                        medical examination was completed, and the 
                        physician's full name, address, telephone 
                        number, and State medical license number.
            (3) Logbook.--The completed checklist shall be retained in 
        the individual's logbook and made available on request.
    (c) Medical Education Course Requirements.--The medical education 
course described in this subsection shall--
            (1) be available on the Internet free of charge;
            (2) be developed and periodically updated in coordination 
        with representatives of relevant nonprofit and not-for-profit 
        general aviation stakeholder groups;
            (3) educate pilots on conducting medical self-assessments;
            (4) advise pilots on identifying warning signs of potential 
        serious medical conditions;
            (5) identify risk mitigation strategies for medical 
        conditions;
            (6) increase awareness of the impacts of potentially 
        impairing over-the-counter and prescription drug medications;
            (7) encourage regular medical examinations and 
        consultations with primary care physicians;
            (8) inform pilots of the regulations pertaining to the 
        prohibition on operations during medical deficiency and 
        medically disqualifying conditions;
            (9) provide the checklist developed by the Federal Aviation 
        Administration in accordance with subsection (b); and
            (10) upon successful completion of the course, 
        electronically provide to the individual and transmit to the 
        Federal Aviation Administration--
                    (A) a certification of completion of the medical 
                education course, which shall be printed and retained 
                in the individual's logbook and made available upon 
                request, and shall contain the individual's name, 
                address, and airman certificate number;
                    (B) subject to subsection (d), a release 
                authorizing the National Driver Register through a 
                designated State Department of Motor Vehicles to 
                furnish to the Federal Aviation Administration 
                information pertaining to the individual's driving 
                record;
                    (C) a certification by the individual that the 
                individual is under the care and treatment of a 
                physician if the individual has been diagnosed with any 
                medical condition that may impact the ability of the 
                individual to fly, as required under subsection (a)(6);
                    (D) a form that includes--
                            (i) the name, address, telephone number, 
                        and airman certificate number of the 
                        individual;
                            (ii) the name, address, telephone number, 
                        and State medical license number of the 
                        physician performing the comprehensive medical 
                        examination required in subsection (a)(7);
                            (iii) the date of the comprehensive medical 
                        examination required in subsection (a)(7); and
                            (iv) a certification by the individual that 
                        the checklist described in subsection (b) was 
                        followed and signed by the physician in the 
                        comprehensive medical examination required in 
                        subsection (a)(7); and
                    (E) a statement, which shall be printed, and signed 
                by the individual certifying that the individual 
                understands the existing prohibition on operations 
                during medical deficiency by stating: ``I understand 
                that I cannot act as pilot in command, or any other 
                capacity as a required flight crew member, if I know or 
                have reason to know of any medical condition that would 
                make me unable to operate the aircraft in a safe 
                manner.''.
    (d) National Driver Register.--The authorization under subsection 
(c)(10)(B) shall be an authorization for a single access to the 
information contained in the National Driver Register.
    (e) Special Issuance Process.--
            (1) In general.--An individual who has qualified for the 
        third-class medical certificate exemption under subsection (a) 
        and is seeking to serve as a pilot in command of a covered 
        aircraft shall be required to have completed the process for 
        obtaining an Authorization for Special Issuance of a Medical 
        Certificate for each of the following:
                    (A) A mental health disorder, limited to an 
                established medical history or clinical diagnosis of--
                            (i) personality disorder that is severe 
                        enough to have repeatedly manifested itself by 
                        overt acts;
                            (ii) psychosis, defined as a case in which 
                        an individual--
                                    (I) has manifested delusions, 
                                hallucinations, grossly bizarre or 
                                disorganized behavior, or other 
                                commonly accepted symptoms of 
                                psychosis; or
                                    (II) may reasonably be expected to 
                                manifest delusions, hallucinations, 
                                grossly bizarre or disorganized 
                                behavior, or other commonly accepted 
                                symptoms of psychosis;
                            (iii) bipolar disorder; or
                            (iv) substance dependence within the 
                        previous 2 years, as defined in section 
                        67.307(a)(4) of title 14, Code of Federal 
                        Regulations.
                    (B) A neurological disorder, limited to an 
                established medical history or clinical diagnosis of 
                any of the following:
                            (i) Epilepsy.
                            (ii) Disturbance of consciousness without 
                        satisfactory medical explanation of the cause.
                            (iii) A transient loss of control of 
                        nervous system functions without satisfactory 
                        medical explanation of the cause.
                    (C) A cardiovascular condition, limited to a one-
                time special issuance for each diagnosis of the 
                following:
                            (i) Myocardial infraction.
                            (ii) Coronary heart disease that has 
                        required treatment.
                            (iii) Cardiac valve replacement.
                            (iv) Heart replacement.
            (2) Special rule for cardiovascular conditions.--In the 
        case of an individual with a cardiovascular condition, the 
        process for obtaining an Authorization for Special Issuance of 
        a Medical Certificate shall be satisfied with the successful 
        completion of an appropriate clinical evaluation without a 
        mandatory wait period.
            (3) Special rule for mental health conditions.--
                    (A) In the case of an individual with a clinically 
                diagnosed mental health condition, the third-class 
                medical certificate exemption under subsection (a) 
                shall not apply if--
                            (i) in the judgment of the individual's 
                        State-licensed medical specialist, the 
                        condition--
                                    (I) renders the individual unable 
                                to safely perform the duties or 
                                exercise the airman privileges 
                                described in subsection (a)(8); or
                                    (II) may reasonably be expected to 
                                make the individual unable to perform 
                                the duties or exercise the privileges 
                                described in subsection (a)(8); or
                            (ii) the individual's driver's license is 
                        revoked by the issuing agency as a result of a 
                        clinically diagnosed mental health condition.
                    (B) Subject to subparagraph (A), an individual 
                clinically diagnosed with a mental health condition 
                shall certify every 2 years, in conjunction with the 
                certification under subsection (c)(10)(C), that the 
                individual is under the care of a State-licensed 
                medical specialist for that mental health condition.
            (4) Special rule for neurological conditions.--
                    (A) In the case of an individual with a clinically 
                diagnosed neurological condition, the third-class 
                medical certificate exemption under subsection (a) 
                shall not apply if--
                            (i) in the judgment of the individual's 
                        State-licensed medical specialist, the 
                        condition--
                                    (I) renders the individual unable 
                                to safely perform the duties or 
                                exercise the airman privileges 
                                described in subsection (a)(8); or
                                    (II) may reasonably be expected to 
                                make the individual unable to perform 
                                the duties or exercise the privileges 
                                described in subsection (a)(8); or
                            (ii) the individual's driver's license is 
                        revoked by the issuing agency as a result of a 
                        clinically diagnosed neurological condition.
                    (B) Subject to subparagraph (A), an individual 
                clinically diagnosed with a neurological condition 
                shall certify every 2 years, in conjunction with the 
                certification under subsection (c)(10)(C), that the 
                individual is under the care of a State-licensed 
                medical specialist for that neurological condition.
    (f) Identification of Additional Medical Conditions for the CACI 
Program.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall review and 
        identify additional medical conditions that could be added to 
        the program known as the Conditions AMEs Can Issue (CACI) 
        program.
            (2) Consultations.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Administrator shall consult with aviation, medical, and union 
        stakeholders.
            (3) Report required.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit 
        to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
        the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and 
        Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report listing 
        the medical conditions that have been added to the CACI program 
        under paragraph (1).
    (g) Expedited Authorization for Special Issuance of a Medical 
Certificate.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator shall implement 
        procedures to expedite the process for obtaining an 
        Authorization for Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate 
        under section 67.401 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.
            (2) Consultations.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Administrator shall consult with aviation, medical, and union 
        stakeholders.
            (3) Report required.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
        of the House of Representatives a report describing how the 
        procedures implemented under paragraph (1) will streamline the 
        process for obtaining an Authorization for Special Issuance of 
        a Medical Certificate and reduce the amount of time needed to 
        review and decide special issuance cases.
    (h) Report Required.--Not later than 5 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in coordination with the 
National Transportation Safety Board, shall submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a 
report that describes the effect of the regulations issued or revised 
under subsection (a) and includes statistics with respect to changes in 
small aircraft activity and safety incidents.
    (i) Prohibition on Enforcement Actions.--Beginning on the date that 
is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
may not take an enforcement action for not holding a valid third-class 
medical certificate against a pilot of a covered aircraft for a flight, 
through a good faith effort, if the pilot and the flight meet the 
applicable requirements under subsection (a), except paragraph (5) of 
that subsection, unless the Administrator has published final 
regulations in the Federal Register under that subsection.
    (j) Covered Aircraft Defined.--In this section, the term ``covered 
aircraft'' means an aircraft that--
            (1) is authorized under Federal law to carry not more than 
        6 occupants; and
            (2) has a maximum certificated takeoff weight of not more 
        than 6,000 pounds.
    (k) Operations Covered.--The provisions and requirements covered in 
this section do not apply to pilots who elect to operate under the 
medical requirements under subsection (b) or subsection (c) of section 
61.23 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.
    (l) Authority To Require Additional Information.--
            (1) In general.--If the Administrator receives credible or 
        urgent information, including from the National Driver Register 
        or the Administrator's Safety Hotline, that reflects on an 
        individual's ability to safely operate a covered aircraft under 
        the third-class medical certificate exemption in subsection 
        (a), the Administrator may require the individual to provide 
        additional information or history so that the Administrator may 
        determine whether the individual is safe to continue operating 
        a covered aircraft.
            (2) Use of information.--The Administrator may use credible 
        or urgent information received under paragraph (1) to request 
        an individual to provide additional information or to take 
        actions under section 44709(b) of title 49, United States Code.

SEC. 2603. EXPANSION OF PILOT'S BILL OF RIGHTS.

    (a) Appeals of Suspended and Revoked Airman Certificates.--Section 
2(d)(1) of the Pilot's Bill of Rights (Public Law 112-153; 126 Stat. 
1159; 49 U.S.C. 44703 note) is amended by striking ``or imposing a 
punitive civil action or an emergency order of revocation under 
subsections (d) and (e) of section 44709 of such title'' and inserting 
``suspending or revoking an airman certificate under section 44709(d) 
of such title, or imposing an emergency order of revocation under 
subsections (d) and (e) of section 44709 of such title''.
    (b) De Novo Review by District Court; Burden of Proof.--Section 
2(e) of the Pilot's Bill of Rights (Public Law 112-153; 126 Stat. 1159; 
49 U.S.C. 44703 note) is amended--
            (1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
            ``(1) In general.--In an appeal filed under subsection (d) 
        in a United States district court with respect to a denial, 
        suspension, or revocation of an airman certificate by the 
        Administrator--
                    ``(A) the district court shall review the denial, 
                suspension, or revocation de novo, including by--
                            ``(i) conducting a full independent review 
                        of the complete administrative record of the 
                        denial, suspension, or revocation;
                            ``(ii) permitting additional discovery and 
                        the taking of additional evidence; and
                            ``(iii) making the findings of fact and 
                        conclusions of law required by Rule 52 of the 
                        Federal Rules of Civil Procedure without being 
                        bound to any findings of fact of the 
                        Administrator or the National Transportation 
                        Safety Board.'';
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) Burden of proof.--In an appeal filed under subsection 
        (d) in a United States district court after an exhaustion of 
        administrative remedies, the burden of proof shall be as 
        follows:
                    ``(A) In an appeal of the denial of an application 
                for the issuance or renewal of an airman certificate 
                under section 44703 of title 49, United States Code, 
                the burden of proof shall be upon the applicant denied 
                an airman certificate by the Administrator.
                    ``(B) In an appeal of an order issued by the 
                Administrator under section 44709 of title 49, United 
                States Code, the burden of proof shall be upon the 
                Administrator.''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Applicability of administrative procedure act.--
        Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection or 
        subsection (a)(1) of section 554 of title 5, United States 
        Code, section 554 of such title shall apply to adjudications of 
        the Administrator and the National Transportation Safety Board 
        to the same extent as that section applied to such 
        adjudications before the date of enactment of the Pilot's Bill 
        of Rights 2.''.
    (c) Notification of Investigation.--Subsection (b) of section 2 of 
the Pilot's Bill of Rights (Public Law 112-153; 126 Stat. 1159; 49 
U.S.C. 44703 note) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ``and the specific 
        activity on which the investigation is based'' after ``nature 
        of the investigation'';
            (2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``timely''; and
            (3) in paragraph (5), by striking ``section 44709(c)(2)'' 
        and inserting ``section 44709(e)(2)''.
    (d) Release of Investigative Reports.--Section 2 of the Pilot's 
Bill of Rights (Public Law 112-153; 126 Stat. 1159; 49 U.S.C. 44703 
note) is further amended by inserting after subsection (e) the 
following:
    ``(f) Release of Investigative Reports.--
            ``(1) In general.--
                    ``(A) Emergency orders.--In any proceeding 
                conducted under part 821 of title 49, Code of Federal 
                Regulations, relating to the amendment, modification, 
                suspension, or revocation of an airman certificate, in 
                which the Administrator issues an emergency order under 
                subsections (d) and (e) of section 44709, section 
                44710, or section 46105(c) of title 49, United States 
                Code, or another order that takes effect immediately, 
                the Administrator shall provide to the individual 
                holding the airman certificate the releasable portion 
                of the investigative report at the time the 
                Administrator issues the order. If the complete Report 
                of Investigation is not available at the time the 
                Emergency Order is issued, the Administrator shall 
                issue all portions of the report that are available at 
                the time and shall provide the full report within 5 
                days of its completion.
                    ``(B) Other orders.--In any non-emergency 
                proceeding conducted under part 821 of title 49, Code 
                of Federal Regulations, relating to the amendment, 
                modification, suspension, or revocation of an airman 
                certificate, in which the Administrator notifies the 
                certificate holder of a proposed certificate action 
                under subsections (b) and (c) of section 44709 or 
                section 44710 of title 49, United States Code, the 
                Administrator shall, upon the written request of the 
                covered certificate holder and at any time after that 
                notification, provide to the covered certificate holder 
                the releasable portion of the investigative report.
            ``(2) Motion for dismissal.--If the Administrator does not 
        provide the releasable portions of the investigative report to 
        the individual holding the airman certificate subject to the 
        proceeding referred to in paragraph (1) by the time required by 
        that paragraph, the individual may move to dismiss the 
        complaint of the Administrator or for other relief and, unless 
        the Administrator establishes good cause for the failure to 
        provide the investigative report or for a lack of timeliness, 
        the administrative law judge shall order such relief as the 
        judge considers appropriate.
            ``(3) Releasable portion of investigative report.--For 
        purposes of paragraph (1), the releasable portion of an 
        investigative report is all information in the report, except 
        for the following:
                    ``(A) Information that is privileged.
                    ``(B) Information that constitutes work product or 
                reflects internal deliberative process.
                    ``(C) Information that would disclose the identity 
                of a confidential source.
                    ``(D) Information the disclosure of which is 
                prohibited by any other provision of law.
                    ``(E) Information that is not relevant to the 
                subject matter of the proceeding.
                    ``(F) Information the Administrator can demonstrate 
                is withheld for good cause.
                    ``(G) Sensitive security information, as defined in 
                section 15.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations 
                (or any corresponding similar ruling or regulation).
            ``(4) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection 
        shall be construed to prevent the Administrator from releasing 
        to an individual subject to an investigation described in 
        subsection (b)(1)--
                    ``(A) information in addition to the information 
                included in the releasable portion of the investigative 
                report; or
                    ``(B) a copy of the investigative report before the 
                Administrator issues a complaint.''.

SEC. 2604. LIMITATIONS ON REEXAMINATION OF CERTIFICATE HOLDERS.

    (a) In General.--Section 44709(a) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``The Administrator'' and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator'';
            (2) by striking ``reexamine'' and inserting ``, except as 
        provided in paragraph (2), reexamine''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Limitation on the reexamination of airman 
        certificates.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Administrator may not 
                reexamine an airman holding a student, sport, 
                recreational, or private pilot certificate issued under 
                section 44703 of this title if the reexamination is 
                ordered as a result of an event involving the fault of 
                the Federal Aviation Administration or its designee, 
                unless the Administrator has reasonable grounds--
                            ``(i) to establish that the airman may not 
                        be qualified to exercise the privileges of a 
                        particular certificate or rating, based upon an 
                        act or omission committed by the airman while 
                        exercising those privileges, after the 
                        certificate or rating was issued by the Federal 
                        Aviation Administration or its designee; or
                            ``(ii) to demonstrate that the airman 
                        obtained the certificate or the rating through 
                        fraudulent means or through an examination that 
                        was substantially and demonstrably inadequate 
                        to establish the airman's qualifications.
                    ``(B) Notification requirements.--Before taking any 
                action to reexamine an airman under subparagraph (A), 
                the Administrator shall provide to the airman--
                            ``(i) a reasonable basis, described in 
                        detail, for requesting the reexamination; and
                            ``(ii) any information gathered by the 
                        Federal Aviation Administration, that the 
                        Administrator determines is appropriate to 
                        provide, such as the scope and nature of the 
                        requested reexamination, that formed the basis 
                        for that justification.''.
    (b) Amendment, Modification, Suspension, or Revocation of Airman 
Certificates After Reexamination.--Section 44709(b) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by redesignating subparagraphs (A) 
        and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting 
        appropriately;
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and indenting 
        appropriately;
            (3) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), as 
        redesignated, by striking ``The Administrator'' and inserting 
        the following:
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
        Administrator''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Amendments, modifications, suspensions, and 
        revocations of airman certificates after reexamination.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Administrator may not issue 
                an order to amend, modify, suspend, or revoke an airman 
                certificate held by a student, sport, recreational, or 
                private pilot and issued under section 44703 of this 
                title after a reexamination of the airman holding the 
                certificate unless the Administrator determines that 
                the airman--
                            ``(i) lacks the technical skills and 
                        competency, or care, judgment, and 
                        responsibility, necessary to hold and safely 
                        exercise the privileges of the certificate; or
                            ``(ii) materially contributed to the 
                        issuance of the certificate by fraudulent 
                        means.
                    ``(B) Standard of review.--Any order of the 
                Administrator under this paragraph shall be subject to 
                the standard of review provided for under section 2 of 
                the Pilot's Bill of Rights (49 U.S.C. 44703 note).''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--Section 44709(d)(1) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subsection 
        (b)(1)(A)'' and inserting ``subsection (b)(1)(A)(i)''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``subsection 
        (b)(1)(B)'' and inserting ``subsection (b)(1)(A)(ii)''.

SEC. 2605. EXPEDITING UPDATES TO NOTAM PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Beginning on the date that is 180 days after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
        Aviation Administration may not take any enforcement action 
        against any individual for a violation of a NOTAM (as defined 
        in section 3 of the Pilot's Bill of Rights (49 U.S.C. 44701 
        note)) until the Administrator certifies to the appropriate 
        congressional committees that the Administrator has complied 
        with the requirements of section 3 of the Pilot's Bill of 
        Rights, as amended by this section.
            (2) In this subsection, the term ``appropriate 
        congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation of the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Transportation and 
                Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
    (b) Amendments.--Section 3 of the Pilot's Bill of Rights (Public 
Law 112-153; 126 Stat. 1162; 49 U.S.C. 44701 note) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) by striking ``this Act'' and inserting 
                        ``the Pilot's Bill of Rights 2''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``begin'' and inserting 
                        ``complete the implementation of'';
                    (B) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as 
                follows:
                    ``(B) to continue developing and modernizing the 
                NOTAM repository, in a public central location, to 
                maintain and archive all NOTAMs, including the original 
                content and form of the notices, the original date of 
                publication, and any amendments to such notices with 
                the date of each amendment, in a manner that is 
                Internet-accessible, machine-readable, and 
                searchable;'';
                    (C) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) to specify the times during which temporary 
                flight restrictions are in effect and the duration of a 
                designation of special use airspace in a specific 
                area.''; and
            (2) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
    ``(d) Designation of Repository as Sole Source for NOTAMs.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator--
                    ``(A) shall consider the repository for NOTAMs 
                under subsection (a)(2)(B) to be the sole location for 
                airmen to check for NOTAMs; and
                    ``(B) may not consider a NOTAM to be announced or 
                published until the NOTAM is included in the repository 
                for NOTAMs under subsection (a)(2)(B).
            ``(2) Prohibition on taking action for violations of notams 
        not in repository.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), beginning on the date that the 
                repository under subsection (a)(2)(B) is final and 
                published, the Administrator may not take any 
                enforcement action against an airman for a violation of 
                a NOTAM during a flight if--
                            ``(i) that NOTAM is not available through 
                        the repository before the commencement of the 
                        flight; and
                            ``(ii) that NOTAM is not reasonably 
                        accessible and identifiable to the airman.
                    ``(B) Exception for national security.--
                Subparagraph (A) shall not apply in the case of an 
                enforcement action for a violation of a NOTAM that 
                directly relates to national security.''.

SEC. 2606. ACCESSIBILITY OF CERTAIN FLIGHT DATA.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 471 is amended by 
inserting after section 47124 the following:
``Sec. 47124a. Accessibility of certain flight data
    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Administration.--The term `Administration' means the 
        Federal Aviation Administration.
            ``(2) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the 
        Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
            ``(3) Applicable individual.--The term `applicable 
        individual' means an individual who is the subject of an 
        investigation initiated by the Administrator related to a 
        covered flight record.
            ``(4) Contract tower.--The term `contract tower' means an 
        air traffic control tower providing air traffic control 
        services pursuant to a contract with the Administration under 
        the contract air traffic control tower program under section 
        47124(b)(3).
            ``(5) Covered flight record.--The term `covered flight 
        record' means any air traffic data (as defined in section 
        2(b)(4)(B) of the Pilot's Bill of Rights (49 U.S.C. 44703 
        note)), created, maintained, or controlled by any program of 
        the Administration, including any program of the Administration 
        carried out by employees or contractors of the Administration, 
        such as contract towers, flight service stations, and 
        controller training programs.
    ``(b) Provision of Covered Flight Record to Administration.--
            ``(1) Requests.--Whenever the Administration receives a 
        written request for a covered flight record from an applicable 
        individual and the covered flight record is not in the 
        possession of the Administration, the Administrator shall 
        request the covered flight record from the contract tower or 
        other contractor of the Administration in possession of the 
        covered flight record.
            ``(2) Provision of records.--Any covered flight record 
        created, maintained, or controlled by a contract tower or 
        another contractor of the Administration that maintains covered 
        flight records shall be provided to the Administration if the 
        Administration requests the record pursuant to paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Notice of proposed certificate action.--If the 
        Administrator has issued, or subsequently issues, a Notice of 
        Proposed Certificate Action relying on evidence contained in 
        the covered flight record and the individual who is the subject 
        of an investigation has requested the record, the Administrator 
        shall promptly produce the record and extend the time the 
        individual has to respond to the Notice of Proposed Certificate 
        Action until the covered flight record is provided.
    ``(c) Implementation.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of enactment of the Pilot's Bill of Rights 2, the Administrator 
        shall promulgate regulations or guidance to ensure compliance 
        with this section.
            ``(2) Compliance by contractors.--
                    ``(A) Compliance with this section by a contract 
                tower or other contractor of the Administration that 
                maintains covered flight records shall be included as a 
                material term in any contract between the 
                Administration and the contract tower or contractor 
                entered into or renewed on or after the date of 
                enactment of the Pilot's Bill of Rights 2.
                    ``(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any 
                contract or agreement in effect on the date of 
                enactment of the Pilot's Bill of Rights 2 unless the 
                contract or agreement is renegotiated, renewed, or 
                modified after that date.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--The table of contents for 
chapter 471 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
47124 the following:

``47124a. Accessibility of certain flight data.''.

SEC. 2607. AUTHORITY FOR LEGAL COUNSEL TO ISSUE CERTAIN NOTICES.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall revise 
section 13.11 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, to authorize 
legal counsel of the Federal Aviation Administration to close 
enforcement actions covered by that section with a warning notice, 
letter of correction, or other administrative action.

                  TITLE III--AIR SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS

SEC. 3001. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Covered air carrier.--The term ``covered air carrier'' 
        means an air carrier or a foreign air carrier as those terms 
        are defined in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code.
            (2) Online service.--The term ``online service'' means any 
        service available over the Internet, or that connects to the 
        Internet or a wide-area network.
            (3) Ticket agent.--The term ``ticket agent'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 40102 of title 49, United 
        States Code.

             Subtitle A--Passenger Air Service Improvements

SEC. 3101. CAUSES OF AIRLINE DELAYS OR CANCELLATIONS.

    (a) Review.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
        review the categorization of delays and cancellations with 
        respect to air carriers that are required to report such data.
            (2) Considerations.--In conducting the review under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider, at a minimum--
                    (A) whether delays and cancellations attributed by 
                an air carrier to weather were unavoidable due to an 
                operational or air traffic control issue, or due to the 
                air carrier's preference in determining which flights 
                to delay or cancel during a weather event;
                    (B) whether and to what extent delays and 
                cancellations attributed by an air carrier to weather 
                disproportionately impact service to smaller airports 
                and communities; and
                    (C) whether it is an unfair or deceptive practice 
                in violation of section 41712 of title 49, United 
                States Code, for an air carrier to inform a passenger 
                that a flight is delayed or cancelled due to weather, 
                without any other context or explanation for the delay 
                or cancellation, when the air carrier has discretion as 
                to which flights to delay or cancel.
            (3) Advisory committee for aviation consumer protection.--
        The Secretary may use the Advisory Committee for Aviation 
        Consumer Protection, established under section 411 of the FAA 
        Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 42301 prec. 
        note), to assist in conducting the review and providing 
        recommendations.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date the review under 
subsection (a) is complete, the Secretary shall submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a report on the review under 
subsection (a), including any recommendations.
    (c) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section shall be construed 
as affecting the decision of an air carrier to maximize its system 
capacity during weather-related events to accommodate the greatest 
number of passengers.

SEC. 3102. INVOLUNTARY CHANGES TO ITINERARIES.

    (a) Review.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
        review whether it is an unfair or deceptive practice in 
        violation of section 41712 of title 49, United States Code, for 
        an air carrier to change the itinerary of a passenger, more 
        than 24 hours before departure, if the new itinerary involves 
        additional stops or departs 3 hours earlier or later and 
        compensation or other more suitable air transportation is not 
        offered.
            (2) Advisory committee for aviation consumer protection.--
        The Secretary may use the Advisory Committee for Aviation 
        Consumer Protection, established under section 411 of the FAA 
        Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 42301 prec. 
        note), to assist in conducting the review and providing 
        recommendations.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date the review under 
subsection (a) is complete, the Secretary shall submit to appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the review under subsection (a), 
including any recommendations.

SEC. 3103. ADDITIONAL CONSUMER PROTECTIONS.

    Not later than 180 days after the date that the reviews under 
sections 3101 and 3102 of this Act are complete, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall issue a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking 
to its notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register 
on May 23, 2014 (DOT-OST-2014-0056) (relating to the transparency of 
airline ancillary fees and other consumer protection issues) to 
consider the following:
            (1) Requiring an air carrier to provide notification and 
        refunds or other consideration to a consumer who is impacted by 
        delays or cancellations when an air carrier has a choice as to 
        which flights to cancel or delay during a weather-related 
        event.
            (2) Requiring an air carrier to provide notification and 
        refunds or other consideration to a consumer who is impacted by 
        involuntary changes to the consumer's itinerary.

SEC. 3104. ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES OF PASSENGERS INVOLVED IN 
              AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS.

    (a) Air Carriers Holding Certificates of Public Convenience and 
Necessity.--Section 41113 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``a major'' and 
        inserting ``any'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (9), by striking ``(and any other 
                victim of the accident)'' and inserting ``(and any 
                other victim of the accident, including any victim on 
                the ground)'';
                    (B) in paragraph (16), by striking ``major'' and 
                inserting ``any''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (17)(A), by striking 
                ``significant'' and inserting ``any''; and
            (3) by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:
    ``(e) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) `aircraft accident' means any aviation disaster, 
        regardless of its cause or suspected cause, for which the 
        National Transportation Safety Board is the lead investigative 
        agency; and
            ``(2) `passenger' has the meaning given the term in section 
        1136.''.
    (b) Foreign Air Carriers Providing Foreign Air Transportation.--
Section 41313 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b), by striking ``a major'' and 
        inserting ``any''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``a significant'' 
                and inserting ``any'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``a significant'' 
                and inserting ``any'';
                    (C) in paragraph (16), by striking ``major'' and 
                inserting ``any''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (17)(A), by striking 
                ``significant'' and inserting ``any''.
    (c) National Transportation Safety Board.--Section 1136(a) is 
amended by striking ``aircraft accident within the United States 
involving an air carrier or foreign air carrier and resulting in a 
major loss of life'' and inserting ``aircraft accident involving an air 
carrier or foreign air carrier, resulting in any loss of life, and for 
which the National Transportation Safety Board will serve as the lead 
investigative agency''.

SEC. 3105. EMERGENCY MEDICAL KITS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall evaluate and revise, as appropriate, the 
regulations under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, 
regarding the emergency medical equipment requirements, including the 
contents of the first-aid kit, applicable to all certificate holders 
operating passenger-carrying airplanes under that part.
    (b) Considerations.--The Administrator shall consider whether the 
minimum contents of approved emergency medical kits, including approved 
first-aid kits, include appropriate medications and equipment to meet 
the emergency medical needs of children, including consideration of an 
epinephrine auto-injector, as appropriate.

SEC. 3106. TRAVELERS WITH DISABILITIES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall--
            (1) conduct a study of airport accessibility best practices 
        for individuals with disabilities, limited mobility, or visual 
        or hearing impairments; and
            (2) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
        report on the study, including the Comptroller General's 
        findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
    (b) Contents.--The study under subsection (a) shall include 
accessibility best practices beyond those recommended under the 
Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.), 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.), Air Carrier Access 
Act of 1986 (100 Stat. 1080; Public Law 99-435), or Americans with 
Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), that improve 
infrastructure and communications, such as with regard to wayfinding, 
amenities, and passenger care.

SEC. 3107. EXTENSION OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR AVIATION CONSUMER 
              PROTECTION.

    (a) Termination.--Section 411(h) of the FAA Modernization and 
Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-95; 49 U.S.C. 42301 prec. note) is 
amended by striking ``March 30, 2016'' and inserting ``September 30, 
2017''.
    (b) Financial Disclosure.--Section 411 of the FAA Modernization and 
Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-95; 49 U.S.C. 42301 prec. note) is 
further amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and
            (2) by inserting before subsection (i), the following:
    ``(h) Conflict of Interest Disclosure.--Beginning on the date of 
enactment of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 
2016, each member of the advisory committee who is not a government 
employee shall disclose, on an annual basis, any potential conflicts of 
interest, including financial conflicts of interest, to the Secretary 
in such form and manner as prescribed by the Secretary.''.
    (c) Recommendations.--Section 411(g) of the FAA Modernization and 
Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-95; 49 U.S.C. 42301 prec. note) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``of the first 2 calendar years beginning 
        after the date of enactment of this Act'' and inserting 
        ``calendar year''; and
            (2) by inserting ``and post on the Department of 
        Transportation Web site'' after ``Congress''.

SEC. 3108. EXTENSION OF COMPETITIVE ACCESS REPORTS.

    Section 47107(r)(3) is amended by striking ``April 1, 2016'' and 
inserting ``October 1, 2017''.

SEC. 3109. REFUNDS FOR DELAYED BAGGAGE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue final 
regulations to require a covered air carrier to promptly provide an 
automatic refund to a passenger in the amount of any applicable 
ancillary fees paid if the covered air carrier has charged the 
passenger an ancillary fee for checked baggage but the covered air 
carrier fails to deliver the checked baggage to the passenger not later 
than 6 hours after the arrival of a domestic flight or 12 hours after 
the arrival of an international flight.
    (b) Exception.--If as part of the rulemaking the Secretary makes a 
determination on the record that a requirement under subsection (a) is 
unfeasible and will negatively affect consumers in certain cases, the 
Secretary may modify 1 or both of the deadlines in that subsection for 
such cases, except that--
            (1) the deadline relating to a domestic flight may not 
        exceed 12 hours after the arrival of the domestic flight; and
            (2) the deadline relating to an international flight may 
        not exceed 24 hours after the arrival of the domestic flight.

SEC. 3110. REFUNDS FOR OTHER FEES THAT ARE NOT HONORED BY A COVERED AIR 
              CARRIER.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall promulgate 
regulations that require each covered air carrier to promptly provide 
an automatic refund to a passenger of any ancillary fees paid for 
services that the passenger does not receive, including on the 
passenger's scheduled flight or, if rescheduled, a subsequent 
replacement itinerary.
    (b) Cancelled Flights.--As part of the rule under subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall require each covered air carrier to promptly 
provide an automatic refund to a passenger of any ancillary fees paid 
for services that the passenger does not receive for a flight cancelled 
by the passenger.

SEC. 3111. DISCLOSURE OF FEES TO CONSUMERS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue final 
regulations requiring--
            (1) each covered air carrier to disclose to a consumer the 
        baggage fee, cancellation fee, change fee, ticketing fee, and 
        seat selection fee of that covered air carrier in a 
        standardized format; and
            (2) notwithstanding the manner in which information 
        regarding the fees described in paragraph (1) is collected, 
        each ticket agent to disclose to a consumer such fees of a 
        covered air carrier in the standardized format described in 
        paragraph (1).
    (b) Requirements.--The regulations under subsection (a) shall 
require that each disclosure--
            (1) if ticketing is done on an Internet Web site or other 
        online service--
                    (A) be prominently displayed to the consumer prior 
                to the point of purchase; and
                    (B) set forth the fees described in subsection 
                (a)(1) in clear and plain language and a font of easily 
                readable size; and
            (2) if ticketing is done on the telephone, be expressly 
        stated to the consumer during the telephone call and prior to 
        the point of purchase.

SEC. 3112. SEAT ASSIGNMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 15 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall complete 
such actions as may be necessary to require each covered air carrier 
and ticket agent to disclose to a consumer that seat selection for 
which a fee is charged is an optional service, and that if a consumer 
does not pay for a seat assignment, a seat will be assigned to the 
consumer from available inventory at the time the consumer checks in 
for the flight or prior to departure.
    (b) Requirements.--The disclosure under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) if ticketing is done on an Internet Web site or other 
        online service, be prominently displayed to the consumer on 
        that Internet Web site or online service during the selection 
        of seating or prior to the point of purchase; and
            (2) if ticketing is done on the telephone, be expressly 
        stated to the consumer during the telephone call and prior to 
        the point of purchase.

SEC. 3113. CHILD SEATING.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 15 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall complete 
such actions as may be necessary to require each covered air carrier 
and ticket agent to disclose to a consumer that if a reservation 
includes a child under the age of 13 traveling with an accompanying 
passenger who is age 13 or older--
            (1) whether adjoining seats are available at no additional 
        cost at the time of purchase; and
            (2) if not, what the covered air carrier's policy is for 
        accommodating adjoining seat requests at the time the consumer 
        checks in for the flight or prior to departure.
    (b) Requirements.--The disclosure under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) if ticketing is done on an Internet Web site or other 
        online service, be prominently displayed to the consumer on 
        that Internet Web site or online service during the selection 
        of seating or prior to the point of purchase; and
            (2) if ticketing is done on the telephone, be expressly 
        stated to the consumer during the telephone call and prior to 
        the point of purchase.

SEC. 3114. CONSUMER COMPLAINT PROCESS IMPROVEMENT.

    (a) In General.--Section 42302 is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections 
        (c) and (d), respectively;
            (2) by inserting after subsection (a), the following:
    ``(b) Point of Sale.--Each air carrier, foreign air carrier, and 
ticket agent shall inform each consumer of a carrier service, at the 
point of sale, that the consumer can file a complaint about that 
service with the carrier and with the Aviation Consumer Protection 
Division of the Department of Transportation.'';
            (3) by amending subsection (c), as redesignated, to read as 
        follows:
    ``(c) Internet Web Site or Other Online Service Notice.--Each air 
carrier and foreign air carrier shall include on its Internet Web site, 
any related mobile device application, and online service--
            ``(1) the hotline telephone number established under 
        subsection (a) or for the Aviation Consumer Protection Division 
        of the Department of Transportation;
            ``(2) an active link and the email address, telephone 
        number, and mailing address of the air carrier or foreign air 
        carrier, as applicable, for a consumer to submit a complaint to 
        the carrier about the quality of service;
            ``(3) notice that the consumer can file a complaint with 
        the Aviation Consumer Protection Division of the Department of 
        Transportation;
            ``(4) an active link to the Internet Web site of the 
        Aviation Consumer Protection Division of the Department of 
        Transportation for a consumer to file a complaint; and
            ``(5) the active link described in paragraph (2) on the 
        same Internet Web site page as the active link described in 
        paragraph (4).''; and
            (4) in subsection (d), as redesignated--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``An air carrier or foreign air carrier 
                providing scheduled air transportation using any 
                aircraft that as originally designed has a passenger 
                capacity of 30 or more passenger seats'' and inserting 
                ``Each air carrier and foreign air carrier'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``air carrier'' 
                and inserting ``carrier''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``air carrier'' 
                and inserting ``carrier''.
    (b) Rulemaking.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall promulgate 
regulations to implement the requirements of section 42302 of title 49, 
United States Code, as amended.

SEC. 3115. ONLINE ACCESS TO AVIATION CONSUMER PROTECTION INFORMATION.

    (a) Internet Web Site.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall--
            (1) complete an evaluation of the aviation consumer 
        protection portion of the Department of Transportation's public 
        Internet Web site to identify any changes to the user interface 
        that will improve usability, accessibility, consumer 
        satisfaction, and Web site performance;
            (2) in completing the evaluation under paragraph (1)--
                    (A) consider the best practices of other Federal 
                agencies with effective Web sites; and
                    (B) consult with the Federal Web Managers Council;
            (3) develop a plan, including an implementation timeline, 
        for--
                    (A) making the changes identified under paragraph 
                (1); and
                    (B) making any necessary changes to that portion of 
                the Web site that will enable a consumer--
                            (i) to access information regarding each 
                        complaint filed with the Aviation Consumer 
                        Protection Division of the Department of 
                        Transportation;
                            (ii) to search the complaints described in 
                        clause (i) by the name of the air carrier and 
                        the type of complaint; and
                            (iii) to determine the date a complaint was 
                        filed and the date a complaint was resolved; 
                        and
            (4) submit the evaluation and plan to the appropriate 
        committees of Congress.
    (b) Mobile Application Software.--Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall--
            (1) implement a program to develop application software for 
        wireless devices that will enable a user to access information 
        and perform activities related to aviation consumer protection, 
        such as--
                    (A) information regarding airline passenger 
                protections, including protections related to lost 
                baggage and baggage fees, disclosure of additional 
                fees, bumping, and tarmac delays; and
                    (B) file an aviation consumer complaint, including 
                a safety and security, airline service, disability and 
                discrimination, or privacy complaint, with the Aviation 
                Consumer Protection Division of the Department of 
                Transportation; and
            (2) make the application software available to the public 
        at no cost.

SEC. 3116. STUDY ON IN CABIN WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINT SYSTEMS.

    Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, shall conduct a 
study to determine the ways in which particular individuals with 
significant disabilities who use wheelchairs, including power 
wheelchairs, can be accommodated through in cabin wheelchair restraint 
systems.

SEC. 3117. TRAINING POLICIES REGARDING ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONS WITH 
              DISABILITIES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 270 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to Congress a report describing--
            (1) each air carrier's training policy for its personnel 
        and contractors regarding assistance for persons with 
        disabilities, as required by Department of Transportation 
        regulations;
            (2) any variations among the air carriers in the policies 
        described in paragraph (1);
            (3) how the training policies are implemented to meet the 
        Department of Transportation regulations;
            (4) how frequently an air carrier must train new employees 
        and contractors due to turnover in positions that require such 
        training;
            (5) how frequently, in the prior 10 years, the Department 
        of Transportation has requested, after reviewing a training 
        policy, that an air carrier take corrective action; and
            (6) the action taken by an air carrier under paragraph (5).
    (b) Best Practices.--After the date the report is submitted under 
subsection (a), the Secretary of Transportation, based on the findings 
of the report, shall develop and disseminate to air carriers such best 
practices as the Secretary considers necessary to improve the training 
policies.

SEC. 3118. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE AIR TRAVEL NEEDS OF PASSENGERS 
              WITH DISABILITIES.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Transportation shall establish 
an advisory committee for the air travel needs of passengers with 
disabilities (referred to in this subsection as the ``Advisory 
Committee'').
    (b) Duties.--The Advisory Committee shall advise the Secretary with 
regard to the implementation of the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 
(Public Law 99-435; 100 Stat. 1080), including--
            (1) assessing the disability-related access barriers 
        encountered by passengers with disabilities;
            (2) determining the extent to which the programs and 
        activities of the Department of Transportation are addressing 
        the barriers described in paragraph (1);
            (3) recommending improvements to the air travel experience 
        of passengers with disabilities; and
            (4) such activities as the Secretary considers necessary to 
        carry out this section.
    (c) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The Advisory Committee shall be comprised 
        of at least 1 representative of each of the following groups:
                    (A) Passengers with disabilities.
                    (B) National disability organizations.
                    (C) Air carriers.
                    (D) Airport operators.
                    (E) Contractor service providers.
            (2) Appointment.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
        appoint each member of the Advisory Committee.
            (3) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Advisory Committee shall 
        be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was 
        made.
    (d) Chairperson.--The Secretary of Transportation shall designate, 
from among the members appointed under subsection (c), an individual to 
serve as chairperson of the Advisory Committee.
    (e) Travel Expenses.--Members of the advisory committee shall serve 
without pay, but shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in 
lieu of subsistence, in accordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 of 
title 5, United States Code.
    (f) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than February 1 of each year, 
        the Advisory Committee shall submit to the Secretary of 
        Transportation a report on the needs of passengers with 
        disabilities in air travel, including--
                    (A) an assessment of disability-related access 
                barriers, both those that were evident in the preceding 
                year and those that will likely be an issue in the next 
                5 years;
                    (B) an evaluation of the extent to which the 
                Department of Transportation's programs and activities 
                are eliminating disability-related access barriers;
                    (C) a description of the Advisory Committee's 
                actions during the prior calendar year;
                    (D) a description of activities that the Advisory 
                Committee proposed to undertake in the succeeding 
                calendar year; and
                    (E) any recommendations for legislation, 
                administrative action, or other action that the 
                Advisory Committee considers appropriate.
            (2) Report to congress.--Not later than 60 days after the 
        date the Secretary receives the report under subparagraph (A), 
        the shall submit to Congress a copy of the report, including 
        any additional findings or recommendations that the Secretary 
        considers appropriate.
    (g) Termination.--The Advisory Committee shall terminate 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3119. REPORT ON COVERED AIR CARRIER CHANGE AND CANCELLATION FEES.

    (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study of existing airline industry change and cancellation 
fees and the current industry practice for handling changes to or 
cancellation of ticketed travel on covered air carriers.
    (b) Considerations.--In conducting the study, the Comptroller 
General shall consider, at a minimum--
            (1) whether and how each covered air carrier calculates its 
        change fees and cancellation fees; and
            (2) the relationship between the cost of the ticket and the 
        date of change or cancellation as compared to the date of 
        travel.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the study, including the Comptroller 
General's findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

SEC. 3120. ENFORCEMENT OF AVIATION CONSUMER PROTECTION RULES.

    (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study to consider and evaluate Department of Transportation 
enforcement of aviation consumer protection rules.
    (b) Contents.--The study under subsection (a) shall include an 
evaluation of--
            (1) available enforcement mechanisms;
            (2) any obstacles to enforcement; and
            (3) trends in Department of Transportation enforcement 
        actions.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the study, including the Comptroller 
General's findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

SEC. 3121. DIMENSIONS FOR PASSENGER SEATS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall initiate a 
proceeding to study the minimum seat pitch for passenger seats on 
aircraft operated by air carriers (as defined in section 40102 of title 
49, United States Code).
    (b) Considerations.--In reviewing any minimum seat pitch under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider the safety of passengers, 
including passengers with disabilities.

                   Subtitle B--Essential Air Service

SEC. 3201. ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE.

    (a) Authorization Extension.--Section 41742 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``Out of the'' and 
                        inserting ``All of the''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``or otherwise'' and all 
                        that follows through ``year is'' and inserting 
                        ``for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2017 
                        are'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$150,000,000'' 
                and all that follows though ``March 31, 2016'' and 
                inserting ``$155,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 
                through 2017''; and
                    (C) by striking paragraph (3);
            (2) by striking subsection (b); and
            (3) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b).
    (b) Definitions.--Section 41731(a)(1)(A) is amended by striking 
clause (ii) and inserting the following:
                            ``(ii) was determined, on or after October 
                        1, 1988, and before December 1, 2012, under 
                        this subchapter by the Secretary of 
                        Transportation to be eligible to receive 
                        subsidized small community air service under 
                        section 41736(a);''.

SEC. 3202. SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) Extension of Authorization.--Section 41743(e)(2) is amended to 
read as follows:
            ``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to the Secretary $10,000,000 for each of 
        fiscal years 2016 through 2017 to carry out this section. Such 
        sums shall remain available until expended.''.
    (b) Eligibility.--Section 41743(c)(1) is amended to read as 
follows:
            ``(1) Size.--On the date of the most recent notice of order 
        soliciting community proposals issued by the Secretary under 
        this section, the airport serving the community or consortium--
                    ``(A) was not larger than a small hub airport, as 
                determined using the Department of Transportation's 
                most recent published classification; and
                    ``(B)(i) had insufficient air carrier service; or
                    ``(ii) had unreasonably high air fares.''.

SEC. 3203. SMALL COMMUNITY PROGRAM AMENDMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 41743(c)(4) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(B) Same projects.--'' before the second 
        sentence and indenting appropriately;
            (2) by inserting ``(A) In general.--'' before the first 
        sentence and indenting appropriately;
            (3) in subparagraph (B), as designated by this subsection, 
        by striking ``No community'' and inserting ``Except as provided 
        in subparagraph (C)''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) Exception.--The Secretary may waive the 
                limitation under subparagraph (B) related to projects 
                that are the same if the Secretary determines that the 
                community or consortium spent little or no money on its 
                previous project or encountered industry or 
                environmental challenges, due to circumstances that 
                were reasonably beyond the control of the community or 
                consortium.''.
    (b) Authority To Make Agreements.--Section 41743(e)(1) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: ``The Secretary may amend the scope 
of a grant agreement at the request of the community or consortium and 
any participating air carrier, and may limit the scope of a grant 
agreement to only the elements using grant assistance or to only the 
elements achieved, if the Secretary determines that the amendment is 
reasonably consistent with the original purpose of the project.''.

SEC. 3204. WAIVERS.

    Section 41732 is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Waivers.--Notwithstanding section 41733(e), upon request by 
an eligible place, the Secretary may waive, in whole or in part, 
subsections (a) and (b) of this section or subsections (a) through (c) 
of section 41734. A waiver issued under this subsection shall remain in 
effect for a limited period of time, as determined by the Secretary.''.

SEC. 3205. WORKING GROUP ON IMPROVING AIR SERVICE TO SMALL COMMUNITIES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation and the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall establish a 
working group--
            (1) to identify obstacles to attracting and maintaining air 
        transportation service to and from small communities; and
            (2) to develop recommendations for maintaining and 
        improving air transportation service to and from small 
        communities.
    (b) Outreach.--In carrying out the requirements under paragraphs 
(1) and (2) of subsection (a), the working group shall consult with--
            (1) interested Governors;
            (2) representatives of State and local agencies, and other 
        officials and groups, representing rural States and other rural 
        areas;
            (3) other representatives of relevant State and local 
        agencies; and
            (4) members of the public with experience in aviation 
        safety, economic development, and related issues.
    (c) Considerations.--In carrying out the requirements under 
paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a), the working group shall--
            (1) consider whether funding for, and terms of, current or 
        potential new programs is sufficient to help ensure 
        continuation of or improvement to air transportation service to 
        small communities, including the Essential Air Service Program 
        and the Small Community Air Service Development Program;
            (2) identify initiatives to help support pilot training to 
        provide air transportation service to small communities;
            (3) consider whether Federal funding for airports serving 
        small communities, including airports that have lost air 
        transportation services or had decreased enplanements in recent 
        years, is adequate to ensure that small communities have access 
        to quality, affordable air transportation service;
            (4) consider potential improvements in pilot training and 
        any constraints affecting pilot career pathways that, if 
        addressed, would increase both aviation safety and pilot 
        supply;
            (5) identify innovative State or local efforts that have 
        established public-private partnerships that are successful in 
        attracting and retaining air transportation service in small 
        communities; and
            (6) consider such other issues as the Secretary and 
        Administrator consider appropriate.
    (d) Composition.--
            (1) In general.--The working group shall be facilitated 
        through the Administrator or the Administrator's designee.
            (2) Membership.--Members of the working group shall be 
        appointed by the Administrator and shall include 
        representatives of--
                    (A) State and local government, including State and 
                local aviation officials;
                    (B) State governors;
                    (C) aviation safety experts;
                    (D) economic development officials; and
                    (E) the traveling public from small communities.
    (e) Report and Recommendations.--Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Administrator 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report, 
including--
            (1) a summary of the views expressed by the participants in 
        the outreach under subsection (b);
            (2) a description of the working group's findings, 
        including the identification of any areas of general consensus 
        among the non-Federal participants in the outreach under 
        subsection (b); and
            (3) any recommendations for legislative or regulatory 
        action that would assist in maintaining and improving air 
        transportation service to and from small communities.

                 TITLE IV--NEXTGEN AND FAA ORGANIZATION

SEC. 4001. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Administration.--The term ``Administration'' means the 
        Federal Aviation Administration.
            (2) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
            (3) ADS-B.--The term ``ADS-B'' means automatic dependent 
        surveillance-broadcast.
            (4) ADS-B out.--The term ``ADS-B Out'' means automatic 
        dependent surveillance-broadcast with the ability to transmit 
        information from the aircraft to ground stations and to other 
        equipped aircraft.
            (5) NextGen.--The term ``NextGen'' means the Next 
        Generation Air Transportation System.

         Subtitle A--Next Generation Air Transportation System

SEC. 4101. RETURN ON INVESTMENT ASSESSMENT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a report on the Administrator's 
assessment of each NextGen program.
    (b) Contents.--The report under subsection (a) shall include--
            (1) an estimate of the date that each NextGen program will 
        have a positive return on investment;
            (2) an assessment of the impacts of each such program for--
                    (A) the Federal Government; and
                    (B) the users of the national airspace system;
            (3) a description of how each such program directly 
        contributes to a more safe and efficient air traffic control 
        system; and
            (4) the status of NextGen programs and of the projected 
        return on investment for each such program.
    (c) NextGen Priority List.--Based on the assessment under 
subsection (a) the Administrator shall--
            (1) develop, in coordination with the NextGen Advisory 
        Committee and considering the need for a balance between long-
        term and near-term user benefits, a prioritization of each 
        NextGen program;
            (2) include the priority list in the report under 
        subsection (b); and
            (3) prepare budget submissions to reflect the current 
        status of NextGen programs and projected returns on investment 
        for each program.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Key milestones.--The term ``key milestones'' includes 
        cost and deployment schedule, and benefits anticipated in the 
        most recent baseline.
            (2) Return on investment.--The term ``return on 
        investment'' means the cost associated with technologies that 
        are required by law or policy as compared to the benefits 
        derived from such technologies by a government or a user of 
        airspace.
    (e) Repeal of NextGen Priorities.--The FAA Modernization and Reform 
Act of 2012 is amended by striking section 202 (Public Law 112-95; 49 
U.S.C. 40101 note).

SEC. 4102. ENSURING FAA READINESS TO USE NEW TECHNOLOGY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than December 31, 2017, the 
Administrator shall--
            (1) ensure the capability of the Administration to receive 
        space-based ADS-B data; and
            (2) use the data described under paragraph (1) to provide 
        positive air traffic control, including separation of aircraft 
        over the oceans and other specific regions not covered by 
        radar.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and biannually thereafter until the date that 
the Administrator certifies that the Administration has the capability 
to receive space-based ADS-B data, the Administrator shall submit to 
the appropriate committees of Congress a report that--
            (1) details the actions the Administrator has taken to 
        ensure 2018 readiness and usage;
            (2) details the actions that remain to be taken to 
        implement such capability;
            (3) includes a schedule for expected completion of each 
        outstanding action described in paragraph (2); and
            (4) includes a detailed description of the investment 
        decisions and requests for funding made by the Administrator 
        that are consistent with the terrestrial ADS-B implementation 
        to ensure a sustained program beyond 2018.

SEC. 4103. NEXTGEN METRICS REPORT.

    Section 710(e)(2) of the Vision 100--Century of Aviation 
Reauthorization Act (Public Law 108-176; 49 U.S.C. 40101 note) is 
amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``; and'' and 
        inserting a semicolon;
            (2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) a description of the progress made on NextGen 
                performance goals relative to the performance metrics 
                established under section 214 of the FAA Modernization 
                and Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-95; 49 U.S.C. 
                40101 note).''.

SEC. 4104. FACILITY OUTAGE CONTINGENCY PLANS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) On September 26, 2014, an Administration contract 
        employee deliberately started a fire that destroyed critical 
        equipment at the Administration's Chicago Air Route Traffic 
        Control Center (referred to in this section as the ``Chicago 
        Center'') in Aurora, Illinois.
            (2) As a result of the damage, Chicago Center was unable to 
        control air traffic for more than 2 weeks, thousands of flights 
        were delayed or cancelled into and out of O'Hare International 
        Airport and Midway Airport in Chicago, and aviation 
        stakeholders and airlines reportedly lost over $350,000,000.
            (3) According to the Office of the Inspector General of the 
        Department of Transportation, the fire at Chicago Center 
        demonstrated that the Administration's contingency plans for 
        the Chicago Center and the airspace it controls do not ensure 
        redundancy and resiliency for sustained operations.
            (4) Further, the Inspector General found that Chicago 
        Center incident highlighted the limited flexibility and lack of 
        resiliency in critical elements of the Administration's current 
        air traffic control infrastructure, including limited 
        communication capacity and the inability to easily transfer 
        control of airspace and flight plans.
    (b) Comprehensive Contingency Plan.--Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall update 
the Administration's comprehensive contingency plan to address 
potential air traffic facility outages that could have a major impact 
on operation of the national airspace system.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date the plan is 
updated under subsection (b), the Administrator shall submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a report on the update, including 
any recommendations for ensuring air traffic facility outages do not 
have a major impact on operation of the national airspace system.

SEC. 4105. ADS-B MANDATE ASSESSMENT.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The Administration's ADS-B program is expected to be 
        the centerpiece of the NextGen effort at the Administration, 
        but the satellite-based system faces uncertainty and 
        controversy.
            (2) In May 2010, the Administration published a final rule 
        that mandated airspace users be equipped with ADS-B Out 
        avionics by January 1, 2020.
            (3) Subsequently, in April 2015, the Administration 
        announced completion of the ADS-B ground-based radio 
        infrastructure. However, the ADS-B program faces considerable 
        uncertainty and unanswered questions about whether or not the 
        2020 mandate is still meaningful.
            (4) In 2014, the Office of the Inspector General found that 
        while ADS-B is providing benefits where radar is limited or 
        nonexistent in places such as the Gulf of Mexico, the system is 
        providing only limited initial services to pilots and air 
        traffic controllers in domestic airspace.
            (5) The Office of the Inspector General also found, in 
        2014, that all elements of the system, such as avionics, the 
        ground infrastructure, and controller automation systems, had 
        not yet been tested in combination to see if the overall system 
        can be used in congested airspace and perform as well as 
        existing radar, much less allow aircraft to fly closer 
        together. This is referred to as ``end-to-end testing.''
            (6) When this report was issued, commercial and general 
        aviation stakeholders voiced serious concerns that equipping 
        with new avionics for the 2020 mandate will be difficult due to 
        the cost and limited availability of avionics, and capacity of 
        certified repair stations to install avionics.
    (b) Assessment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of 
Transportation shall assess--
            (1) Administration and industry readiness to meet the ADS-B 
        mandate by 2020;
            (2) changes to ADS-B program since May 2010; and
            (3) additional options to comply with the mandate and 
        consequences, both for individual system users and for the 
        overall safety and efficiency of the national airspace system, 
        for noncompliance.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date the assessment 
under subsection (b) is complete, the Inspector General of the 
Department of Transportation shall submit to the appropriate committees 
of Congress a report on the progress made toward meeting the ADS-B 
mandate by 2020, including any recommendations of the Inspector General 
to carry out such mandate.

SEC. 4106. NEXTGEN INTEROPERABILITY.

    (a) In General.--To implement a more effective international 
strategy for achieving NextGen interoperability with foreign countries, 
the Administrator shall take the following actions:
            (1) Conduct a gap analysis to identify potential risks to 
        NextGen interoperability with other Air Navigation Service 
        Providers and establish a schedule for periodically 
        reevaluating such risks.
            (2) Develop a plan that identifies and documents actions 
        the Administrator will undertake to mitigate such risks, using 
        information from the gap analysis as a basis for making 
        management decisions about how to allocate resources for such 
        actions.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the analysis conducted under 
paragraph (1) of subsection (a) and on the actions the Administrator 
has taken under paragraph (2) of such subsection.

SEC. 4107. NEXTGEN TRANSITION MANAGEMENT.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall--
            (1) identify and analyze technical and operational maturity 
        gaps in NextGen transition and implementation plans; and
            (2) develop a plan to mitigate the gaps identified in 
        paragraph (1).
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the actions taken to carry out the 
plan required by subsection (a)(2).

SEC. 4108. IMPLEMENTATION OF NEXTGEN OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS.

    (a) In General.--To help ensure that NextGen operational 
improvements are fully implemented in the midterm, the Administrator 
shall--
            (1) work with airlines and other users of the national 
        airspace system (referred to in this section as ``NAS'') to 
        develop and implement a system to systematically track the use 
        of existing performance based navigation (referred to in this 
        section as ``PBN'') procedures;
            (2) require consideration of other key operational 
        improvements in planning for NextGen improvements, including 
        identifying additional metroplexes for PBN projects, non-
        metroplex PBN procedures, as well as the identification of 
        unused flight routes for decommissioning;
            (3) develop and implement guidelines for ensuring timely 
        inclusion of appropriate stakeholders, including airport 
        representatives, in the planning and implementation of NextGen 
        improvement efforts; and
            (4) assure that NextGen planning documents provide 
        stakeholders information on how and when operational 
        improvements are expected to achieve NextGen goals and targets.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the progress made toward 
implementing the requirements of subsection (a), and on the schedule 
and process that will be used to implement PBN at additional airports, 
including information on how the Administration will partner and 
coordinate with private industry to ensure expeditious implementation 
of performance based navigation.

SEC. 4109. CYBERSECURITY.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall--
            (1) identify and implement ways to better incorporate 
        cybersecurity measures as a systems characteristic at all 
        levels and phases of the architecture and design of air traffic 
        control programs, including NextGen programs;
            (2) develop a threat model that will identify 
        vulnerabilities to better focus resources to mitigate 
        cybersecurity risks;
            (3) develop an appropriate plan to mitigate cybersecurity 
        risk, to respond to an attack, intrusion, or otherwise 
        unauthorized access and to adapt to evolving cybersecurity 
        threats; and
            (4) foster a cybersecurity culture throughout the 
        Administration, including air traffic control programs and 
        relevant contractors.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the progress made toward 
implementing the requirements under subsection (a).

SEC. 4110. DEFINING NEXTGEN.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Comptroller General of the United States shall--
            (1) assess how the line items included in the 
        Administration's NextGen budget request relate to the goals and 
        expected outcomes of NextGen, including how NextGen programs 
        directly contribute to a measurably safer and more efficient 
        air traffic control system; and
            (2) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
        report on the results of the assessment under paragraph (1), 
        including any recommendations for the removal of line items 
        that do not pertain to the overall vision for NextGen.

SEC. 4111. HUMAN FACTORS.

    (a) In General.--In order to avoid having to subsequently modify 
products and services developed as a part of NextGen, the Administrator 
shall--
            (1) recognize and incorporate, in early design phases of 
        all relevant NextGen programs, the human factors and procedural 
        and airspace implications of stated goals and associated 
        technical changes; and
            (2) ensure that a human factors specialist, separate from 
        the research and certification groups, is directly involved 
        with the NextGen approval process.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the progress made toward 
implementing the requirements under subsection (a).

SEC. 4112. MAJOR ACQUISITION REPORTS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall evaluate the current 
acquisition practices of the Administration to ensure that such 
practices--
            (1) identify the current estimated costs for each 
        acquisition system, including all segments;
            (2) separately identify cumulative amounts for acquisition 
        costs, technical refresh, and other enhancements in order to 
        identify the total baselined and re-baselined costs for each 
        system; and
            (3) account for the way funds are being used when reporting 
        to managers, Congress, and other stakeholders.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the progress made toward 
implementing the requirements under subsection (a).

SEC. 4113. EQUIPAGE MANDATES.

    (a) In General.--Before NextGen-related equipage mandates are 
imposed on users of the national airspace system, the Administrator, in 
collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, shall--
            (1) provide a statement of estimated cost and benefits that 
        is based upon mature and stable technical specifications; and
            (2) create a schedule for Administration deliverables and 
        investments by both users and the Administration, including for 
        procedure and airspace design, infrastructure deployment, and 
        training.

SEC. 4114. WORKFORCE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall--
            (1) identify and assess barriers to attracting, developing, 
        training, and retaining a talented workforce in the areas of 
        systems engineering, architecture, systems integration, digital 
        communications, and cybersecurity;
            (2) develop a comprehensive plan to attract, develop, 
        train, and retain talented individuals; and
            (3) identify the resources needed to attract, develop, and 
        retain this talent.
    (b) Report.--The Administrator shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the progress made toward 
implementing the requirements under subsection (a).

SEC. 4115. ARCHITECTURAL LEADERSHIP.

    (a) In General.--In order to provide an adequate technical 
foundation for steering NextGen's technical governance and managing 
inevitable changes in technology and operations, the Administrator 
shall--
            (1) develop a plan that--
                    (A) uses an architecture leadership community and 
                an effective governance approach to assure a proper 
                balance between documents and artifacts and to provide 
                high-level guidance;
                    (B) enables effective management and communication 
                of dependencies;
                    (C) provides flexibility and the ability to evolve 
                to ensure accommodation of future needs; and
                    (D) communicates changing circumstances in order to 
                align agency and airspace user expectations;
            (2) determine the feasibility of conducting a small number 
        of experiments among the Administration's system integration 
        partners to prototype candidate solutions for establishing and 
        managing a vibrant architectural community; and
            (3) develop a method to initiate, grow, and engage a 
        capable architecture community, from both within and outside of 
        the Administration, who will expand the breadth and depth of 
        expertise that is steering architectural changes.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the progress made toward 
implementing the requirements under subsection (a).

SEC. 4116. PROGRAMMATIC RISK MANAGEMENT.

    (a) In General.--To better inform the Administration's decisions 
regarding the prioritization of efforts and allocation of resources for 
NextGen, the Administrator shall--
            (1) solicit input from specialists in probability and 
        statistics to identify and prioritize the programmatic and 
        implementation risks to NextGen; and
            (2) develop a method to manage and mitigate the risks 
        identified in paragraph (1).
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the progress made toward 
implementing the requirements under subsection (a).

         Subtitle B--Administration Organization and Employees

SEC. 4121. COST-SAVING INITIATIVES.

    (a) In General.--To ensure that Administration initiatives are 
being implemented in a timely and fiscally responsible manner, the 
Administrator shall--
            (1) identify and implement agencywide cost-saving 
        initiatives; and
            (2) develop appropriate schedules and metrics to measure 
        whether the initiatives are successful in reducing costs.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the progress made toward 
implementing the requirements under subsection (a).

SEC. 4122. TREATMENT OF ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES DURING FURLOUGHS.

    (a) Definition of Essential Employee.--In this section, the term 
``essential employee'' means an employee of the Administration who 
performs work involving the safety of human life or the protection of 
property, as determined by the Administrator.
    (b) In General.--In implementing spending reductions under Federal 
law, the Administrator may furlough 1 or more employees of the 
Administration, except an essential employee, if the Administrator 
determines the furlough is necessary to achieve the required spending 
reductions.
    (c) Transfer of Budgetary Resources.--The Administrator may 
transfer budgetary resources within the Administration to carry out 
subsection (b), except that the transfer may only be made to maintain 
essential employees.

SEC. 4123. CONTROLLER CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall require that an in-
person interview be conducted with each individual applying for an air 
traffic control specialist position before that individual may be hired 
to fill that position.
    (b) Guidance.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish guidelines 
regarding the in-person interview process described in subsection (a).

SEC. 4124. HIRING OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS.

    Section 44506 is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Hiring of Certain Air Traffic Control Specialists.--
Notwithstanding section 3307 of title 5, United States Code, the 
maximum limit of age for an original appointment to a position as an 
air traffic controller shall be 35 years of age for those with a 
minimum of 52 weeks experience after receipt of an air traffic 
certification or air traffic control facility rating in a civilian or 
military air traffic control facility.''.

                         TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS

SEC. 5001. NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATIVE OFFICERS.

    Section 1113 is amended by striking subsection (h).

SEC. 5002. PERFORMANCE-BASED NAVIGATION.

    Section 213(c) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 
(Public Law 112-95; 49 U.S.C. 40101 note) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
            ``(3) Notifications and consultations.--Not later than 90 
        days before applying a categorical exclusion under this 
        subsection to a new procedure at an OEP airport, the 
        Administrator shall--
                    ``(A) notify and consult with the operator of the 
                airport at which the procedure would be implemented; 
                and
                    ``(B) consider consultations or other engagement 
                with the community in the which the airport is located 
                to inform the public of the procedure.
            ``(4) Review of certain categorical exclusions.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall review 
                any decision of the Administrator made on or after 
                February 14, 2012, and before the date of the enactment 
                of this paragraph to grant a categorical exclusion 
                under this subsection with respect to a procedure to be 
                implemented at an OEP airport that was a material 
                change from procedures previously in effect at the 
                airport to determine if the implementation of the 
                procedure had a significant effect on the human 
                environment in the community in which the airport is 
                located if the operator of that airport--
                            ``(i) requests such a review; and
                            ``(ii) demonstrates that there is good 
                        cause to believe that the implementation of the 
                        procedure had such an effect.
                    ``(B) Content of review.--If, in conducting a 
                review under subparagraph (A) with respect to a 
                procedure implemented at an OEP airport, the 
                Administrator, in consultation with the operator of the 
                airport, determines that implementing the procedure had 
                a significant effect on the human environment in the 
                community in which the airport is located, the 
                Administrator shall--
                            ``(i) consult with the operator of the 
                        airport to identify measures to mitigate the 
                        effect of the procedure on the human 
                        environment; and
                            ``(ii) in conducting such consultations, 
                        consider the use of alternative flight paths 
                        that do not substantially degrade the 
                        efficiencies achieved by the implementation of 
                        the procedure being reviewed.
                    ``(C) Human environment defined.--In this 
                paragraph, the term `human environment' has the meaning 
                given such term in section 1508.14 of title 40, Code of 
                Federal Regulations (as in effect on the day before the 
                date of the enactment of this paragraph).''.

SEC. 5003. OVERFLIGHTS OF NATIONAL PARKS.

    Section 40128 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``the'' before 
        ``title 14''; and
            (2) by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:
    ``(f) Transportation Routes.--
            ``(1) In general.--This section shall not apply to any air 
        tour operator while flying over or near any Federal land 
        managed by the Director of the National Park Service, including 
        Lake Mead National Recreation Area, solely as a transportation 
        route, to conduct an air tour over the Grand Canyon National 
        Park.
            ``(2) En route.--For purposes of this subsection, an air 
        tour operator flying over the Hoover Dam in the Lake Mead 
        National Recreation Area en route to the Grand Canyon National 
        Park shall be deemed to be flying solely as a transportation 
        route.''.

SEC. 5004. NAVIGABLE AIRSPACE ANALYSIS FOR COMMERCIAL SPACE LAUNCH SITE 
              RUNWAYS.

    (a) In General.--Section 44718(b)(1) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``air navigation facilities and equipment'' 
        and inserting ``air or space navigation facilities and 
        equipment'';
            (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``; and'' and 
        inserting a semicolon;
            (3) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) the impact on launch and reentry for launch 
                and reentry vehicles arriving or departing from a 
                launch site or reentry site licensed by the 
                Secretary.''.
    (b) Rulemaking.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall initiate a rulemaking to implement the amendments 
made by subsection (a).

SEC. 5005. SURVEY AND REPORT ON SPACEPORT DEVELOPMENT.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a report on the existing system of 
spaceports licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration that 
includes recommendations regarding--
            (1) the extent to which, and the manner in which, the 
        Federal Government could participate in the construction, 
        improvement, development, or maintenance of such spaceports; 
        and
            (2) potential funding sources.

SEC. 5006. AVIATION FUEL.

    (a) Use of Unleaded Aviation Gasoline.--The Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall allow the use of an unleaded 
aviation gasoline in an aircraft as a replacement for a leaded gasoline 
if the Administrator--
            (1) determines that the unleaded aviation gasoline 
        qualifies as a replacement for an approved leaded gasoline;
            (2) identifies the aircraft and engines that are eligible 
        to use the qualified replacement unleaded gasoline; and
            (3) adopts a process (other than the traditional means of 
        certification) to allow eligible aircraft and engines to 
        operate using qualified replacement unleaded gasoline in a 
        manner that ensures safety.
    (b) Timing.--The Administrator shall adopt the process described in 
subsection (a)(3) not later than 180 days after the later of--
            (1) the date on which the Administration completes the 
        Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative; or
            (2) the date on which the American Society for Testing and 
        Materials publishes a production specification for an unleaded 
        aviation gasoline.

SEC. 5007. COMPREHENSIVE AVIATION PREPAREDNESS PLAN.

    (a) In General.--No later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of State, the 
Secretary of Defense, and representatives of other Federal departments 
and agencies, as necessary, shall develop a comprehensive national 
aviation communicable disease preparedness plan.
    (b) Minimum Components.--The plan developed under subsection (a) 
shall--
            (1) be developed in consultation with other relevant 
        stakeholders, including State, local, tribal, and territorial 
        governments, air carriers, first responders, and the general 
        public;
            (2) provide for the development of a communications system 
        or protocols for providing comprehensive, appropriate, and up 
        to date information regarding communicable disease threats and 
        preparedness between all relevant stakeholders;
            (3) document the roles and responsibilities of relevant 
        Federal department and agencies, including coordination 
        requirements;
            (4) provide guidance to air carriers, airports, and other 
        appropriate aviation stakeholders on how to develop 
        comprehensive communicable disease preparedness plans for their 
        respective organizations, in accordance with the plan to be 
        developed under subsection (a);
            (5) be scalable and adaptable so that the plan can be used 
        to address the full range of communicable disease threats and 
        incidents;
            (6) provide information on communicable threats and 
        response training resources for all relevant stakeholders, 
        including Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial 
        government employees, airport officials, aviation industry 
        employees and contractors, first responders, and health 
        officials;
            (7) develop protocols for the dissemination of 
        comprehensive, up to date, and appropriate information to the 
        traveling public concerning communicable disease threats and 
        preparedness;
            (8) be updated periodically to incorporate lessons learned 
        with supplemental information; and
            (9) be provided in writing, electronically, and accessible 
        via the Internet.
    (c) Interagency Framework.--The plan developed under subsection (a) 
shall--
            (1) be conducted under the existing interagency framework 
        for national level all hazards emergency preparedness planning 
        or another appropriate framework; and
            (2) be consistent with the obligations of the United States 
        under international agreements.

SEC. 5008. ADVANCED MATERIALS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 445 is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
``Sec. 44518. Advanced Materials Center of Excellence
    ``(a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall develop an Advanced Materials Center of Excellence 
(referred to in this section as the `Center'), which shall focus on 
applied research and training on the durability and maintainability of 
advanced materials in transport airframe structures.
    ``(b) Responsibilities.--The Center shall--
            ``(1) promote and facilitate collaboration among academia, 
        the Transportation Division of the Federal Aviation 
        Administration, and the commercial aircraft industry, including 
        manufacturers, commercial air carriers, and suppliers; and
            ``(2) establish goals set to advance technology, improve 
        engineering practices, and facilitate continuing education in 
        relevant areas of study.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administrator $500,000 for each of the fiscal years 
2016 to 2017 to carry out this section.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for chapter 445 is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``44518. Advanced Materials Center of Excellence.''.

SEC. 5009. INTERFERENCE WITH AIRLINE EMPLOYEES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall--
            (1) complete a study of crimes of violence (as defined in 
        section 16 of title 18, United States Code) committed against 
        airline customer service representatives while they are 
        performing their duties and on airport property; and
            (2) submit the findings of the study, including any 
        recommendations, to Congress.
    (b) Gap Analysis.--The study shall include a gap analysis to 
determine if State and local laws and resources are adequate to deter 
or otherwise address the crimes of violence described in subsection (a) 
and recommendations on how to address any identified gaps.

SEC. 5010. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Airport Capacity Enhancement Projects at Congested Airports.--
Section 40104(c) is amended by striking ``47176'' and inserting 
``47175''.
    (b) Consultation on Carrier Response Not Covered by Plan.--Section 
41313(c)(16) is amended by striking ``the foreign air carrier will 
consult'' and inserting ``will consult''.
    (c) Weighing Mail.--Section 41907 is amended by striking ``and -
administrative'' and inserting ``and administrative''.
    (d)  Flight Attendant Certification.--Section 44728 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c), by striking ``chapter'' and 
        inserting ``title''; and
            (2) in subsection (d)(3), by striking ``is'' and inserting 
        ``be''.
    (e) Schedule of Fees.--Section 45301(a)(1) is amended by striking 
``United States government'' and inserting ``United States 
Government''.
    (f) Classified Evidence.--Section 46111(g)(2)(A) is amended by 
striking ``(18 U.S.C. App.)'' and inserting ``(18 U.S.C. App.))''.
    (g) Allowable Cost Standards.--Section 47110(b)(2) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``compatability'' and 
        inserting ``compatibility''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (D)(i), by striking ``climactic'' and 
        inserting ``climatic''.
    (h) Definition of Qualified HUBZone Small Business Concern.--
Section 47113(a)(3) is amended by striking ``(15 U.S.C. 632(o))'' and 
inserting ``(15 U.S.C. 632(p))''.
    (i) Discretionary Fund.--Section 47115 is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (i); and
            (2) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (i).
    (j) Special Apportionment Categories.--Section 47117(e)(1)(B) is 
amended by striking ``at least'' and inserting ``At least''.
    (k) Solicitation and Consideration of Comments.--Section 47171(l) 
is amended by striking ``4371'' and inserting ``4321''.
    (l) Operations and Maintenance.--Section 48104 is amended by 
striking ``(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--the'' and inserting 
``The''.
    (m) Expenditures From Airport and Airway Trust Fund.--Section 
9502(d)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking 
``farms'' and inserting ``farms)''.
                                 <all>