[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1405 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1405

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 22, 2017

   Mr. Thune (for himself, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Blunt, 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, 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 2017''.
    (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 the 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. Moratorium on changes to the Contract Weather Observer 
                            Program.
Sec. 1220. Federal share adjustment.
Sec. 1221. Miscellaneous technical amendments.
Sec. 1222. Mothers' rooms at airports.
Sec. 1223. Definition of small business concern.
Sec. 1224. State standards for airport pavements.
                     Subtitle C--FLIGHT Act of 2017

Sec. 1301. Short title.
Sec. 1302. General aviation airport entitlement reform.
Sec. 1303. Extending aviation development streamlining.
Sec. 1304. Establishment of public private-partnership program at 
                            general aviation airports.
Sec. 1305. Disaster relief airports.
Sec. 1306. Airport development relating to disaster relief.
Sec. 1307. Inclusion of covered aircraft construction in definition of 
                            aeronautical activity for purposes of 
                            airport improvement grants.
                 Subtitle D--Passenger Facility Charges

Sec. 1401. PFC streamlining.
Sec. 1402. Intermodal access projects.
Sec. 1403. Future aviation infrastructure and financing study.
Sec. 1404. Airport vehicle emissions.
                            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. Commercial and governmental operators.
Sec. 2105. Analysis of current remedies under Federal, State, and local 
                            jurisdictions.
                   PART II--Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Sec. 2121. Definitions.
Sec. 2122. Utilization of unmanned aircraft system test sites.
Sec. 2123. Small unmanned aircraft safety standards.
Sec. 2124. Small unmanned aircraft in the Arctic.
Sec. 2125. Special authority for certain unmanned aircraft systems.
Sec. 2126. Additional rulemaking authority.
Sec. 2127. Governmental unmanned aircraft systems.
Sec. 2128. Special rules for model aircraft.
Sec. 2129. Authority.
Sec. 2130. Unmanned aircraft systems aeronautical knowledge and safety.
Sec. 2131. Treatment of unmanned aircraft operating underground.
Sec. 2132. Enforcement.
Sec. 2133. Airport safety and airspace hazard mitigation and 
                            enforcement.
Sec. 2134. Aviation emergency safety public services disruption.
Sec. 2135. Public UAS operations by tribal governments.
Sec. 2136. Carriage of property by small unmanned aircraft systems for 
                            compensation or hire.
Sec. 2137. Collegiate training initiative program for unmanned aircraft 
                            systems.
Sec. 2138. Incorporation of Federal Aviation Administration occupations 
                            relating to unmanned aircraft into veterans 
                            employment programs of the administration.
Sec. 2139. Report on UAS and chemical aerial application.
Sec. 2140. Part 107 implementation improvements.
Sec. 2141. Redesignation.
                        PART III--Other Matters

Sec. 2151. Federal and local authorities.
Sec. 2152. Spectrum.
Sec. 2153. Use of unmanned aircraft systems at institutions of higher 
                            education.
Sec. 2154. Transition language.
                        PART IV--Operator Safety

Sec. 2161. Short title.
Sec. 2162. Findings; sense of Congress.
Sec. 2163. Unsafe operation of unmanned aircraft.
              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.
                   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 Communication Board.
                       PART IV--Safety Workforce

Sec. 2241. Safety workforce training strategy.
                     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. Access to air carrier flight decks.
Sec. 2302. Aircraft tracking and flight data.
Sec. 2303. Flight attendant duty period limitations and rest 
                            requirements.
Sec. 2304. Report on obsolete test equipment.
Sec. 2305. Plan for systems to provide direct warnings of potential 
                            runway incursions.
Sec. 2306. Helicopter air ambulance operations data and reports.
Sec. 2307. Part 135 accident and incident data.
Sec. 2308. Definition of human factors.
Sec. 2309. Sense of Congress; pilot in command authority.
Sec. 2310. Enhancing ASIAS.
Sec. 2311. Improving runway safety.
Sec. 2312. Safe air transportation of lithium cells and batteries.
Sec. 2313. Aircraft cabin evacuation procedures.
Sec. 2314. Annual safety incident report.
                  Subtitle D--General Aviation Safety

Sec. 2401. Automated weather observing systems policy.
Sec. 2402. Requirement to consult with stakeholders in defining scope 
                            and requirements for Future Flight Service 
                            Program.
Sec. 2403. Aviation fuel.
Sec. 2404. Applicability of medical certification standards to 
                            operators of air balloons.
Sec. 2405. Technical corrections.
                     Subtitle E--General Provisions

Sec. 2501. FAA technical training.
Sec. 2502. Safety critical staffing.
Sec. 2503. Approach control radar.
Sec. 2504. Airspace management advisory committee.
             Subtitle F--General Aviation Pilot Protections

Sec. 2601. Short title.
Sec. 2602. Expansion of Pilot's Bill of Rights.
Sec. 2603. Limitations on reexamination of certificate holders.
Sec. 2604. Expediting updates to NOTAM Program.
Sec. 2605. Accessibility of certain flight data.
Sec. 2606. 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. Addressing the needs of families of passengers involved in 
                            aircraft accidents.
Sec. 3104. Travelers with disabilities.
Sec. 3105. Extension of Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer 
                            Protection.
Sec. 3106. Extension of competitive access reports.
Sec. 3107. Refunds for other fees that are not honored by a covered air 
                            carrier.
Sec. 3108. Disclosure of fees to consumers.
Sec. 3109. Seat assignments.
Sec. 3110. Advanced boarding during pregnancy.
Sec. 3111. Consumer complaint process improvement.
Sec. 3112. Online access to aviation consumer protection information.
Sec. 3113. Study on in cabin wheelchair restraint systems.
Sec. 3114. Advisory committee on the air travel needs of passengers 
                            with disabilities.
Sec. 3115. Enforcement of aviation consumer protection rules.
Sec. 3116. Dimensions for passenger seats.
Sec. 3117. Cell phone voice communications.
Sec. 3118. TICKETS Act.
Sec. 3119. Transparency for disabled passengers.
                   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.
                 TITLE IV--NEXTGEN AND FAA ORGANIZATION

Sec. 4001. Definitions.
             Subtitle A--NextGen Air Transportation System

Sec. 4101. Return on investment report.
Sec. 4102. Ensuring FAA readiness to provide seamless oceanic 
                            operations.
Sec. 4103. Annual NextGen performance goals.
Sec. 4104. Air traffic control operational contingency plans.
Sec. 4105. 2020 ADS-B Out mandate plan.
Sec. 4106. NextGen interoperability.
Sec. 4107. NextGen transition management.
Sec. 4108. Implementation of NextGen operational improvements.
Sec. 4109. Securing aircraft avionics systems.
Sec. 4110. Defining NextGen.
Sec. 4111. Human factors.
Sec. 4112. Major acquisition reports.
Sec. 4113. Equipage mandates.
Sec. 4114. Workforce.
Sec. 4115. Programmatic risk management.
Sec. 4116. Program management.
Sec. 4117. System-wide improvements.
Sec. 4118. NextGen research.
         Subtitle B--Administration Organization and Employees

Sec. 4201. Cost-saving initiatives.
Sec. 4202. Federal Aviation Administration performance measures and 
                            targets.
Sec. 4203. Treatment of essential employees during furloughs.
Sec. 4204. Controller candidate interviews.
Sec. 4205. Report on plans for air traffic control facilities in the 
                            New York City and Newark region.
Sec. 4206. Work plan for the New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia 
                            Metropolitan Area Airspace Project.
Sec. 4207. Air traffic services at aviation events.
Sec. 4208. Annual report on inclusion of disabled veteran leave in 
                            personnel management system.
                         TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS

Sec. 5001. National Transportation Safety Board investigative officers.
Sec. 5002. Overflights of national parks.
Sec. 5003. Aeronautical studies for commercial space launch site 
                            runways.
Sec. 5004. Comprehensive aviation preparedness plan.
Sec. 5005. Advanced Materials Center of Excellence.
Sec. 5006. Interference with airline employees.
Sec. 5007. Secondary cockpit barriers.
Sec. 5008. Research and deployment of certain airfield pavement 
                            technologies.
Sec. 5009. Increase in duration of general aviation aircraft 
                            registration.
Sec. 5010. Modification of limitation of liability relating to 
                            aircraft.
Sec. 5011. Government Accountability Office study of illegal drugs 
                            seized at international airports in the 
                            United States.
Sec. 5012. Government Accountability Office review of unmanned aircraft 
                            systems.
Sec. 5013. Sense of Congress on preventing the transportation of 
                            disease-carrying mosquitoes and other 
                            insects on commercial aircraft.
Sec. 5014. Treatment of multi-year lessees of large and turbine-powered 
                            multiengine aircraft.
Sec. 5015. Student outreach report.
Sec. 5016. Authorization of certain flights by stage 2 aircraft.
Sec. 5017. Supersonic aircraft.
Sec. 5018. Terminal aerodrome forecast.
Sec. 5019. 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 2017'' and inserting ``section 47505(a)(2), carrying out noise 
compatibility programs under section 47504(c), an airport cooperative 
research program under section 44511, Airports Technology-Safety 
research, and Airports Technology-Efficiency research $3,350,000,000 
for fiscal year 2018 and $3,750,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 
through 2021.''.
    (b) Obligational Authority.--Section 47104(c) is amended in the 
matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking ``September 30, 2017'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2021''.

SEC. 1002. AIR NAVIGATION FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT.

    Section 48101(a) is amended by striking paragraphs (1) through (5) 
and inserting the following:
            ``(1) $2,877,365,122 for fiscal year 2018.
            ``(2) $2,889,379,240 for fiscal year 2019.
            ``(3) $2,906,007,932 for fiscal year 2020.
            ``(4) $2,921,493,286 for fiscal year 2021.''.

SEC. 1003. FAA OPERATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 106(k)(1) is amended by striking 
subparagraphs (A) through (E) and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) $10,123,257,311 for fiscal year 2018;
                    ``(B) $10,233,107,832 for fiscal year 2019;
                    ``(C) $10,341,034,956 for fiscal year 2020; and
                    ``(D) $10,453,299,174 for fiscal year 2021.''.
    (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 2018 through 2021''.
    (c) Authority To Transfer Funds.--Section 106(k)(3) is amended by 
striking ``2012 through 2017'' and inserting ``2018 through 2021''.

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)''; and
                    (B) by striking paragraphs (1) through (9) and 
                inserting the following:
            ``(1) $175,000,000 for fiscal year 2018.
            ``(2) $175,000,000 for fiscal year 2019.
            ``(3) $175,000,000 for fiscal year 2020.
            ``(4) $175,000,000 for fiscal year 2021.''; 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 2018 
                        through 2021, be equal to--
                                    ``(I) the sum of--
                                            ``(aa) 90 percent of the 
                                        estimated level of receipts 
                                        plus interest credited to the 
                                        Airport and Airway Trust Fund 
                                        for that fiscal year; and
                                            ``(bb) 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) less the amount calculated 
                                under subclause (I)(bb) for the fourth 
                                preceding 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 ``2017'' and inserting ``2021''.

SEC. 1006. EXTENSION OF EXPIRING AUTHORITIES.

    (a) Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau.--Section 47115(j) is 
amended by striking ``2017'' and inserting ``2021''.
    (b) Extension of Compatible Land Use Planning and Projects by State 
and Local Governments.--Section 47141(f) is amended by striking 
``September 30, 2017'' and inserting ``September 30, 2021''.
    (c) 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 ``September 30, 
2017'' and inserting ``September 30, 2021''.

         Subtitle B--Airport Improvement Program Modifications

SEC. 1201. SMALL AIRPORT REGULATION RELIEF.

    Section 47114(c)(1) is amended by striking subparagraph (F) and 
inserting the following:
                    ``(F) Special rule for fiscal years 2017 through 
                2021.--Notwithstanding subparagraph (A) and subject to 
                subparagraph (G), the Secretary shall apportion to a 
                sponsor of an airport under that subparagraph for each 
                of fiscal years 2017 through 2021 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 
                        2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, or 2021, as applicable, 
                        under subparagraph (A); and
                            ``(iii) had scheduled air service at any 
                        point in the calendar year used to calculate 
                        the apportionment.
                    ``(G) Limitations and waivers.--The authority to 
                make apportionments in the manner prescribed in 
                subparagraph (F) may be utilized no more than 3 years 
                in a row. The Secretary may waive this limitation if 
                the Secretary determines that an airport's enplanements 
                are substantially close to 10,000 enplanements and the 
                airport sponsor or affected communities are taking 
                reasonable steps to restore enplanements above 10,000.
                    ``(H) Minimum apportionment for commercial service 
                airports with more than 8,000 passenger boardings in a 
                calendar year.--Not less than $600,000 may be 
                apportioned under subparagraph (A) for each fiscal year 
                to each sponsor of a commercial service airport that 
                had fewer than 10,000 passenger boardings, but at least 
                8,000 passenger boardings, during the prior calendar 
                year.''.

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 2018 
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 2017, if 
        an air traffic control 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 2017, if a tower is 
        operating under the Contract 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 
                tower.
                    ``(B) The Federal Aviation Administration's actual 
                telecommunications costs of the 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 incurred were incurred 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 are due 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) Contract tower program.--The term `Contract 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 
                Contract 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 ``Contract 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 THE 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, 
2017, 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 
entitled, ``Establishment and Discontinuance Criteria for Airport 
Traffic Control Towers'', and dated August 1990 (FAA-APO-90-7).
    (b) Requests for Additional Authority.--The Administrator shall 
respond not later than 30 days after the date the Administrator 
receives a formal request from an airport and air traffic control 
contractor for additional authority to expand contract tower 
operational hours and staff to accommodate flight traffic outside of 
current tower operational hours.
    (c) 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, as added by section 
1204 of this Act.

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;
                    (B) a selection process for participation in the 
                pilot program; and
                    (C) a clear process for the safety and operational 
                certification of the remote towers.
            (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 analysis relating to the 
                feasibility, safety, cost, and benefits of remote 
                towers that will be addressed at each airport.
            (4) Selection criteria.--In selecting an airport for 
        participation in the pilot program, the Administrator shall 
        consider--
                    (A) how inclusion of that airport will add value to 
                assist the Administrator in evaluating the feasibility, 
                safety, costs, and benefits of 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, costs, and 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, for 
                airports without an 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, as 
                added by section 1204 of this Act.
                    (B) Remote tower.--The term ``remote tower'' means 
                a remotely operated air navigation facility, including 
                all necessary system components, that provides the 
                functions and capabilities of an air traffic control 
                tower whereby air traffic services are provided to 
                operators at an airport from a location that may not be 
                on or near the airport.
    (b) Remote Tower Program.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
which the first remote tower is commissioned to operate under this 
section, the Administrator shall establish a process to authorize the 
construction and commissioning operation of additional remote towers, 
that are certificated under subsection (a)(1)(C), at other airports.
    (c) AIP Funding Eligibility.--For purposes of the pilot program 
under subsection (a), and after certificated remote towers are 
available under subsection (b), 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, as needed, 
for off-airport sensors installed on leased towers.

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 September 30, 2017,'' and inserting ``and for fiscal years 2018 
through 2021''.

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 toward 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 minimus 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(c) 
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 2017,'' 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 amended 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 section 
        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 
inserting after section 47142 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)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B)--
                            (i) by redesignating clauses (iii) through 
                        (x) as clauses (iv) through (xi), respectively; 
                        and
                            (ii) 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;'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (K), 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''; and
                    (C) 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'';
            (4) in paragraph (5), by striking ``regulations'' and 
        inserting ``requirements'';
            (5) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
            ``(7) `categorized airport' means a nonprimary airport that 
        has an identified role in the most recently published National 
        Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) report.'';
            (6) in paragraph (9), as redesignated, by striking 
        ``public'' and inserting ``public-use'';
            (7) 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.'';
            (8) 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
            (9) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(31) `unclassified airport' means a nonprimary airport 
        that is included in the most recently published National Plan 
        of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) report 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.
                    ``(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 subparagraph (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. MORATORIUM ON CHANGES TO THE CONTRACT WEATHER OBSERVER 
              PROGRAM.

    The Administrator may not discontinue the Contract Weather Observer 
Program at any airport until October 1, 2021.

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''.

SEC. 1222. MOTHERS' ROOMS AT AIRPORTS.

    (a) Lactation Area Defined.--Section 47102, as amended by section 
1216 of this Act, is further amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (12) through (31) as 
        paragraphs (13) through (32), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (11) the following:
            ``(12) `lactation area' means a room or similar 
        accommodation that--
                    ``(A) provides a location for an individual to 
                express breast milk that is shielded from view and free 
                from intrusion;
                    ``(B) has a door that can be locked by the 
                individual;
                    ``(C) includes a place to sit, a table or other 
                flat surface, and an electrical outlet;
                    ``(D) is readily accessible to and usable by 
                individuals with disabilities, including individuals 
                who use wheelchairs; and
                    ``(E) is not located in a restroom.''.
    (b) Project Grants Written Assurances for Large and Medium Hub 
Airports.--
            (1) In general.--Section 47107(a) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (20), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (21), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(22) with respect to a medium hub airport or large hub 
        airport, the airport owner or operator will maintain a 
        lactation area in each passenger terminal building of the 
        commercial service airport in the sterile area (as defined in 
        section 1540.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations) of the 
        building.''.
            (2) Applicability.--
                    (A) In general.--The amendment made by paragraph 
                (1) shall apply to a project grant application 
                submitted for a fiscal year beginning on or after the 
                date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of 
                this Act.
                    (B) Special rule.--The requirement in the 
                amendments made by paragraph (1) that a lactation area 
                be located in the sterile area of a passenger terminal 
                building shall not apply with respect to a project 
                grant application for a period of time, determined by 
                the Secretary of Transportation, if the Secretary 
                determines that construction or maintenance activities 
                make it impracticable or unsafe for the lactation area 
                to be located in the sterile area of the building.
    (c) Terminal Development Costs.--Section 47119(a) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Lactation areas.--In addition to the projects 
        described in paragraph (1), the Secretary may approve a project 
        for terminal development for the construction or installation 
        of a lactation area in 1 or more passenger terminal buildings 
        at a commercial service airport.''.
    (d) Pre-Existing Facilities.--On application by an airport sponsor, 
the Secretary of Transportation may determine that a lactation area in 
existence on the date of enactment of this Act complies with the 
requirement of section 47107(a)(22) of title 49, United States Code, as 
added by subsection (b), notwithstanding the absence of one of the 
facilities or characteristics referred to in the definition of the term 
``lactation area'' in section 47102 of that title, as added by 
subsection (a).

SEC. 1223. DEFINITION OF SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN.

    Section 47113(a)(1) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(1) `small business concern'--
                    ``(A) has the meaning given the term in section 3 
                of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632); but
                    ``(B) in the case of a concern in the construction 
                industry, a concern shall be considered a small 
                business concern if the concern meets the size standard 
                for the North American Industry Classification System 
                Code 237310, as adjusted by the Small Business 
                Administration;''.

SEC. 1224. STATE STANDARDS FOR AIRPORT PAVEMENTS.

    Section 47105(c) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1) In general.--'' before ``The 
        Secretary'' the first place it appears; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Pavement standards.--
                    ``(A) Technical assistance.--At the request of a 
                State, the Secretary shall, not later than 30 days 
                after the date of the request, provide technical 
                assistance to the State in developing standards, 
                acceptable to the Secretary under subparagraph (B), for 
                pavement on nonprimary public-use airports in the 
                State.
                    ``(B) Requirements.--The Secretary shall--
                            ``(i) continue to provide technical 
                        assistance under subparagraph (A) until the 
                        standards are approved under paragraph (1); and
                            ``(ii) clearly indicate to the State the 
                        standards that are acceptable to the Secretary, 
                        considering, at a minimum, local conditions and 
                        locally available materials.''.

                     Subtitle C--FLIGHT Act of 2017

SEC. 1301. SHORT TITLE.

    (a) Short Title.--This subtitle may be cited as the ``Forward 
Looking Investment in General Aviation, Hangars, and Tarmacs Act of 
2017'' or the ``FLIGHT Act of 2017''.

SEC. 1302. GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT ENTITLEMENT REFORM.

    (a) Apportionment.--Section 47114(d)(3) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as 
        subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively;
            (2) by inserting before subparagraph (B), as redesignated, 
        the following:
                    ``(A) Not less than $25,000,000 to airports 
                designated as disaster relief airports under section 
                47132 to enhance the ability of such airports to aid in 
                disaster relief, including through funding for airport 
                development described in section 47102(3)(P).''; and
            (3) in subparagraph (B), as redesignated, by striking ``To 
        each airport'' and inserting ``Subject to subparagraph (A), to 
        each airport''.
    (b) Period of Availability.--Section 47117(b) is amended by 
striking ``3'' and inserting ``4''.
    (c) United States Share of Project Costs.--Section 47109 is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) Cost Share.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the 
        Government's share of allowable project costs may be increased 
        by the Administrator to 95 percent for a project at an airport 
        that is categorized as a basic or unclassified airport in the 
        most recently published National Plan of Integrated Airport 
        Systems (NPIAS) report.
            ``(2) Multi-year projects.--If an airport sponsor has an 
        approved multi-year project, approved by the Administrator, and 
        the airport is recategorized above basic category, the cost 
        share for that project shall remain at the cost share specified 
        in paragraph (1) for the duration of the project.''.
    (d) Use of Apportioned Amounts.--Section 47117(e)(1) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) All amounts subject to apportionment for a 
                fiscal year that are not apportioned under section 
                47114(d), for grants to sponsors of general aviation 
                airports, reliever airports, or nonprimary commercial 
                service airports.''.

SEC. 1303. EXTENDING AVIATION DEVELOPMENT STREAMLINING.

    (a) In General.--Section 47171 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph 
        (1), by inserting ``general aviation airport construction or 
        improvement projects,'' after ``congested airports,'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph 
                (3); and
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) General aviation airport construction or improvement 
        project.--A general aviation airport construction or 
        improvement project shall be subject to the coordinated and 
        expedited environmental review process requirements set forth 
        in this section.'';
            (3) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``(b)(2)'' and 
        inserting ``(b)(3)'';
            (4) in subsection (d), by striking ``(b)(2)'' and inserting 
        ``(b)(3)'';
            (5) in subsection (h), by striking ``(b)(2)'' and inserting 
        ``(b)(3)''; and
            (6) in subsection (k), by striking ``(b)(2)'' and inserting 
        ``(b)(3)''.
    (b) Definitions.--Section 47175 is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) 
        as paragraphs (2), (5), (1), (3), and (4), respectively, and by 
        rearranging such paragraphs so that they appear in numerical 
        order;
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
            ``(7) General aviation airport construction or improvement 
        project.--The term `general aviation airport construction or 
        improvement project' means--
                    ``(A) a project for the construction or extension 
                of a runway, including any land acquisition, taxiway, 
                safety area, apron, or navigational aids associated 
                with the runway or runway extension, at a general 
                aviation airport, a reliever airport, or a commercial 
                service airport that is not a primary airport (as such 
                terms are defined in section 47102); and
                    ``(B) any other airport development project that 
                the Secretary designates as facilitating aviation 
                capacity building projects at a general aviation 
                airport.''.

SEC. 1304. ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC PRIVATE-PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM AT 
              GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORTS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 481 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 48115. General aviation public-private partnership program
    ``(a) Small Airport Public-Private Partnership Program.--The 
Secretary of Transportation shall establish a program that meets the 
requirements under this section for improving facilities at--
            ``(1) general aviation airports; and
            ``(2) privately owned airports used or intended to be used 
        for public purposes that do not have scheduled air service.
    ``(b) Application Required.--The operator or sponsor of an airport, 
or the community in which an airport is located, seeking, on behalf of 
the airport, to participate in the program established under subsection 
(a) shall submit an application to the Secretary in such form, at such 
time, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, 
including--
            ``(1) an assessment of the needs of the airport for 
        additional or improved hangars, airport businesses, or other 
        facilities;
            ``(2) the ability of the airport to leverage private sector 
        investments on the airport or develop public-private 
        partnerships to build or improve facilities at the airport; and
            ``(3) if the application is submitted by a community, 
        evidence that the airport supports the application.
    ``(c) Limitation.--
            ``(1) State limit.--Not more than 4 airports in the same 
        State may be selected to participate in the program established 
        under subsection (a) in any fiscal year.
            ``(2) Dollar amount limit.--Not more than $500,000 shall be 
        made available for any one-time grant to an airport in any 
        fiscal year under the program established under subsection (a).
    ``(d) Priorities.--In selecting airports for participation in the 
program established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give 
priority to airports at which--
            ``(1) the operator or sponsor of the airport, or the 
        community in which the airport is located--
                    ``(A) will provide a portion of the cost of the 
                project for which assistance is sought under the 
                program from local sources;
                    ``(B) will employ best business practices in 
                developing or implementing a public-private 
                partnership; or
                    ``(C) has established, or will establish, a public-
                private partnership to build or improve facilities at 
                the airport; or
            ``(2) the assistance will be used in a timely fashion.
    ``(e) Types of Assistance.--The Secretary may use amounts made 
available under this section--
            ``(1) to provide assistance to market an airport to private 
        entities or individuals in order to leverage private sector 
        investments or develop public-private partnerships for the 
        purposes of building or improving hangars, businesses, or other 
        facilities at the airport;
            ``(2) to fund studies that consider what measures an 
        airport should take to attract private sector investment at the 
        airport; or
            ``(3) to participate in a partnership described in 
        paragraph (1) or an investment described in paragraph (2).
    ``(f) Authority To Make Agreements.--The Secretary may enter into 
agreements with airports and entities entering into partnerships with 
airports under this section to provide assistance under this section.
    ``(g) Availability of Amounts From Airport and Airway Trust Fund.--
            ``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated, 
        out of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund established under 
        section 9502 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, $5,000,000 
        for each of the fiscal years 2018 through 2021 to carry out 
        this section. Amounts appropriated pursuant to this paragraph 
        shall remain available until expended.
            ``(2) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to 
        paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) shall remain available until expended; and
                    ``(B) shall be in addition to any amounts made 
                available pursuant to section 48103.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for chapter 481 is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``48115. General aviation public-private partnership program.''.

SEC. 1305. DISASTER RELIEF AIRPORTS.

    (a) Designation of Disaster Relief Airports.--
            (1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 471 is amended by 
        inserting after section 47131 the following:
``Sec. 47132. Disaster relief airports
    ``(a) Designation.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
        designate as a disaster relief airport an airport that--
                    ``(A) is categorized as a regional reliever airport 
                in the most recently published National Plan of 
                Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) report;
                    ``(B) is within a reasonable distance, as 
                determined by the Secretary, of a hospital or 
                transplant or trauma center;
                    ``(C) is in a region that the Secretary determines 
                under subsection (b) is prone to natural disasters;
                    ``(D) has at least 1 paved runway with not less 
                than 3,400 feet of useable length capable of supporting 
                aircraft up to 12,500 pounds;
                    ``(E) has aircraft maintenance or servicing 
                facilities at the airport able to provide aircraft 
                fueling and light maintenance services; and
                    ``(F) has adequate taxiway and ramp space to 
                accommodate single engine or light multi-engine 
                aircraft simultaneously for loading and unloading of 
                supplies.
            ``(2) Designation in states without qualifying airports.--
        If fewer than 3 airports described in paragraph (1) are located 
        in a State, the Secretary, in consultation with aviation 
        officials of that State, shall designate not more than 3 
        general aviation airports in that State as a disaster relief 
        airport under this section.
    ``(b) Prone to Natural Disasters.--
            ``(1) In general.--For the purposes of subsection 
        (a)(1)(C), a region is prone to natural disasters if--
                    ``(A) in the case of earthquakes, there is not less 
                than a 50 percent probability that an earthquake of 
                magnitude 6 or above will occur in the region within 30 
                years, according to the United States Geological 
                Survey; or
                    ``(B) in the case of other types of natural 
                disasters, the President has declared more than 5 major 
                disasters in the region under section 401 of the Robert 
                T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
                Act (42 U.S.C. 5170), according to the most recent map 
                of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
            ``(2) Natural disaster defined.--For the purposes of this 
        section, the term `natural disaster' includes a hurricane, 
        tornado, severe storm, high water, wind-driven water, tidal 
        wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, 
        mudslide, snowstorm, drought, or wildfire.
    ``(c) Requirements.--
            ``(1) Operation and maintenance.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A disaster relief airport and 
                the facilities and fixed-based operators on or 
                connected with the airport shall be operated and 
                maintained in a manner the Secretary consider suitable 
                for disaster relief.
                    ``(B) Exclusion.--A disaster relief airport shall 
                not be considered to be in violation of subparagraph 
                (A) if a runway is unuseable because the runway is 
                under scheduled maintenance or is in need of necessary 
                repairs.
            ``(2) Compliance with assurances on airport operations.--A 
        disaster relief airport shall comply with the provisions of 
        section 47107 without regard whether the airport has received a 
        project grant under this subchapter.
            ``(3) Natural disaster management plan.--A disaster relief 
        airport shall develop an emergency natural disaster management 
        plan in coordination with local emergency response teams and 
        first responders.
    ``(d) Civil Penalty.--A public agency that knowingly violates this 
section shall be liable to the United States Government for a civil 
penalty of not more than $10,000 for each day of the violation.
    ``(e) Consideration for Project Grants.--The Secretary shall give 
consideration to the role an airport plays in disaster relief when 
determining whether to provide a grant for the airport under this 
subchapter.
    ``(f) Applicability of Other Laws.--This section shall apply 
notwithstanding any other law, including regulations and agreements.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for chapter 471 is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 47131 the 
following:

``47132. Disaster relief airports.''.

SEC. 1306. AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT RELATING TO DISASTER RELIEF.

    Section 47102(3), as amended by sections 1216 and 1222, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(P) planning, acquiring, or constructing at an 
                airport designated as a disaster relief airport under 
                section 47132, including--
                            ``(i) planning for disaster preparedness 
                        associated with maintaining airport operations 
                        during a natural disaster;
                            ``(ii) airport communication equipment and 
                        fixed emergency generators that are not able to 
                        be acquired by programs funded under the 
                        Department of Homeland Security; and
                            ``(iii) constructing, expanding, and 
                        improving airfield infrastructure to include 
                        aprons and terminal buildings the Secretary 
                        determines will facilitate disaster response at 
                        the airport.''.

SEC. 1307. INCLUSION OF COVERED AIRCRAFT CONSTRUCTION IN DEFINITION OF 
              AERONAUTICAL ACTIVITY FOR PURPOSES OF AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT 
              GRANTS.

    Section 47107 is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(u) Construction, Repair, and Restoration of Recreational 
Aircraft.--
            ``(1) In general.--The construction of a covered aircraft 
        shall be treated as an aeronautical activity for purposes of--
                    ``(A) determining an airport sponsor's compliance 
                with a grant assurance made under this section or any 
                other provision of law; and
                    ``(B) the receipt of Federal financial assistance 
                for airport development.
            ``(2) Covered aircraft defined.--In this subsection, the 
        term `covered aircraft' means an aircraft--
                    ``(A) used or intended to be used exclusively for 
                recreational purposes to be operated under appropriate 
                regulations under title 14 of the Code of Federal 
                Regulations; and
                    ``(B) constructed or under construction, repair, or 
                restoration by a private individual at a general 
                aviation airport.''.

                 Subtitle D--Passenger Facility Charges

SEC. 1401. 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'';
            (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``nonhub'' and inserting 
        ``nonhub, small hub, medium hub, and large hub''; and
            (3) in paragraph (6), by striking ``Not later than 180 days 
        after the date of enactment of this subsection, the'' and 
        inserting ``The''.

SEC. 1402. 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. 1403. 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 qualified 
organization 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 qualified 
organization shall convene and consult with a panel of national 
experts, including representatives of--
            (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;
            (10) air carriers; and
            (11) the tourism industry.
    (c) Considerations.--In carrying out the study, the qualified 
organization 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 on promoting 
        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 the cost of projects eligible for the 
        airport improvement program 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 qualified organization 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.
    (f) Definition of Qualified Organization.--In this section, the 
term ``qualified organization'' means an independent nonprofit 
organization that recommends solutions to public policy challenges 
through objective research and analysis.

SEC. 1404. AIRPORT VEHICLE EMISSIONS.

    Section 40117(a)(3)(G) is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(G) A project to reduce emissions under 
                subchapter I of chapter 471 or to use cleaner burning 
                conventional fuels, or for acquiring for use at a 
                commercial service airport vehicles or ground support 
                equipment that include low-emission technology or to 
                use cleaner burning fuels, or if the airport is located 
                in an air quality nonattainment area (as defined in 
                section 171(2) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 
                7501(2))) or a maintenance area referred to in section 
                175A of such Act (42 U.S.C. 7505a), a project to 
                retrofit any such vehicles or equipment that are 
                powered by a diesel or gasoline engine with emission 
                control technologies certified or verified by the 
                Environmental Protection Agency to reduce emissions, if 
                such project would be able to receive emission credits 
                for the project from the governing State or Federal 
                environmental agency as described in section 47139.''.

                            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 the 
United States Constitution and 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, except for news gathering, should have a written 
        privacy policy consistent with section 2101 that is appropriate 
        to the nature and scope of the activities regarding the 
        collection, use, retention, dissemination, and deletion 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. 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 easily searchable online database. The Administrator shall place a 
clear and conspicuous link to the database on the home page of the 
Federal Aviation Administration's Web site.
    (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.
            (6) For any unmanned aircraft system, except those operated 
        for news gathering activities protected by the First Amendment 
        to the Constitution of the United States, that will collect 
        personally identifiable information about individuals, 
        including the use of facial recognition--
                    (A) the circumstance under which the system will be 
                used;
                    (B) the specific kinds of personally identifiable 
                information that the system will collect about 
                individuals; and
                    (C) how the information referred to in subparagraph 
                (B), and the conclusions drawn from such information, 
                will be used, disclosed, and otherwise handled, 
                including--
                            (i) how the collection or retention of such 
                        information that is unrelated to the specific 
                        use will be minimized;
                            (ii) under what circumstances such 
                        information might be sold, leased, or otherwise 
                        provided to third parties;
                            (iii) the period during which such 
                        information will be retained;
                            (iv) when and how such information, 
                        including information no longer relevant to the 
                        specified use, will be destroyed; and
                            (v) steps that will be used to protect 
                        against the unauthorized disclosure of any 
                        information or data, such as the use of 
                        encryption methods and other security features.
            (7) With respect to public unmanned aircraft systems--
                    (A) the locations where the unmanned aircraft 
                system will operate;
                    (B) the time during which the unmanned aircraft 
                system will operate;
                    (C) the general purpose of the flight; and
                    (D) the technical capabilities that the unmanned 
                aircraft system possesses.
    (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 earlier of--
            (1) the date of publication of a final rule or guidance 
        regarding identification standards under section 2202 of the 
        FAA Extension Safety and Security Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-
        190; 130 Stat. 615); or
            (2) September 30, 2021.

SEC. 2105. ANALYSIS OF CURRENT REMEDIES UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, AND 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 address 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 2017, and any public 
        entity authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration as an 
        unmanned aircraft system flight test center before January 1, 
        2009.
            ``(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 test sites to facilitate the safe integration of 
unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system.
            ``(2) Termination.--The program shall terminate on 
        September 30, 2021.
    ``(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;
                    ``(E) beyond visual line of sight operations, 
                nighttime operations, operations over people, and 
                unmanned aircraft systems traffic management, or other 
                critical research priorities; and
                    ``(F) improving privacy protections through the use 
                of advances in unmanned aircraft systems technology;
            ``(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, or at night, for testing under controlled 
        conditions that ensure 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 2017, 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 2017, and every 180 days thereafter 
        until September 30, 2021, 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 subsection (g), that relate to unmanned 
                aircraft systems research priorities, including beyond 
                visual line of sight operations, nighttime operations, 
                operations over people, sense and avoid technology, and 
                unmanned aircraft systems traffic management;
                    ``(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.
    ``(g) Collaborative Research and Development Agreements.--The 
Administrator may use the other transaction authority under section 
106(l)(6) and enter into collaborative research and development 
agreements, to direct research related to unmanned aircraft systems, 
including at any test site under subsection (a), and in coordination 
with the Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
    ``(h) Use of Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems.--
The Administrator, in carrying out research necessary to establish the 
consensus safety standards requirements in section 44803 shall, to the 
maximum extent practicable, leverage the research and testing capacity 
and capabilities of the Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft 
Systems and the test sites.''.
    (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. SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT 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. Small unmanned aircraft safety standards
    ``(a) Consensus Safety Standards.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
        enactment of the Federal Aviation Administration 
        Reauthorization Act of 2017, the Administrator of the Federal 
        Aviation Administration shall charter an aviation rulemaking 
        advisory committee to develop recommendations for the 
        following:
                    ``(A) Risk-based, consensus safety standards 
                related to the safe integration of small unmanned 
                aircraft systems into the national airspace system 
                (referred to in this section as `consensus safety 
                standards') that can evolve or be updated as 
                appropriate.
                    ``(B) A Federal Aviation Administration process for 
                permitting, authorizing, or approving small unmanned 
                aircraft systems and their operations based on the 
                safety standards to be accepted by the Administrator 
                under this section.
            ``(2) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
        App.) shall not apply to an aviation rulemaking advisory 
        committee chartered under this subsection.
    ``(b) Considerations.--In developing recommended consensus safety 
standards under subsection (a) the members of the aviation rulemaking 
advisory committee 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) Consensus identification standards under section 2202 
        of the FAA Extension Safety and Security Act of 2016 (Public 
        Law 114-190; 130 Stat. 615), including for model aircraft 
        operations authorized under section 44808.
            ``(7) Cost-benefit and risk analyses regarding updates to 
        or modifications of small unmanned aircraft systems that were 
        commercially distributed prior to the development of the 
        consensus safety standards so that, to the greatest extent 
        practicable, such systems meet consensus safety standards that 
        may be accepted pursuant to subsection (d).
            ``(8) Cost-benefit and risk analyses of consensus safety 
        standards that may be accepted pursuant to subsection (d) for 
        newly designed small unmanned aircraft systems.
            ``(9) Applicability of consensus safety standards to small 
        unmanned aircraft systems that are not commercially 
        distributed, including home-built small unmanned aircraft 
        systems.
            ``(10) Any technology or standard related to small unmanned 
        aircraft systems that promotes aviation safety.
            ``(11) Any category of unmanned aircraft systems that 
        should be exempt from the consensus safety standards based on 
        risk factors.
    ``(c) Consultation.--In developing recommendations for consensus 
safety standards under subsection (a), the Aviation Rulemaking 
Committee shall consult with--
            ``(1) unmanned aircraft systems stakeholders, including 
        manufacturers of varying sizes of unmanned aircraft;
            ``(2) community-based aviation organizations;
            ``(3) the Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft 
        Systems;
            ``(4) each operator of a test site under section 44802;
            ``(5) the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and 
        Space Administration;
            ``(6) the Secretary of Defense; and
            ``(7) the leaders of appropriate standards development 
        organizations, including the President of RTCA, Inc. and the 
        Director of the National Institute for Standards and 
        Technology.
    ``(d) FAA Process for Acceptance and Authorization.--Not later than 
180 days after the date of receipt of the recommendations under 
subsection (a)(2), the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall establish a process based on those recommendations 
for--
            ``(1) the acceptance by the Federal Aviation Administration 
        of consensus safety standards recommended under subsection 
        (a)(1);
            ``(2) permitting, authorizing, or the approving small 
        unmanned aircraft systems makes and models based upon the 
        consensus safety standards accepted under paragraph (1);
            ``(3) the certification of a manufacturer of small unmanned 
        aircraft systems that has demonstrated compliance with 
        consensus safety standards accepted under subsection (d)(1), 
        which shall allow the Administrator to enable the self-
        certification by a manufacturer of small unmanned aircraft 
        systems to the standards; and
            ``(4) the certification of a manufacturer of small unmanned 
        aircraft systems, or an employee of such manufacturer, that has 
        demonstrated compliance with the consensus safety standards 
        developed under subsection (a) and accepted under subsection 
        (d)(1) and met any other qualifying criteria, as determined by 
        the Administrator, to alternatively satisfy the requirements of 
        paragraph (2).
    ``(e) Nonapplicability of Other Laws.--The process for permitting, 
authorizing, or approving the operation of small unmanned aircraft 
systems under subsection (d) shall allow for operation of any 
applicable small unmanned aircraft systems within the national airspace 
system without requiring--
            ``(1) airworthiness certification requirements under 
        section 44704 of this title; and
            ``(2) type certification under parts 21 or 23 of title 14, 
        Code of Federal Regulations.
    ``(f) Model Aircraft.--The standards accepted under subsection (d) 
shall be applicable to model aircraft operations authorized under 
section 44808.
    ``(g) Revocation.--The Administrator may revoke the permission, 
authorization, or approval in subsection (d) if the Administrator 
determines that the manufacturer is no longer in compliance with the 
standards accepted by the Administrator under subsection (d)(1).
    ``(h) Requirements.--With regard to a permit, authorization, or 
approval under the process in subsection (d), the Administrator may 
require a manufacturer of small unmanned aircraft systems to provide 
the FAA with the following:
            ``(1) The aircraft system's operating instructions.
            ``(2) The aircraft system's recommended maintenance and 
        inspection procedures.
            ``(3) The manufacturer's statement of compliance described 
        in subsection (i).
            ``(4) Upon request, a sample aircraft to be inspected by 
        the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure compliance with 
        the consensus safety standards accepted by the Administrator 
        under subsection (d).
    ``(i) Manufacturer's Statement of Compliance for Small UAS.--A 
manufacturer's statement of compliance shall--
            ``(1) identify the aircraft make and model, and any 
        applicable consensus safety standards used;
            ``(2) state that the aircraft make and model meets the 
        provisions of the consensus safety standards identified in 
        paragraph (1);
            ``(3) state that the aircraft make and model conforms to 
        the manufacturer's design data and is manufactured in a way 
        that ensures consistency across units in the production process 
        in order to meet the applicable consensus safety standards 
        accepted by the Administrator;
            ``(4) state that the manufacturer will make available to 
        any interested person--
                    ``(A) the aircraft's operating instructions, that 
                meet the consensus safety standards identified in 
                paragraph (1); and
                    ``(B) the aircraft's recommended maintenance and 
                inspection procedures, that meet the consensus safety 
                standards identified in paragraph (1);
            ``(5) state that the manufacturer will monitor safety-of-
        flight issues to ensure it meets the consensus safety standards 
        identified in paragraph (1);
            ``(6) state that at the request of the Administrator, the 
        manufacturer will provide reasonable access for the 
        Administrator to its facilities for the purposes of overseeing 
        compliance with this section; and
            ``(7) state that the manufacturer, in accordance with 
        testing requirements identified by the Federal Aviation 
        Administration, 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.
    ``(j) Prohibitions.--
            ``(1) False statements of compliance.--It shall be unlawful 
        for any person to knowingly submit a statement of compliance 
        described in subsection (i) that is materially false.
            ``(2) Introduction into interstate commerce.--It shall be 
        unlawful for any person to knowingly introduce or deliver for 
        introduction into interstate commerce any small unmanned 
        aircraft system for which standards developed under subsection 
        (d) are accepted and are applicable, and are manufactured after 
        the date that the Administrator accepts any applicable safety 
        standards under this section unless--
                    ``(A) the make and model has been permitted, 
                authorized, or approved for operation under subsection 
                (d); or
                    ``(B) the aircraft has alternatively received type, 
                design, and production approval issued by the Federal 
                Aviation Administration.
    ``(k) Exclusions.--The Administrator shall exempt from the 
requirements of this section small unmanned aircraft systems that are 
not capable of navigating beyond the visual line of sight of the 
operator through advanced flight systems and technology, if the 
Administrator determines that such an exemption does not pose a risk to 
the safety of the national airspace system.''.
    (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. Small unmanned aircraft safety standards.''.

SEC. 2124. SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT IN THE ARCTIC.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 448, as amended by section 2123 of this 
Act, is further amended by inserting after section 44803 the following:
``Sec. 44804. Small unmanned aircraft 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 small 
unmanned aircraft beyond the visual 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.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), 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 for approving the use of a 
        small unmanned aircraft in the designated permanent areas in 
        the Arctic without regard to whether the small unmanned 
        aircraft is used as a public aircraft, a civil aircraft, or a 
        model aircraft.
            ``(2) Existing process.--The Secretary may implement an 
        existing process to meet the requirements under paragraph 
        (1).''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Table of contents.--The table of contents for chapter 
        448, as amended by section 2123 of this Act, is further amended 
        by inserting after the item relating to section 44803 the 
        following:

``44804. Small unmanned aircraft 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. 2125. SPECIAL AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 448, as amended by section 2124 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, operation over 
        people, and operation within or beyond the 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, 
2021.''.
    (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 44804 the 
        following:

``44805. Special authority 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. 2126. ADDITIONAL RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) beyond visual line of sight operations, nighttime 
        operations, and operations over people of unmanned aircraft 
        systems have tremendous potential--
                    (A) to enhance both commercial and academic use;
                    (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 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 4.4 pounds or more, but less 
        than 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, nighttime operations on a routine basis, and 
        operations over people 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 2125 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) Micro Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operational Rules.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding the rulemaking required 
        by section 332 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 
        (49 U.S.C. 40101 note), the Administrator shall issue 
        regulations not later than 270 days after the date of enactment 
        of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 
        2017 under which any person may operate a micro unmanned 
        aircraft system classification of unmanned aircraft systems, 
        the aircraft component of which weighs 4.4 pounds or less, 
        including payload, without the person operating the system 
        being required to pass any airman certification requirement, 
        including any requirements under section 44703 of this title, 
        part 61 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, or any other 
        rule or regulation relating to airman certification.
            ``(2) Operational rules.--The rulemaking required by 
        paragraph (1) relating to micro unmanned aircraft systems shall 
        consider the following rules, or any appropriate modifications 
        thereof concerning altitude, airspeed, geographic location, and 
        time of day as the Administrator considers appropriate, for 
        operation of such systems:
                    ``(A) Operation at an altitude of less than 400 
                feet above ground level.
                    ``(B) Operation with an airspeed of not greater 
                than 40 knots.
                    ``(C) Operation within the visual line of sight of 
                the operator.
                    ``(D) Operation during the hours between sunrise 
                and sunset.
                    ``(E) Operation not less than 5 statute miles from 
                the geographic center of an airport with an operational 
                air traffic control tower or an airport denoted on a 
                current aeronautical chart published by the Federal 
                Aviation Administration, except that a micro unmanned 
                aircraft system may be operated within 5 statute miles 
                of such an airport if the operator of the system--
                            ``(i) provides notice to the airport 
                        operator; and
                            ``(ii) in the case of an airport with an 
                        operational air traffic control tower, receives 
                        approval from the air traffic control tower.
    ``(c) 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 micro unmanned aircraft 
        system.
            ``(2) Limitation.--The Administrator may only issue 
        regulations under this section for micro unmanned aircraft 
        systems that the Administrator determines may be operated 
        safely in the national airspace system.
    ``(d) Rules of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
construed--
            ``(1) to prohibit a person from operating a micro 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 micro 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 2125 of this Act, is further amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 44805 the following:

``44806. Additional rulemaking authority.''.

SEC. 2127. GOVERNMENTAL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 448, as amended by section 2126 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 an 
operations and certification program for the operators of public 
unmanned aircraft systems 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 visual 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 2017 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 section 552a of title 5 (commonly known as the Privacy 
        Act of 1974);
            ``(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 
        the 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 directly relevant 
                and necessary to accomplish the specific purpose for 
                which the Federal agency used the unmanned aircraft 
                system;
                    ``(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 Web site 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, including regulations and 
                policies;
                    ``(E) the establishment of policies and procedures, 
                or confirmation that policies and procedures exist, 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, including 
                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) Federal Agency Coordination To Enhance the Public Health and 
Safety Capabilities of Public Unmanned Aircraft Systems.--The 
Administrator shall assist and enable, without undue interference, 
Federal civilian government agencies that operate unmanned aircraft 
systems within civil-controlled airspace, in operationally deploying 
and integrating sense and avoid capabilities, as necessary to operate 
unmanned aircraft systems safely and effectively within the National 
Air Space.
    ``(f) 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.
    ``(g) Definition of Federal Agency.--In subsections (e) and (g), 
the term `Federal agency' has the meaning given the term `agency' in 
section 552(f) of title 5.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Table of contents.--The table of contents for chapter 
        448, as amended by section 2126 of this Act, is further 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.
            (3) Facilitating interagency cooperation for unmanned 
        aircraft authorization in support of firefighting operations 
        and utility restoration.--Section 2204(a) of the FAA Extension 
        Safety and Security Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-190; 130 Stat. 
        615) is amended by striking ``section 334(c) of the FAA 
        Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note)'' 
        and inserting ``section 44807''.

SEC. 2128. SPECIAL RULES FOR MODEL AIRCRAFT.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 448, as amended by section 2127 of this 
Act, is further amended by inserting after section 44807 the following:
``Sec. 44808. Special rules for model aircraft
    ``(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (d), and 
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 regarding an unmanned aircraft operating as 
a model aircraft or an unmanned aircraft being developed 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 the 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 of the operation (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)), 
        unless the Administrator determines approval should be 
        required;
            ``(6) the aircraft is flown from the surface to not more 
        than 400 feet in altitude, except under special conditions and 
        programs established by a community-based organization; 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 or developed and 
        administered by the community-based organization 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 model aircraft.
    ``(d) Exceptions.--The Administrator may promulgate rules relating 
to the registration and marking of model aircraft.
    ``(e) 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 less 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 2127 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. 2129. AUTHORITY.

    The rules adopted by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration in the matter of registration and marking requirements 
for small unmanned aircraft (FAA-2015-7396; published on December 16, 
2015) that were vacated by the United States Court of Appeals for the 
District of Columbia Circuit in Taylor v. Huerta (No. 15-1495; decided 
on May 19, 2017) shall be restored to effect on the date of enactment 
of this Act.

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

    (a) In General.--Chapter 448, as amended by section 2128 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;
            ``(3) the individual is a holder of an airmen certificate 
        issued under section 44703; or
            ``(4) the individual is operating a model aircraft or an 
        unmanned aircraft being developed as a model aircraft under 
        section 44808 and has successfully completed an aeronautical 
        knowledge and safety test in accordance with the community-
        based organizations safety program described in that section.
    ``(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, 44805, 44806, or 44807. 
The Administrator may waive the requirements of this section for 
operators of aircraft weighing less than 0.55 pounds or for operators 
under the age of 13 operating the unmanned aircraft system under the 
supervision of an adult as determined by the Administrator.
    ``(c) Aeronautical Knowledge and Safety Test.--Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of the Federal Aviation Administration 
Reauthorization Act of 2017, 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 2128 of this Act, is further amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 44808 the following:

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

SEC. 2131. 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. 2132. 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 Federal, State, 
and local law enforcement to report a suspected abuse or a violation of 
chapter 448 of title 49, United States Code, 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 2018 through 2021.

SEC. 2133. AIRPORT SAFETY AND AIRSPACE HAZARD MITIGATION AND 
              ENFORCEMENT.

    (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. Airport safety and airspace hazard mitigation and 
              enforcement
    ``(a) Authority.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall work with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary 
of Homeland Security, and the heads of other relevant Federal 
departments and agencies for the purpose of ensuring that technologies 
or systems that are developed, tested, or deployed by Federal 
departments and agencies to detect and mitigate potential threats posed 
by errant or hostile unmanned aircraft system operations do not 
adversely impact or interfere with safe airport operations, navigation, 
air traffic services, or the safe and efficient operation of the 
national airspace system.
    ``(b) Plan.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of enactment of the Federal Aviation Administration 
        Reauthorization Act of 2017, the Administrator shall develop a 
        plan for the certification, permitting, authorizing, or 
        allowing of the deployment of technologies or systems for the 
        detection and mitigation of unmanned aircraft systems.
            ``(2) Contents.--The plan shall include the development of 
        policies, procedures, or protocols that will allow appropriate 
        officials of Federal, State, or local agencies requesting to 
        utilize such technologies or systems to take steps to detect 
        and mitigate potential airspace safety threats posed by 
        unmanned aircraft system operations.
            ``(3) Aviation rulemaking advisory committee.--The 
        Administrator may charter an aviation rulemaking advisory 
        committee to make recommendations for such a plan and any 
        standards that the Administrator determines may need to be 
        developed with respect to such technologies or systems. The 
        Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply 
        to an aviation rulemaking advisory committee chartered under 
        this paragraph.
    ``(c) Airspace Hazard Mitigation Program.--In order to test and 
evaluate technologies or systems to detect and mitigate potential 
airspace safety threats posed by unmanned aircraft system operations, 
the Administrator shall deploy such technologies or systems at 5 
airports.
    ``(d) Authority.--Under the testing and evaluation in subsection 
(c), the Administrator may use unmanned aircraft detection and 
mitigation systems to detect and mitigate the unauthorized operation of 
an unmanned aircraft that poses a risk to airspace safety. Utilization 
of such technologies or systems, and the communications sent using such 
technologies and systems to unmanned aircraft systems, shall be 
regarded as equivalent to separation instructions to pilots of manned 
aircraft.
    ``(e) AIP Funding Eligibility.--Upon the certification, permitting, 
authorizing, or allowing of such technologies and systems that have 
been successfully tested under this section, an airport sponsor may 
apply for a grant under subchapter I of chapter 471 to purchase an 
unmanned aircraft detection and mitigation system. For purposes of this 
subsection, purchasing an unmanned aircraft detection and mitigation 
system shall be considered airport development (as defined in section 
47102).
    ``(f) Report.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the Federal Aviation Administration 
        Reauthorization Act of 2017, and annually thereafter, the 
        Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
        Congress a report on the implementation of this section, 
        including the testing and evaluation of detection and 
        mitigation systems under this section.
            ``(2) Contents.--The report under paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    ``(A) The number of unauthorized unmanned aircraft 
                operations detected, together with a description of 
                such operations.
                    ``(B) The number of instances in which unauthorized 
                unmanned aircraft were mitigated, together with a 
                description of such instances.
                    ``(C) The number of enforcement cases brought by 
                the Federal Aviation Administration for unauthorized 
                operation of unmanned aircraft detected through the 
                program, together with a description of such cases.
                    ``(D) The number of any technical failures in the 
                program, together with a description of such failures.
                    ``(E) Recommendations for safety and operational 
                standards for unmanned aircraft detection and 
                mitigation systems.
            ``(3) Format.--To the extent practicable, the report 
        prepared under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in a classified 
        format. If appropriate, the report may include an unclassified 
        summary.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund to carry out this 
section $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2021, to 
remain available until expended.
    ``(h) Applicability of Other Laws.--Section 32 of title 18, United 
States Code (commonly known as the Aircraft Sabotage Act), section 1031 
of title 18, United States Code (commonly known as the Computer Fraud 
and Abuse Act of 1986), sections 2510-2522 of title 18, United States 
Code (commonly known as the Wiretap Act), and sections 3121-3127 of 
title 18, United States Code (commonly known as the Pen/Trap Statute), 
shall not apply to any activity authorized by the Administrator 
pursuant to this section.
    ``(i) Sunset.--This section ceases to be effective September 30, 
2021.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) 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. Airport safety and airspace hazard mitigation and 
                            enforcement.''.
            (2) Pilot project for airport safety and airspace hazard 
        mitigation.--Section 2206 of the FAA Extension Safety and 
        Security Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-190; 130 Stat. 615) and 
        the item relating to that section in the table of contents 
        under section 1(b) of that Act are repealed.

SEC. 2134. AVIATION EMERGENCY SAFETY PUBLIC SERVICES DISRUPTION.

    Section 46320(a) is amended by inserting ``, including helicopter 
air ambulance operations,'' after ``emergency response effort''.

SEC. 2135. 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 or exclusively leased for at least 90 
                consecutive days 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)''.

SEC. 2136. CARRIAGE OF PROPERTY BY SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS FOR 
              COMPENSATION OR HIRE.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 448, as amended by section 2133 of this 
Act, is further amended by adding after section 44810 the following:
``Sec. 44811. Carriage of property by small unmanned aircraft systems 
              for compensation or hire
    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 
2017, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue a final rule 
authorizing the carriage of property by operators of small unmanned 
aircraft systems for compensation or hire within the United States.
    ``(b) Contents.--The final rule required under subsection (a) shall 
provide for the following:
            ``(1) Small uas air carrier certificate.--The Administrator 
        of the Federal Aviation Administration, at the direction of the 
        Secretary, shall establish a certificate (to be known as a 
        `small UAS air carrier certificate') for persons that undertake 
        directly, by lease, or other arrangement the operation of small 
        unmanned aircraft systems to carry property in air 
        transportation, including commercial fleet operations with 
        highly automated unmanned aircraft systems. The requirements to 
        operate under a small UAS air carrier certificate shall--
                    ``(A) consider the unique characteristics of highly 
                automated, small unmanned aircraft systems; and
                    ``(B) include requirements for the safe operation 
                of small unmanned aircraft systems that, at a minimum, 
                address--
                            ``(i) airworthiness of small unmanned 
                        aircraft systems;
                            ``(ii) qualifications for operators and the 
                        type and nature of the operations; and
                            ``(iii) operating specifications governing 
                        the type and nature of the unmanned aircraft 
                        system air carrier operations.
            ``(2) Small uas air carrier certification process.--The 
        Administrator, at the direction of the Secretary, shall 
        establish a process for the issuance of small UAS air carrier 
        certificates established pursuant to paragraph (1) that is 
        performance-based and ensures required safety levels are met. 
        Such certification process shall consider--
                    ``(A) safety risks and the mitigation of those 
                risks associated with the operation of highly 
                automated, small unmanned aircraft around other manned 
                and unmanned aircraft, and over persons and property on 
                the ground;
                    ``(B) the competencies and compliance programs of 
                manufacturers, operators, and companies that 
                manufacture, operate, or both small unmanned aircraft 
                systems and components; and
                    ``(C) compliance with the requirements established 
                pursuant to paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Small uas air carrier classification.--The Secretary 
        shall develop a classification system for persons issued small 
        UAS air carrier certificates pursuant to this subsection to 
        establish economic authority for the carriage of property by 
        small unmanned aircraft systems for compensation or hire. Such 
        classification shall only require--
                    ``(A) registration with the Department of 
                Transportation; and
                    ``(B) a valid small UAS air carrier certificate 
                issued pursuant to this subsection.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for chapter 448, as 
amended by section 2133 of this Act, is further amended by adding after 
the item relating to section 44810 the following:

``44811. Carriage of property by small unmanned aircraft systems for 
                            compensation or hire.''.

SEC. 2137. COLLEGIATE TRAINING INITIATIVE PROGRAM FOR UNMANNED AIRCRAFT 
              SYSTEMS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall establish a Collegiate Training Initiative program 
relating to unmanned aircraft systems by making new agreements or 
continuing existing agreements with institutions of higher education 
(as defined by the Administrator) under which the institutions prepare 
students for careers involving unmanned aircraft systems. The 
Administrator may establish standards for the entry of such 
institutions into the program and for their continued participation in 
the program.
    (b) Unmanned Aircraft System Defined.--In this section, the term 
``unmanned aircraft system'' has the meaning given that term by section 
44801 of title 49, United States Code, as added by section 2121 of this 
Act.

SEC. 2138. INCORPORATION OF FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION OCCUPATIONS 
              RELATING TO UNMANNED AIRCRAFT INTO VETERANS EMPLOYMENT 
              PROGRAMS OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of 
Defense, and the Secretary of Labor, shall determine whether 
occupations of the Administration relating to unmanned aircraft systems 
technology and regulations can be incorporated into the Veterans' 
Employment Program of the Administration, particularly in the 
interaction between such program and the New Sights Work Experience 
Program and the Vet-Link Cooperative Education Program.

SEC. 2139. REPORT ON UAS AND CHEMICAL AERIAL APPLICATION.

    Not later than 1 year 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 evaluating which 
aviation safety requirements under part 137 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations, should apply to unmanned aircraft system 
operations engaged in aerial spraying of chemicals for agricultural 
purposes.

SEC. 2140. PART 107 IMPLEMENTATION IMPROVEMENTS.

    (a) Transparency.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall publish on the Federal Aviation Administration Web 
site a representative sample of the safety justifications offered by 
applicants for waivers or air traffic control authorizations that have 
been approved by the Administration for each regulation waived or class 
of airspace authorized, except that any published justification shall 
not reveal proprietary or commercially sensitive information.
    (b) Technology Improvements.--Not later than 60 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall revise the online 
waiver and air traffic control authorization processes--
            (1) to provide real time confirmation that an application 
        filed online has been received by the Administration; and
            (2) to provide an applicant with an opportunity to review 
        the status of the applicant's application.

SEC. 2141. REDESIGNATION.

    (a) Safety Statements.--
            (1) In general.--Section 2203 of the FAA Extension Safety 
        and Security Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-190; 130 Stat. 615) is 
        redesignated as section 44812 of chapter 448 of title 49, 
        United States Code, and transferred so as to appear after 
        section 44811 of title 49, United States Code, as added by 
        section 2136 of this Act.
            (2) Technical and conforming amendments.--Section 44812(b), 
        as redesignated, is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``this Act'' and 
                inserting ``the FAA Extension Safety and Security Act 
                of 2016''; and
                    (B) in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of paragraph 
                (2)(D), by striking ``section 336 of the FAA 
                Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 949 U.S.C. 40101 
                note)'' and inserting ``section 44808''.
    (b) Emergency Exemption Process.--
            (1) In general.--Section 2207 of the FAA Extension Safety 
        and Security Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-190; 130 Stat. 615) is 
        redesignated as section 44813 of chapter 448 of title 49, 
        United States Code, and transferred so as to appear after 
        section 44812 of title 49, United States Code, as redesignated 
        by subsection (a)(1) of this section.
            (2) Technical and conforming amendments.--Section 44813(a), 
        as redesignated, is amended by striking ``this Act'' and 
        inserting ``the FAA Extension Safety and Security Act of 
        2016''.
    (c) Applications for Designation.--
            (1) In general.--Section 2209 of the FAA Extension Safety 
        and Security Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-190; 130 Stat. 615) is 
        redesignated as section 44814 of chapter 448 of title 49, 
        United States Code, and transferred so as to appear after 
        section 44813 of title 49, United States Code, as redesignated 
        by subsection (b)(1) of this section.
            (2) Technical and conforming amendments.--Section 44814(a), 
        as redesignated, is amended by striking ``this Act'' and 
        inserting ``the FAA Extension Safety and Security Act of 
        2016''.
    (d) Operations Associated With Critical Infrastructure.--
            (1) In general.--Section 2210 of the FAA Extension Safety 
        and Security Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-190; 130 Stat. 615) is 
        redesignated as section 44815 of chapter 448 of title 49, 
        United States Code, and transferred so as to appear after 
        section 44814 of title 49, United States Code, as redesignated 
        by subsection (c)(1) of this section.
            (2) Technical and conforming amendments.--Section 44815, as 
        redesignated, is amended--
                    (A) in subsections (a), (d)(2), and (e), by 
                striking ``section 333 of the FAA Modernization and 
                Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note)'' and 
                inserting ``section 44805'';
                    (B) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ``, United 
                States Code''; and
                    (C) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ``this Act'' 
                and inserting ``the FAA Extension Safety and Security 
                Act of 2016''.

                        PART III--OTHER MATTERS

SEC. 2151. FEDERAL AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall--
            (1) conduct a study on the relative roles of the Federal 
        Government and State and local governments in regulating the 
        national airspace system, including unmanned aircraft systems 
        operations; 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 review the 
following:
            (1) The current state of the law with respect to Federal 
        authority over airspace in the United States and the operations 
        of aircraft in that airspace.
            (2) The current state of the law with respect to state and 
        local authority over airspace in the United States and the 
        operations of aircraft in that airspace;
            (3) Potential gaps between authorities under paragraphs (1) 
        and (2), particularly with respect to unmanned aircraft systems 
        operations at low altitudes;
            (4) The effectiveness of the Federal Government's efforts 
        to resolve differences between different stakeholders on the 
        issue.
            (5) Potential ways to structure the roles and 
        responsibilities between the Federal Government and State and 
        local governments to ensure the highest level of safety for all 
        aviation operations and in consideration of State and local 
        interests on issues such as nuisance, voyeurism, privacy, 
        trespass, harassment, reckless endangerment, wrongful death, 
        personal injury, property damage, or other illegal acts arising 
        from the use of unmanned aircraft systems.

SEC. 2152. SPECTRUM.

    (a) In General.--Small unmanned aircraft systems may use spectrum 
for wireless control link, tracking, diagnostics, payload 
communication, and collaborative-collision avoidance, such as vehicle-
to-vehicle communication, and other uses, consistent with the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.), Federal 
Communications Commission rules, and the safety-of-life determination 
made by the Federal Aviation Administration, and through voluntary 
commercial arrangements with service providers, whether they are 
operating within a UTM system under section 2208 of the FAA Extension 
Safety and Security Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-190; 130 Stat. 615) or 
outside such a system.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, and after consultation with relevant stakeholders, the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration, and the Federal 
Communications Commission, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a 
report--
            (1) on whether small unmanned aircraft systems operations 
        should be permitted to operate on spectrum designated for 
        aviation use, on an unlicensed, shared, or exclusive basis, for 
        operations within the UTM system or outside of such a system;
            (2) that addresses any technological, statutory, 
        regulatory, and operational barriers to the use of such 
        spectrum; and
            (3) that, if it is determined that spectrum designated for 
        aviation use is not suitable for operations by small unmanned 
        aircraft systems, includes recommendations of other spectrum 
        frequencies that may be appropriate for such operations.

SEC. 2153. USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER 
              EDUCATION.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 270 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall establish procedures and standards, as applicable, 
to facilitate the safe operation of unmanned aircraft systems by 
institutions of higher education, including faculty, students, and 
staff.
    (b) Standards.--The procedures and standards required under 
subsection (a) shall outline risk-based operational parameters to 
ensure the safety of the national airspace system and the uninvolved 
public that facilitates the use of unmanned aircraft systems for 
educational or research purposes.
    (c) Unmanned Aircraft System Approval.--The procedures required 
under subsection (a) shall allow unmanned aircraft systems operated 
under this section to be modified for research purposes without 
iterative approval from the Administrator.
    (d) Additional Procedures.--The Administrator shall establish a 
procedure to provide for streamlined, risk-based operational approval 
for unmanned aircraft systems operated by institutions of higher 
education, including faculty, students, and staff, outside of the 
parameters or purposes set forth in subsection (b).
    (e) Deadlines.--
            (1) In general.--If, by the date that is 270 days after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator has not set 
        forth standards and procedures required under subsections (a), 
        (b), and (c), an institution of higher education may--
                    (A) without specific approval from the Federal 
                Aviation Administration, operate small unmanned 
                aircraft at model aircraft fields approved by the 
                Academy of Model Aeronautics and with the permission of 
                the local club of the Academy of Model Aeronautics; and
                    (B) submit to the Federal Aviation Administration 
                applications for approval of the institution's 
                designation of 1 or more outdoor flight fields.
            (2) Consequence of failure to approve.--If the 
        Administrator does not take action with respect to an 
        application submitted under paragraph (1)(B) within 30 days of 
        the submission of the application, the failure to do so shall 
        be treated as approval of the application.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given that 
        term by section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (2) Unmanned aircraft system.--The term ``unmanned aircraft 
        system'' has the meaning given the term in section 44801 of 
        title 49, United States Code, as added by section 2121 of this 
        Act.
            (3) Educational or research purposes.--The term 
        ``educational or research purposes'', with respect to the 
        operation of an unmanned aircraft system by an institution of 
        higher education, includes--
                    (A) instruction of students at the institution;
                    (B) academic or research related use of unmanned 
                aircraft systems by student organizations recognized by 
                the institution, if such use has been approved by the 
                institution;
                    (C) activities undertaken by the institution as 
                part of research projects, including research projects 
                sponsored by the Federal Government; and
                    (D) other academic activities at the institution, 
                including general research, engineering, and robotics.

SEC. 2154. TRANSITION LANGUAGE.

    (a) Regulations.--Notwithstanding the repeals under sections 
2122(b)(2), 2124(b)(2), 2125(b)(2), 2127(b)(2), 2128(b)(2), and 
2133(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).
            (6) Section 2206 of the FAA Extension Safety and Security 
        Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-190; 130 Stat. 615).
    (c) Effect on Pending Proceedings.--This Act shall not affect 
administrative or judicial proceedings pending on the effective date of 
this Act.

                        PART IV--OPERATOR SAFETY

SEC. 2161. SHORT TITLE.

    This part may be cited as the ``Drone Operator Safety Act''.

SEC. 2162. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    (a) Finding.--Congress finds that educating operators of unmanned 
aircraft about Federal law, including regulations, relating to unmanned 
aircraft will promote the safe operation of such aircraft.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration should continue to 
prioritize the education of operators of unmanned aircraft through 
public outreach efforts like the ``Know Before You Fly'' campaign.

SEC. 2163. UNSAFE OPERATION OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in section 31--
                    (A) in subsection (a)--
                            (i) by redesignating paragraph (10) as 
                        paragraph (11); and
                            (ii) by inserting after paragraph (9) the 
                        following:
            ``(10) Unmanned aircraft.--The term `unmanned aircraft' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 44801 of title 49.''; 
        and
                    (B) in subsection (b), by inserting ```airport','' 
                before ```appliance'''; and
            (2) by inserting after section 39A the following:
``Sec. 39B. Unsafe operation of unmanned aircraft
    ``(a) Offense.--Any person who operates an unmanned aircraft and, 
in so doing, knowingly or recklessly interferes with, or disrupts the 
operation of, an aircraft carrying 1 or more occupants operating in the 
special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, in a manner that 
poses an imminent safety hazard to such occupants, shall be punished as 
provided in subsection (b).
    ``(b) Penalty.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
        punishment for an offense under subsection (a) shall be a fine 
        under this title, imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or 
        both.
            ``(2) Serious bodily injury or death.--Any person who 
        attempts to cause, or knowingly or recklessly causes, serious 
        bodily injury or death during the commission of an offense 
        under subsection (a) shall be fined under this title, 
        imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both.
    ``(c) Operation of Unmanned Aircraft in Close Proximity to 
Airports.--
            ``(1) In general.--The operation of an unmanned aircraft 
        within a runway exclusion zone shall be considered a violation 
        of subsection (a) unless such operation is approved by the 
        airport's air traffic control facility or is the result of a 
        circumstance, such as a malfunction, that could not have been 
        reasonably foreseen or prevented by the operator.
            ``(2) Runway exclusion zone defined.--In this subsection, 
        the term `runway exclusion zone' means a rectangular area--
                    ``(A) centered on the centerline of an active 
                runway of an airport immediately around which the 
                airspace is designated as class B, class C, or class D 
                airspace at the surface under part 71 of title 14, Code 
                of Federal Regulations; and
                    ``(B) the length of which extends parallel to the 
                runway's centerline to points that are 1 statute mile 
                from each end of the runway and the width of which is 
                \1/2\ statute mile.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for chapter 2 of 
title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 39A the following:

``39B. Unsafe operation of unmanned aircraft.''.

              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 
        consistency 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) promote the validation and acceptance 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) Transport aircraft and engine 
                        manufacturers.
                            (ii) General aviation aircraft and engine 
                        manufacturers.
                            (iii) Avionics and equipment manufacturers.
                            (iv) Aviation labor organizations, 
                        including collective bargaining representatives 
                        of FAA aviation safety inspectors and aviation 
                        safety engineers.
                            (v) General aviation operators.
                            (vi) Air carriers.
                            (vii) Business aviation operators.
                            (viii) Unmanned aircraft systems 
                        manufacturers and operators.
                            (ix) 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, 2021.

                 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 effective utilization of FAA delegation and 
        designation authorities, including organizational designation 
        authorization;
            (4) effectively 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 accident finding, 
                surveillance, or oversight, that it is in the public 
                interest and safety of air commerce to require a 
                limitation; and
                    ``(C) for each function that is limited under 
                subparagraph (B), work with the ODA holder to develop 
                the ODA holder's capability to execute that function 
                safely and effectively, and to return to full authority 
                status.
            ``(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 2017, 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 accident finding, 
                surveillance, or oversight, that it is in the public 
                interest and safety of air commerce to require a 
                limitation; and
                    ``(C) for each function that is limited under 
                subparagraph (B), work with the ODA holder to develop 
                the ODA holder's capability to execute that function 
                safely and effectively, and to return to full authority 
                status.
    ``(b) ODA Office.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--Not later than 120 days after the 
        date of enactment of Federal Aviation Administration 
        Reauthorization Act of 2017, 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)(i) at the request of an ODA holder, eliminate 
                all limitations specified in a procedures manual in 
                place on the date of enactment of the Federal Aviation 
                Administration Reauthorization Act of 2017 that are low 
                and medium risk as determined by a risk analysis using 
                criteria established by the ODA Office and disclosed to 
                the ODA holder, except where an ODA holder's 
                performance warrants the retention of a specific 
                limitation due to documented concerns about inadequate 
                current performance in carrying out that authorized 
                function;
                            ``(ii) require an ODA holder to establish a 
                        corrective action plan to regain authority for 
                        any retained limitations;
                            ``(iii) require an ODA holder to notify the 
                        ODA Office when all corrective actions have 
                        been accomplished; and
                            ``(iv) make a reassessment to determine if 
                        subsequent performance in carrying out any 
                        retained limitation warrants continued 
                        retention and, if such reassessment determines 
                        performance meets objectives, lift such 
                        limitation immediately;
                    ``(B) improve the Administration and the ODA holder 
                performance and ensure full use of the authorities 
                delegated under the ODA program;
                    ``(C) develop a more consistent approach to audit 
                priorities, procedures, and training under the ODA 
                program;
                    ``(D) expeditiously review a random sample of 
                limitations on delegated authorities under the ODA 
                program to determine if the limitations are 
                appropriate;
                    ``(E) review and approve new limitations to ODA 
                functions; and
                    ``(F) ensure national consistency in the 
                interpretation and application of the requirements of 
                the ODA program, including any limitations, 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 under subpart D of part 183 of title 
        14, Code of Federal Regulations.
            ``(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 
        management and 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 120 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 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, as 
added by section 2222 of this Act.
    (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 the Federal Aviation 
                Administration Reauthorization Act of 2017, 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 
                        preestablished 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.

                   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) effectively 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) manufacturers;
                    (H) labor unions, including those representing FAA 
                aviation safety inspectors and those representing FAA 
                aviation safety engineers; and
                    (I) 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, including issuance and oversight of 
        certificates;
            (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 the Task Force is 
established under subsection (a), 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) Flight Standards Service Realignment Feasibility 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 findings of the determination of the feasibility of 
realigning flight standards service regional field offices to 
specialized areas of aviation safety oversight and technical expertise.
    (f) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Task Force.
    (g) 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, legal interpretation memorandum, and rulemaking 
documents.

SEC. 2234. REGULATORY CONSISTENCY COMMUNICATION BOARD.

    (a) Functions.--The Regulatory Consistency Communication Board 
(referred to in this section as 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 subparagraph (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)).
    (b) 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 (a)(1); and
            (2) implement a process for tracking the progress of the 
        Board in meeting the performance metrics, timelines, and goals 
        under paragraph (1).

                       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, as added by section 2222 of this Act.
            (2) ODA program.--The term ``ODA program'' has the meaning 
        given the term in section 44736(c)(3) of title 49, United 
        States Code, as added by section 2222 of this Act.
            (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 of title 49, United 
        States Code.

                     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.--Subject to subparagraph (D), the 
                Administrator may 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;
                            ``(iv) the aeronautical safety authority 
                        utilizes an open and transparent public notice 
                        and comment process, including considering 
                        comments from owners and operators of foreign-
                        registered aircraft and other aeronautical 
                        products and appliances in the issuance of 
                        airworthiness directives; and
                            ``(v) the airworthiness directive addresses 
                        a specific issue necessary for the safe 
                        operation of aircraft subject to the directive.
                    ``(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--
                            ``(i) may 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--
                                    ``(I) shall consider an alternative 
                                means of compliance with respect to the 
                                airworthiness directive; and
                                    ``(II) may approve such alternative 
                                means, if appropriate.
                    ``(D) Limitations.--The Administrator may not 
                accept an airworthiness directive issued by an 
                aeronautical safety authority of a foreign country if 
                the airworthiness directive addresses matters other 
                than those involving the safe operation of an 
                aircraft.''.

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 policy initiatives, 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. ACCESS TO AIR CARRIER FLIGHT DECKS.

    The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
collaborate with other aviation authorities to advance 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. 2302. 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.--If the performance standards under subsection 
(a) are revised, 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. 2303. 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 (c), 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.
    (d) Fatigue Risk Management Plan.--
            (1) Submission of plan by part 121 air carriers.--Not later 
        than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, each air 
        carrier operating under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal 
        Regulations (referred to in this subsection as a ``part 121 air 
        carrier''), shall submit a fatigue risk management plan for the 
        carrier's flight attendants to the Administrator for review and 
        acceptance.
            (2) Contents of plan.--Each fatigue risk management plan 
        submitted under paragraph (1) shall include--
                    (A) current flight time and duty period 
                limitations;
                    (B) a rest scheme that is consistent with such 
                limitations and enables the management of flight 
                attendant fatigue, including annual training to 
                increase awareness of--
                            (i) fatigue;
                            (ii) the effects of fatigue on flight 
                        attendants; and
                            (iii) fatigue countermeasures; and
                    (C) the development and use of methodology that 
                continually assesses the effectiveness of 
                implementation of the plan, including the ability of 
                the plan--
                            (i) to improve alertness; and
                            (ii) to mitigate performance errors.
            (3) Review.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall--
                    (A) review each fatigue risk management plan 
                submitted under this subsection; and
                    (B)(i) accept the plan; or
                            (ii) reject the plan and provide the part 
                        121 air carrier with suggested modifications to 
                        be included when the plan is resubmitted.
            (4) Plan updates.--
                    (A) In general.--Not less frequently than once 
                every 2 years, each part 121 air carrier shall--
                            (i) update the fatigue risk management plan 
                        submitted under paragraph (1); and
                            (ii) submit the updated plan to the 
                        Administrator for review and acceptance.
                    (B) Review.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
                on which an updated plan is submitted under 
                subparagraph (A)(ii), the Administrator shall--
                            (i) review the updated plan; and
                            (ii)(I) accept the updated plan; or
                                    (II) reject the updated plan and 
                                provide the part 121 air carrier with 
                                suggested modifications to be included 
                                when the updated plan is resubmitted.
            (5) Compliance.--Each part 121 air carrier shall comply 
        with its fatigue risk management plan after the plan is 
        accepted by the Administrator under this subsection.
            (6) Civil penalties.--A violation of this subsection by a 
        part 121 air carrier shall be treated as a violation of chapter 
        447 of title 49, United States Code, for the purpose of 
        applying civil penalties under chapter 463 of such title.

SEC. 2304. REPORT ON OBSOLETE TEST EQUIPMENT.

    (a) Report.--Not later than 18 months 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 
        multifunctionality in future test equipment to be developed and 
        all known and foreseeable manufacturer technological advances.

SEC. 2305. PLAN FOR SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE DIRECT WARNINGS OF POTENTIAL 
              RUNWAY INCURSIONS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than June 30, 2018, 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. 2306. 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. 2307. 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--
                    (A) to more accurately measure the safety of on-
                demand part 135 aircraft activity;
                    (B) to pinpoint safety problems; and
                    (C) 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. 2308. DEFINITION OF HUMAN FACTORS.

    Section 40102(a), as amended by section 2135 of this Act, is 
further 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. 2309. 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. 2310. 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. 2311. 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. 2312. SAFE AIR TRANSPORTATION OF LITHIUM CELLS AND BATTERIES.

    (a) Restrictions on Transportation of Lithium Batteries on 
Aircraft.--
            (1) Adoption of icao instructions.--
                    (A) In general.--Pursuant to section 828 of the FAA 
                Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 44701 
                note), not later than 90 days after the date of 
                enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Department 
                of Transportation shall conform United States 
                regulations on the air transport of lithium cells and 
                batteries with the lithium cells and battery 
                requirements in the 2015-2016 edition of the 
                International Civil Aviation Organization's (referred 
                to in this subsection as ``ICAO'') Technical 
                Instructions (to include all addenda) including the 
                revised standards adopted by ICAO which became 
                effective on April 1, 2016.
                    (B) Further proceedings.--Beginning on the date the 
                revised regulations under subparagraph (A) are 
                published in the Federal Register, any lithium cell and 
                battery rulemaking action or update commenced on or 
                after that date shall continue to comply with the 
                requirements under section 828 of the FAA Modernization 
                and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 44701 note).
            (2) Review of other regulations.--Pursuant to section 828 
        of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 
        44701 note), the Secretary of Transportation may initiate a 
        review of other existing regulations regarding the air 
        transportation, including passenger-carrying and cargo 
        aircraft, of lithium batteries and cells.
            (3) Medical device batteries.--
                    (A) In general.--For United States applicants, the 
                Secretary of Transportation shall consider and either 
                grant or deny, within 45 days, applications submitted 
                in compliance with part 107 of title 49, Code of 
                Federal Regulations, for special permits or approvals 
                for air transportation of lithium ion cells or 
                batteries specifically used by medical devices. Not 
                later than 30 days after the date of application, the 
                Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 
                shall provide a draft special permit based on the 
                application to the Federal Aviation Administration. The 
                Federal Aviation Administration shall conduct an on-
                site inspection for issuance of the special permit not 
                later than 10 days after the date of receipt of the 
                draft special permit from the Pipeline and Hazardous 
                Materials Safety Administration.
                    (B) Definition of medical device.--In this 
                paragraph, the term ``medical device'' has the meaning 
                given the term ``device'' in section 201 of the Federal 
                Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
            (4) 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).
    (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) Department of Transportation.
                            (ii) Consumer Product Safety Commission.
                            (iii) National Institute on Standards and 
                        Technology.
                            (iv) Food and Drug Administration.
                    (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 nonmember 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, 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).
    (c) Participation.--The Secretary of Transportation shall request 
that as part of the ICAO deliberations in the dangerous good panel on 
these issues, that appropriate experts on issues under consideration be 
allowed to participate.

SEC. 2313. AIRCRAFT CABIN EVACUATION PROCEDURES.

    (a) Review.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall review--
            (1) evacuation certification of transport-category aircraft 
        used in air transportation, with regard to--
                    (A) emergency conditions, including impacts into 
                water;
                    (B) crew procedures used for evacuations under 
                actual emergency conditions;
                    (C) any relevant changes to passenger demographics 
                and legal requirements, including the Americans with 
                Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), 
                that affect emergency evacuations; and
                    (D) any relevant changes to passenger seating 
                configurations, including changes to seat width, 
                padding, reclining, size, pitch, leg room, and aisle 
                width; and
            (2) recent accidents and incidents in which passengers 
        evacuated such aircraft.
    (b) Consultation; Review of Data.--In conducting the review under 
subsection (a), the Administrator shall--
            (1) consult with the National Transportation Safety Board, 
        transport-category aircraft manufacturers, air carriers, and 
        other relevant experts and Federal agencies, including groups 
        representing passengers, airline crew members, maintenance 
        employees, and emergency responders; and
            (2) review relevant data with respect to evacuation 
        certification of transport-category aircraft.
    (c) Report to Congress.--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 results of the 
review under subsection (a) and related recommendations, if any, 
including recommendations for revisions to the assumptions and methods 
used for assessing evacuation certification of transport-category 
aircraft.

SEC. 2314. ANNUAL SAFETY INCIDENT REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report regarding part 121 airline safety oversight.
    (b) Contents.--The annual report shall include--
            (1) a description of the Federal Aviation Administration's 
        safety oversight process to ensure the safety of the traveling 
        public;
            (2) a description of risk-based oversight methods applied 
        to ensure aviation safety, including to specific issues 
        addressed in the year preceding the report that in the 
        determination of the Administrator address safety risk; and
            (3) in the instance of specific reviews of air carrier 
        performance to safety regulations, a description of cases where 
        the timelines for recurrent reviews are advanced.

                  Subtitle D--General Aviation Safety

SEC. 2401. AUTOMATED WEATHER OBSERVING SYSTEMS POLICY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 18 months 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 150/5220-16E) and any other similar, successor checks.
    (b) Permission.--Permission to conduct the minimum tri-annual 
preventative maintenance checks described under subsection (a)(3) and 
any similar, successor checks 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) AIP Eligibility of AWOS Equipment.--Notwithstanding any other 
law, the Administrator shall waive any positive benefit-cost ratio 
requirement for automated weather observing system equipment under 
subchapter I of chapter 471, United States Code, if--
            (1) the airport sponsor or State, as applicable, certifies 
        that a grant for such automated weather observing systems 
        equipment under that chapter will assist an applicable airport 
        to respond to regional emergency needs, including medical, 
        firefighting, and search and rescue needs; and
            (2) the other requirements under that chapter are met.
    (e) Report.--Not later than September 30, 2018, the Administrator 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the 
implementation of the requirements under this section.

SEC. 2402. REQUIREMENT TO CONSULT WITH STAKEHOLDERS IN DEFINING SCOPE 
              AND REQUIREMENTS FOR FUTURE FLIGHT SERVICE PROGRAM.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall consult 
with general aviation stakeholders in defining the scope and 
requirements for any new Future Flight Service Program of the 
Administration to be used in a competitive source selection for the 
next flight service contract with the Administration.

SEC. 2403. 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. 2404. APPLICABILITY OF MEDICAL CERTIFICATION STANDARDS TO 
              OPERATORS OF AIR BALLOONS.

    (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Commercial 
Balloon Pilot Safety Act of 2017''.
    (b) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall revise section 61.3(c) of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations (relating to second-class medical certificates), to 
apply to an operator of an air balloon to the same extent such 
regulations apply to a pilot flight crewmember of other aircraft.
    (c) Air Balloon Defined.--In this section, the term ``air balloon'' 
has the meaning given the term ``balloon'' in section 1.1 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations (or any corresponding similar regulation or 
ruling).

SEC. 2405. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

    Section 2110 of the FAA Extension Safety and Security Act of 2016 
(Public Law 114-190; 130 Stat. 615) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 2110. 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 implement the requirements of 
this section with respect to covered towers.
    ``(b) Marking Required.--Regulations under subsection (a) that 
require that a covered tower be clearly marked shall be 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), included in the database in subsection 
        (e), or, in the case of meteorological evaluation towers both; 
        and
            ``(2) a covered tower constructed before the date on which 
        such regulations take effect is marked in accordance with 
        subsection (b), included in the database in subsection (e), or, 
        in the case of meteorological evaluation towers both, not later 
        than 1 year after such effective date.
    ``(d) Definitions.--
            ``(1) In general.--In this section, the following 
        definitions apply:
                    ``(A) Covered tower.--The term `covered tower' 
                means a structure that--
                            ``(i) is a meteorological evaluation tower, 
                        a self-standing tower, or a tower supported by 
                        guy wires and ground anchors;
                            ``(ii) is 10 feet or less in diameter at 
                        the above-ground base, excluding concrete 
                        footing;
                            ``(iii) at the highest point of the 
                        structure is at least 50 feet above ground 
                        level;
                            ``(iv) at the highest point of the 
                        structure is not more than 200 feet above 
                        ground level;
                            ``(v) has accessory facilities on which an 
                        antenna, sensor, camera, meteorological 
                        instrument, or other equipment is mounted; and
                            ``(vi) is located on land that is--
                                    ``(I) in a remote or rural area; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) used for agricultural 
                                purposes or immediately adjacent to 
                                such land.
                    ``(B) Exclusions.--The term `covered tower' does 
                not include any structure that--
                            ``(i) is adjacent to a house, barn, 
                        electric utility station, or other building;
                            ``(ii) is within the curtilage of a 
                        farmstead or adjacent to another building or 
                        visible structure;
                            ``(iii) supports electric utility 
                        transmission or distribution lines;
                            ``(iv) is a wind-powered electrical 
                        generator with a rotor blade radius that 
                        exceeds 6 feet;
                            ``(v) is a street light erected or 
                        maintained by a Federal, State, local, or 
                        tribal entity;
                            ``(vi) is designed and constructed to 
                        resemble a tree or visible structure other than 
                        a tower;
                            ``(vii) is an advertising billboard;
                            ``(viii) is located within 100 feet from 
                        the centerline of the rail line on the right of 
                        way of a rail carrier over which service has 
                        not been discontinued, or within the boundaries 
                        of a rail yard;
                            ``(ix)(I) is registered with the Federal 
                        Communications Commission under the Antenna 
                        Structure Registration program set forth under 
                        part 17 of title 47, Code of Federal 
                        Regulations; and
                            ``(II) after being registered as described 
                        in subclause (I), is determined by the 
                        Administrator to pose no hazard to air 
                        navigation; or
                            ``(x) has already mitigated any hazard to 
                        aviation safety in accordance with FAA guidance 
                        or as otherwise approved by the Administrator.
            ``(2) Other definitions.--The Administrator shall define 
        such other terms as may be necessary to carry out this section.
    ``(e) Database.--The Administrator shall--
            ``(1) develop a database that contains the location and 
        height of each covered tower that is not marked in accordance 
        with this section, except that--
                    ``(A) meteorological evaluation towers shall be 
                marked and contained in the database; and
                    ``(B) towers excepted under subsection 
                (d)(1)(B)(viii) must be contained in the database;
            ``(2) keep the database current, and that towers to be 
        included in the database are entered before their construction;
            ``(3) ensure that any proprietary information in the 
        database is protected from disclosure in accordance with law;
            ``(4) ensure that, by virtue of accessing the database, 
        users agree and acknowledge that information in the database--
                    ``(A) may only be used for aviation safety 
                purposes; and
                    ``(B) may not be disclosed for purposes other than 
                aviation safety, regardless of whether or not the 
                information is marked or labeled as proprietary or with 
                a similar designation; and
            ``(5) ensure that pilots who intend to conduct low-altitude 
        operations in locations described in sentence (d)(1)(A)(vi) 
        consult the relevant parts of the database before conducting 
        such operations.
    ``(f) Exclusion and Waiver Authorities.--As part of a rulemaking 
conducted pursuant to this section, the Administrator--
            ``(1) may exclude a class, category, or type of tower 
        determined by the Administrator, after public notice and 
        comment, to not pose a hazard to aviation safety;
            ``(2) shall establish a process to waive individual or 
        specific covered towers from the marking requirements under 
        this section as required under the rulemaking if the 
        Administrator later determines such towers does not pose a 
        hazard to aviation safety; and
            ``(3) shall consider, in establishing exclusions and 
        granting waivers under this subsection, factors that may 
        sufficiently mitigate risks to aviation safety, such as the 
        length of time the tower has been in existence or alternative 
        marking methods or new technologies that maintains a tower's 
        level of conspicuousness to a degree which adequately maintains 
        the safety of the airspace.
    ``(g) Periodic Review.--The Administrator shall, in consultation 
with the Federal Communications Commission, periodically conduct a 
safety assessment of any category of tower not more than 200 feet above 
ground level and, as the Administrator decides appropriate, propose 
regulations or guidance on the marking of such towers in the interest 
of safety of low-altitude aircraft operations.
    ``(h) FCC Regulations.--The Federal Communications Commission shall 
promulgate or amend regulations as necessary to implement the 
amendments made by subsection (f)(3), including by amending section 
17.7 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, to require a 
notification to the Federal Aviation Administration for any 
construction or alteration of a tower not less than 50 feet in height 
above ground level at its site.''.

                     Subtitle E--General Provisions

SEC. 2501. 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. 2502. 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.

SEC. 2503. APPROACH CONTROL RADAR.

    The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall--
            (1) identify airports that are currently served by Federal 
        Aviation Administration towers with nonradar approach and 
        departure control (type 4 tower); and
            (2) develop an implementation plan, including budgetary 
        considerations, to provide an airport identified under 
        paragraph (1), if appropriate, with approach control radar.

SEC. 2504. AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall establish an advisory committee to carry out the 
duties described in subsection (b).
    (b) Duties.--The advisory committee shall--
            (1) conduct a review of the practices and procedures of the 
        Federal Aviation Administration for developing proposals with 
        respect to changes in regulations, policies, or guidance of the 
        Federal Aviation Administration relating to airspace that 
        affect airport operations, airport capacity, the environment, 
        or communities in the vicinity of airports, including--
                    (A) an assessment of the extent to which there is 
                consultation, or a lack of consultation, with respect 
                to such proposals--
                            (i) between and among the affected elements 
                        of the Federal Aviation Administration, 
                        including the Air Traffic Organization, the 
                        Office of Airports, the Flight Standards 
                        Service, the Office of NextGen, and the Office 
                        of Energy and Environment; and
                            (ii) between the Federal Aviation 
                        Administration and affected entities, including 
                        airports, aircraft operators, communities, and 
                        State and local governments;
            (2) recommend revisions to such practices and procedures to 
        improve communications and coordination between and among 
        affected elements of the Federal Aviation Administration and 
        with other affected entities with respect to proposals 
        described in paragraph (1) and the potential effects of such 
        proposals;
            (3) conduct a review of the management by the Federal 
        Aviation Administration of systems and information used to 
        evaluate data relating to obstructions to air navigation or 
        navigational facilities under part 77 of title 14, Code of 
        Federal Regulations; and
            (4) make recommendations to ensure that the data described 
        in paragraph (3) is publicly accessible and streamlined to 
        ensure developers, airport operators, and other interested 
        parties may obtain relevant information concerning potential 
        obstructions when working to preserve and create a safe and 
        efficient navigable airspace.
    (c) Membership.--The membership of the advisory committee 
established under subsection (a) shall include representatives of--
            (1) air carriers, including passenger and cargo air 
        carriers;
            (2) general aviation, including business aviation and fixed 
        wing aircraft and rotorcraft;
            (3) airports of various sizes and types;
            (4) air traffic controllers; and
            (5) State aviation officials.
    (d) Report Required.--Not later than 1 year after the date the 
advisory committee is established under subsection (a), the advisory 
committee shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
report on the actions taken by the advisory committee to carry out the 
duties described in subsection (b).

             Subtitle F--General Aviation Pilot Protections

SEC. 2601. SHORT TITLE.

    This subtitle may be cited as the ``Fairness for Pilots Act''.

SEC. 2602. 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); and
            (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 Fairness for 
        Pilots Act.''.
    (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 adding at the end 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. 2603. 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. 2604. EXPEDITING UPDATES TO NOTAM PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--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 committees of Congress that the 
Administrator has complied with the requirements of section 3 of the 
Pilot's Bill of Rights, as amended by this section.
    (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 Fairness for Pilots Act''; 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. 2605. 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 
        section 47124.
            ``(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 Fairness for Pilots Act, the Administrator 
        shall promulgate regulations or guidance to ensure compliance 
        with this section.
            ``(2) Compliance by contractors.--
                    ``(A) In general.--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 Fairness for Pilots Act.
                    ``(B) Nonapplicability.--Subparagraph (A) shall not 
                apply to any contract or agreement in effect on the 
                date of enactment of the Fairness for Pilots Act 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. 2606. 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, including--
                            (i) due to operational issues, air traffic 
                        control issues, or groundstop or delay 
                        management programs;
                            (ii) due to the air carrier's discretion in 
                        determining which flights to delay or cancel 
                        during a weather event, including an attempt to 
                        impact the fewest passengers; or
                            (iii) due to other factors;
                    (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) Consultation.--The Secretary may consult air carriers 
        and 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. In conducting the review, the Secretary shall consider 
        the refund policy and alternative travel options provided or 
        offered by the air carrier in such situations.
            (2) Consultation.--The Secretary may consult with air 
        carriers and 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. 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.
            ``(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. 3104. 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; 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. 3105. 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 ``September 30, 2017'' and inserting ``September 
30, 2021''.
    (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 
2017, 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. 3106. EXTENSION OF COMPETITIVE ACCESS REPORTS.

    Section 47107(r)(3) is amended by striking ``October 1, 2017'' and 
inserting ``October 1, 2021''.

SEC. 3107. REFUNDS FOR OTHER FEES THAT ARE NOT HONORED BY A COVERED AIR 
              CARRIER.

    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 automated refund to a 
passenger of any ancillary fees paid for services related to air travel 
that the passenger does not receive, including on the passenger's 
scheduled flight, on a subsequent replacement itinerary if there has 
been a rescheduling, or for a flight not taken by the passenger.

SEC. 3108. 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. 3109. 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.
    (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;
            (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;
            (3) be made at the time the consumer checks in for the 
        flight; and
            (4) be made at other ancillary seat assignment purchase 
        opportunities prior to departure.

SEC. 3110. ADVANCED BOARDING DURING PREGNANCY.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Transportation shall review air carrier policies 
regarding traveling during pregnancy and, if appropriate, may revise 
regulations, as the Secretary considers necessary, to require an air 
carrier to offer advanced boarding of an aircraft to a pregnant 
passenger who requests such assistance.

SEC. 3111. 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, foreign air carrier, and ticket agent 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, foreign air 
        carrier, or ticket agent, 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. 3112. 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, in a manner 
                that protects the privacy of consumers and employees, 
                to--
                            (i) access information regarding each 
                        complaint filed with the Aviation Consumer 
                        Protection Division of the Department of 
                        Transportation;
                            (ii) search the complaints described in 
                        clause (i) by the name of the air carrier, the 
                        dates of departure and arrival, the airports of 
                        origin and departure, and the type of 
                        complaint; and
                            (iii) determine the date a complaint was 
                        filed and the date a complaint was resolved; 
                        and
            (4) submit the evaluation and plan to 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, cancelled or delayed flights, damaged or 
                lost baggage, 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. 3113. STUDY ON IN CABIN WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINT SYSTEMS.

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

SEC. 3114. 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 section 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 
                calendar year and those that will likely be an issue in 
                the subsequent 5 calendar 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 preceding calendar year;
                    (D) a description of activities that the Advisory 
                Committee has planned for the subsequent calender 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 paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
        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 it is established under subsection (a).

SEC. 3115. 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. 3116. DIMENSIONS FOR PASSENGER SEATS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration 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 Administrator shall consider the safety of 
passengers, including passengers with disabilities.

SEC. 3117. CELL PHONE VOICE COMMUNICATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 417 is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
``Sec. 41725. Cell phone voice communications
    ``(a) Prohibition Authority.--The Secretary of Transportation may 
issue regulations--
            ``(1) to prohibit an individual on an aircraft from 
        engaging in voice communications using a mobile communications 
        device during a flight of that aircraft in scheduled passenger 
        interstate or intrastate air transportation; and
            ``(2) that exempt from the prohibition described in 
        paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) any member of the flight crew on duty on an 
                aircraft;
                    ``(B) any flight attendant on duty on an aircraft; 
                and
                    ``(C) any Federal law enforcement officer acting in 
                an official capacity.
    ``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Flight.--The term `flight' means, with respect to an 
        aircraft, the period beginning when the aircraft takes off and 
        ending when the aircraft lands.
            ``(2) Mobile communications device.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `mobile communications 
                device' means any portable wireless telecommunications 
                equipment utilized for the transmission or reception of 
                voice data.
                    ``(B) Limitation.--The term `mobile communications 
                device' does not include a phone installed on an 
                aircraft.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents at the beginning of 
chapter 417 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
41724 the following:

``41725. Cell phone voice communications.''.

SEC. 3118. TICKETS ACT.

    (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Transparency 
Improvements and Compensation to Keep Every Ticketholder Safe Act of 
2017'' or the ``TICKETS Act''.
    (b) Boarded Passengers.--Beginning on the date of enactment of this 
Act, once a revenue passenger is approved by a gate attendant to clear 
the boarding area and board an aircraft, the applicable air carrier may 
not deny that passenger permission to board the aircraft without the 
consent of the passenger unless--
            (1) the passenger poses a safety, security, or health risk 
        to oneself or to the other passengers; or
            (2) the passenger is engaging in behavior that is obscene, 
        disruptive, or otherwise unlawful .
    (c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed 
to limit or otherwise affect the responsibility or authority of a pilot 
in command of an aircraft under section 121.533 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations, or any penalty under section 46504 of title 49, 
United States Code.
    (d) Elimination of Limitation on Compensation for Being Denied 
Boarding.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall review air carrier 
policies and revise the regulations under part 250 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations, to eliminate the dollar amount limitations under 
paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsections (a) and (b) of section 250.5 of 
that part on the amount of compensation that may be provided to a 
passenger who is denied boarding involuntarily.
    (e) Oversales.--
            (1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United 
        States shall review airline policies and practices related to 
        oversales of flights.
            (2) Considerations.--In conducting the review under 
        paragraph (1), the Comptroller Generals shall examine--
                    (A) impact on passengers, including the prevalence 
                of a negative impact on passengers, as a result of an 
                oversale;
                    (B) economic and operational factors which results 
                in oversales;
                    (C) whether, and if so how, the incidence of 
                oversales varies depending on markets; and
                    (D) potential consequences on the limiting of 
                oversales.
            (3) 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 review 
        under paragraph (2).
    (f) Notice of Policies of Air Carriers.--Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall prescribe regulations requiring an air carrier, or 
other entity selling tickets for flights in passenger air 
transportation, to specify, on a passenger's flight itinerary, receipt, 
or other direct customer communication, the policies of the air carrier 
operating the flight regarding oversold flights.
    (g) Definition of Air Carrier.--In this section, the term ``air 
carrier'' means an air carrier or foreign air carrier, as those terms 
are defined in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code.

SEC. 3119. TRANSPARENCY FOR DISABLED PASSENGERS.

    The compliance date of the final rule, dated November 2, 2016, on 
the reporting of data for mishandled baggage and wheelchairs in 
aircraft cargo compartments (81 Fed. Reg. 76300) shall be effective 
January 1, 2018.

                   Subtitle B--Essential Air Service

SEC. 3201. ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE.

    (a) Authorization Extension.--Section 41742(a) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$150,000,000'' and all 
        that follows though ``2017'' and inserting ``$175,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2018 through 2021''; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (3).
    (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);''.
    (c) Seasonal Service.--The Secretary of Transportation may consider 
the flexibility of current operational dates and airport accessibility 
to meet local community needs when issuing requests for proposal of 
essential air service at seasonal airports.

SEC. 3202. SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) Extension of Authorization.--Section 41743(e)(2) is amended by 
striking ``$6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2017'' and 
inserting ``$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2021''.
    (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.''.

                 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--NextGen Air Transportation System

SEC. 4101. RETURN ON INVESTMENT REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and annually thereafter until the date that each NextGen 
program has a positive return on investment, the Administrator shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the status 
of each NextGen program, including the most recent NextGen priority 
list under subsection (c).
    (b) Contents.--The report under subsection (a) shall include, for 
each NextGen program--
            (1) an estimate of the date the program will have a 
        positive return on investment;
            (2) an explanation for any delay in the delivery of 
        expected benefits from previously published estimates on 
        delivery of such benefits, in implementing or utilizing the 
        program;
            (3) an estimate of the completion date;
            (4) an assessment of the long-term and near-term user 
        benefits of the program for--
                    (A) the Federal Government; and
                    (B) the users of the national airspace system; and
            (5) a description of how the program directly contributes 
        to a safer and more efficient air traffic control system.
    (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 the 
        NextGen programs;
            (2) annually update the priority list under paragraph (1); 
        and
            (3) prepare budget submissions to reflect the current 
        status of NextGen programs and projected returns on investment 
        for each NextGen program.
    (d) Definition of Return on Investment.--In this section, the term 
``return on investment'' means the cost associated with technologies 
that are required by law or policy as compared to the financial 
benefits derived from such technologies by a government or a user of 
airspace.
    (e) Repeal of Nextgen Priorities.--Section 202 of the FAA 
Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-95; 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 are repealed.

SEC. 4102. ENSURING FAA READINESS TO PROVIDE SEAMLESS OCEANIC 
              OPERATIONS.

    Not later than September 30, 2018, the Administrator shall make a 
final investment decision regarding a reduced oceanic separation 
capability that, if a positive business case is provided, would result 
in operational use by the end of 2020.

SEC. 4103. ANNUAL NEXTGEN PERFORMANCE GOALS.

    (a) In General.--This section may be cited as the ``NextGen 
Accountability Act''.
    (b) NextGen Annual Performance Goals.--Section 214 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:
    ``(e) Annual NextGen Performance Goals.--The Administrator shall 
establish annual NextGen performance goals for each of the performance 
metrics set forth in subsection (a) to meet the performance metric 
baselines identified under subsection (b). Such goals shall be 
established in consultation with public and private NextGen 
stakeholders, including the NextGen Advisory Committee.''.
    (c) 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'' at the end;
            (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 in meeting 
                the annual 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).''.
    (d) Chief NextGen Officer.--Section 106(s) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)(B), by adding at the end the 
        following: ``In evaluating the performance of the Chief NextGen 
        Officer for the purpose of awarding a bonus under this 
        subparagraph, the Administrator shall consider the progress 
        toward meeting the NextGen performance goals established 
        pursuant to section 214(e) of the FAA Modernization and Reform 
        Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-95; 49 U.S.C. 40101 note).''; and
            (2) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the following: 
        ``The annual organizational performance goals set forth in the 
        agreement shall include quantifiable NextGen airspace 
        performance objectives regarding efficiency, productivity, 
        capacity, and safety, which shall be established in 
        consultation with public and private NextGen stakeholders, 
        including the NextGen Advisory Committee.''.

SEC. 4104. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL OPERATIONAL 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, although the Administration has 
        taken steps to improve the effectiveness of its operational 
        contingency plans since the incident at the Chicago Center, 
        significant work remains to be done.
    (b) Air Traffic Control Operational Contingency Plans.--Not later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 5 years 
thereafter, the Administrator shall update the Administration's air 
traffic control operational contingency plans (FAA Order JO 1900.47E) 
to address potential air traffic facility outages that could have a 
major impact on the operation of the national airspace system, 
including the most recent findings and recommendations in the report 
under subsection (d).
    (c) Updates.--Not later than 60 days after the date the air traffic 
control operational contingency plans are 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 the 
operation of the national airspace system.
    (d) Resiliency Recommendations.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter as the 
Administrator considers appropriate, the Administrator shall convene 
NextGen program officials to evaluate, expedite, and complete a report 
on how planned NextGen capabilities can enhance the resiliency and 
continuity of national airspace system operations and mitigate the 
impact of future air traffic control disruptions.

SEC. 4105. 2020 ADS-B OUT MANDATE PLAN.

    The Administrator, in collaboration with the NextGen Advisory 
Committee, shall--
            (1) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
        this Act--
                    (A) identify any known and potential barriers to 
                compliance with the 2020 ADS-B Out mandate under 
                section 91.225 of title 14, Code of Federal 
                Regulations;
                    (B) develop a plan to address the known barriers 
                identified in paragraph (1), including a schedule for--
                            (i) periodically reevaluating the potential 
                        barriers identified in paragraph (1); and
                            (ii) developing solutions and implementing 
                        actions to address the known and potential 
                        barriers; and
                    (C) submit the plan to the appropriate committees 
                of Congress;
            (2) periodically update the plan and, not later than 30 
        days after the completion date, submit the update to the 
        appropriate committees of Congress; and
            (3) not later than 30 days after the date the plan is 
        submitted under paragraph (2), and annually thereafter until 
        January 1, 2020, submit to the appropriate committees of 
        Congress a report on the progress made toward meeting the 2020 
        ADS-B Out 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 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 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) collaborate with air carriers 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) identify and consider other key operational 
        improvements, including the identification of--
                    (A) additional metroplexes for PBN projects;
                    (B) non-metroplex PBN procedures; and
                    (C) unused flight routes for decommissioning;
            (3) develop and implement guidelines for the timely 
        inclusion of appropriate stakeholders, including airport 
        representatives, in the planning and implementation of NextGen 
        operational improvement efforts; and
            (4) ensure that NextGen planning documents inform 
        stakeholders of how and when operational improvements are 
        expected to achieve NextGen national goals and strategic 
        objectives.
    (b) Reports.--Each year, as part of the submission of the NextGen 
Integrated Work Plan, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on--
            (1) the progress made toward implementing the requirements 
        under subsection (a); and
            (2) 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 PBN at 
        additional airports.

SEC. 4109. SECURING AIRCRAFT AVIONICS SYSTEMS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall consider, where appropriate, revising Federal 
Aviation Administration regulations regarding airworthiness 
certification--
            (1) to address cybersecurity for avionics systems, 
        including software components; and
            (2) to require that aircraft avionics systems used for 
        flight guidance or aircraft control be secured against 
        unauthorized access via passenger in-flight entertainment 
        systems through such means as the Administrator determines 
        appropriate to protect the avionics systems from unauthorized 
        external and internal access.
    (b) Consideration.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Administrator shall consider the recommendations of the Aircraft 
Systems Information Security Protection Working Group under section 
2111 of the FAA Extension Safety and Security Act of 2016 (Public Law 
114-190; 130 Stat. 615).

SEC. 4110. DEFINING NEXTGEN.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of 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 whether and 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 directly contribute to a measurably safer and more 
        efficient air traffic control system.

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 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 enactment of 
this Act, and biennially thereafter, 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 relevant stakeholders, shall--
            (1) provide a statement of estimated costs and benefits 
        based on mature and stable technical specifications; and
            (2) create a schedule for Administration deliverables and 
        investments by both the 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 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 in those fields; and
            (3) identify existing authorities available to the 
        Administrator, through personnel reform, 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. 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 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. PROGRAM MANAGEMENT.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator, in collaboration with the NextGen Advisory Committee and 
the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, shall--
            (1) identify industry best practices regarding highly 
        integrated program management;
            (2) determine whether, and identify how, the Administration 
        is applying the best practices identified in paragraph (1) in 
        the management of NextGen;
            (3) identify, in detail, the lessons learned regarding the 
        complex integration of NextGen programs into the national 
        airspace system;
            (4) identify and assess the key risks for the full 
        implementation of--
                    (A) multiple runway operations;
                    (B) performance based navigation;
                    (C) surface operations and data sharing; and
                    (D) data communications; and
            (5) develop a detailed plan to mitigate the risks 
        identified under paragraph (4); and
            (6) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
        report on the activities under paragraphs (1) through (5), 
        including the plan.

SEC. 4117. SYSTEM-WIDE IMPROVEMENTS.

    (a) In General.--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 identifying any improvements and 
benefits to the national airspace system, as a whole, as a result of--
            (1) multiple runway operations;
            (2) performance based navigation;
            (3) surface operations and data sharing; and
            (4) data communications.
    (b) Considerations.--In identifying improvements and benefits under 
subsection (a) as a result of the NextGen programs listed under 
subparagraphs (A) through (D) of that subsection, the Administrator 
shall consider, at a minimum--
            (1) reduced overall delays in the national airspace system;
            (2) increased overall throughput in the national airspace 
        system;
            (3) decreased overall emissions and fuel consumption in the 
        national airspace system; and
            (4) improved safety in the national airspace system.

SEC. 4118. NEXTGEN RESEARCH.

    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 specifying the top 5 priority research areas for the 
implementation and advancement of NextGen, including--
            (1) an assessment of why the research areas are a priority 
        for the implementation and advancement of NextGen;
            (2) an identification of the other Federal agencies and 
        private organizations assisting the Administration with the 
        research; and
            (3) an estimate of when the research will be completed.

         Subtitle B--Administration Organization and Employees

SEC. 4201. 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 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. 4202. FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND 
              TARGETS.

    (a) Performance Measures.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
establish performance measures relating to the administration of the 
Administration, which shall, at a minimum, include measures to assess--
            (1) the reduction of delays in the completion of projects; 
        and
            (2) the effectiveness of the Administration in achieving 
        the goals described in section 47171 of title 49, United States 
        Code.
    (b) Performance Targets.--Not later than 180 days after the date on 
which the Secretary establishes performance measures in accordance with 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall establish performance targets 
relating to each of the measures described in that subsection.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
describing the progress of the Secretary in meeting the performance 
targets established under subsection (b).

SEC. 4203. 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. 4204. CONTROLLER CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 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 enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall establish guidelines regarding the 
in-person interview process described in subsection (a).

SEC. 4205. REPORT ON PLANS FOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL FACILITIES IN THE 
              NEW YORK CITY AND NEWARK REGION.

    Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
report on the Administration's staffing and scheduling plans for air 
traffic control facilities in the New York City and Newark region for 
the 1-year period beginning on such date of enactment.

SEC. 4206. WORK PLAN FOR THE NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY/PHILADELPHIA 
              METROPOLITAN AREA AIRSPACE PROJECT.

    Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator shall develop and publish in the Federal Register a work 
plan for the New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia Metropolitan Area 
Airspace Project.

SEC. 4207. AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES AT AVIATION EVENTS.

    (a) Requirement To Provide Services and Related Support.--The 
Administrator shall provide air traffic services and aviation safety 
support for aviation events, including airshows and fly-ins, without 
the imposition or collection of any fee, tax, or other charge for that 
purpose. Amounts for the provision of such services and support shall 
be derived from amounts appropriated or otherwise available for the 
Administration.
    (b) Determination of Services and Support To Be Provided.--In 
determining the services and support to be provided for an aviation 
event for purposes of subsection (a), the Administrator shall take into 
account the following:
            (1) The services and support required to meet levels of 
        activity at prior events, if any, similar to the event.
            (2) The anticipated need for services and support at the 
        event.

SEC. 4208. ANNUAL REPORT ON INCLUSION OF DISABLED VETERAN LEAVE IN 
              PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
not less frequently than annually thereafter until the date that is 5 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
publish on a publicly accessible Internet Web site a report on--
            (1) the effect of section 40122(g)(4) of title 49, United 
        States Code, on the Administration's workforce; and
            (2) the number of disabled veterans benefitting from that 
        section.

                         TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS

SEC. 5001. NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATIVE OFFICERS.

    Section 1113 is amended by striking subsection (h).

SEC. 5002. 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. 5003. AERONAUTICAL STUDIES FOR COMMERCIAL SPACE LAUNCH SITE 
              RUNWAYS.

    (a) In General.--Section 44718(b)(1) is amended-
            (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
        ``air navigation facilities and equipment'' and inserting ``air 
        or space navigation facilities and equipment''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) by redesignating clauses (v) and (vi) as 
                clauses (vi) and (vii), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after clause (iv) the following:
                            ``(v) 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. 5004. 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 to relevant government agencies and 
        stakeholders in writing, and 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. 5005. 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 continue operation of the Advanced Materials 
Center of Excellence (referred to in this section as the `Center') 
under its structure as in effect on March 1, 2016, 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 
2018 and 2021 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. 5006. 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 the appropriate committees of 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. 5007. SECONDARY COCKPIT BARRIERS.

    (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Saracini 
Aviation Safety Act of 2017''.
    (b) Requirement.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall issue an order requiring installation of a 
secondary cockpit barrier on each new aircraft that is manufactured for 
delivery to a passenger air carrier in the United States operating 
under the provisions of part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations.

SEC. 5008. RESEARCH AND DEPLOYMENT OF CERTAIN AIRFIELD PAVEMENT 
              TECHNOLOGIES.

    Using amounts made available under section 48102(a) of title 49, 
United States Code, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall carry out a program for the research and 
development of aircraft pavement technologies under which the 
Administrator makes grants to, and enters into cooperative agreements 
with, institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations 
that--
            (1) research concrete and asphalt airfield pavement 
        technologies that extend the life of airfield pavements;
            (2) develop and conduct training;
            (3) provide for demonstration projects; and
            (4) promote the latest airfield pavement technologies to 
        aid in the development of safer, more cost effective, and more 
        durable airfield pavements.

SEC. 5009. INCREASE IN DURATION OF GENERAL AVIATION AIRCRAFT 
              REGISTRATION.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall initiate 
a rulemaking to increase the duration of aircraft registrations for 
noncommercial general aviation aircraft to 5 years.

SEC. 5010. MODIFICATION OF LIMITATION OF LIABILITY RELATING TO 
              AIRCRAFT.

    Section 44112(b) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``on land or water''; and
            (2) by inserting ``operational'' before ``control''.

SEC. 5011. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE STUDY OF ILLEGAL DRUGS 
              SEIZED AT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS IN THE UNITED STATES.

    (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study of illegal drugs, including heroin, fentanyl, and 
cocaine, seized by Federal authorities at international airports in the 
United States.
    (b) Elements.--In conducting the study required by subsection (a), 
the Comptroller General shall address, at a minimum--
            (1) the types and quantities of drugs seized;
            (2) the origin of the drugs seized;
            (3) the airport at which the drugs were seized;
            (4) the manner in which the drugs were seized; and
            (5) the manner in which the drugs were transported.
    (c) Use of Data; Recommendations for Additional Data Collection.--
In conducting the study required by subsection (a), the Comptroller 
General shall use all available data. If the Comptroller General 
determines that additional data is needed to fully understand the 
extent to which illegal drugs enter the United States through 
international airports in the United States, the Comptroller General 
shall develop recommendations for the collection of that data.
    (d) Submission to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a report on the study conducted 
under subsection (a) that includes any recommendations developed under 
subsection (c).

SEC. 5012. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REVIEW OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT 
              SYSTEMS.

    (a) In General.--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 examining law 
enforcement challenges posed by the use of unmanned aircraft systems 
for illegal drug trafficking.
    (b) Contents.--The report submitted under subsection (a) shall 
examine how unmanned aircraft systems are being used to transport 
illegal drugs across the international borders of the United States, 
including--
            (1) how international drug traffickers have used unmanned 
        aircraft systems to fly packages of illegal drugs into the 
        United States;
            (2) how international drug traffickers have used unmanned 
        aircraft systems to survey international borders, providing 
        intelligence to smugglers on vulnerabilities in the border 
        security efforts of the United States; and
            (3) other ways in which international drug traffickers have 
        used unmanned aircraft systems to assist their efforts to 
        smuggle illegal drugs into the United States.

SEC. 5013. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON PREVENTING THE TRANSPORTATION OF 
              DISEASE-CARRYING MOSQUITOES AND OTHER INSECTS ON 
              COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT.

    It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Transportation 
and the Secretary of Agriculture should, in coordination and 
consultation with the World Health Organization, develop a framework 
and guidance for the use of safe, effective, and nontoxic means of 
preventing the transportation of disease-carrying mosquitoes and other 
insects on commercial aircraft.

SEC. 5014. TREATMENT OF MULTI-YEAR LESSEES OF LARGE AND TURBINE-POWERED 
              MULTIENGINE AIRCRAFT.

    The Secretary of Transportation shall revise such regulations as 
may be necessary to ensure that multi-year lessees and owners of large 
and turbine-powered multiengine aircraft are treated equally for 
purposes of joint ownership policies of the Federal Aviation 
Administration.

SEC. 5015. STUDENT OUTREACH 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 that describes the 
Administration's existing outreach efforts, such as the STEM Aviation 
and Space Education Outreach Program, to elementary and secondary 
students who are interested in careers in science, technology, 
engineering, art, and mathematics--
            (1) to prepare and inspire such students for aeronautical 
        careers; and
            (2) to mitigate an anticipated shortage of pilots and other 
        aviation professionals.

SEC. 5016. AUTHORIZATION OF CERTAIN FLIGHTS BY STAGE 2 AIRCRAFT.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding chapter 475 of title 49, United 
States Code, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall initiate a pilot program to permit 1 or more operators of a stage 
2 aircraft to operate that aircraft in nonrevenue service into not more 
than 4 medium hub airports or nonhub airports if--
            (1) the airport--
                    (A) is certified under part 139 of title 14, Code 
                of Federal Regulations;
                    (B) has a runway that--
                            (i) is longer than 8,000 feet and not less 
                        than 200 feet wide; and
                            (ii) is load bearing with a pavement 
                        classification number of not less than 38; and
                    (C) has a maintenance facility with a maintenance 
                certificate issued under part 145 of such title; and
            (2) the operator of the stage 2 aircraft operates not more 
        than 10 flights per month using that aircraft.
    (b) Termination.--The pilot program shall terminate on the earlier 
of--
            (1) the date that is 10 years after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act; or
            (2) the date on which the Administrator determines that no 
        stage 2 aircraft remain in service.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Medium hub airport; nonhub airport.--The terms ``medium 
        hub airport'' and ``nonhub airport'' have the meanings given 
        those terms in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code.
            (2) Stage 2 aircraft.--The term ``stage 2 aircraft'' has 
        the meaning given the term ``stage 2 airplane'' in section 
        91.851 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect 
        on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act).

SEC. 5017. SUPERSONIC AIRCRAFT.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall--
            (1) review Federal law, including regulations and policies, 
        regarding the operation of supersonic aircraft over land in the 
        United States; and
            (2) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
        report on the findings under paragraph (1), that includes--
                    (A) the identification and evaluation of any 
                advancements in supersonic aircraft design, including 
                airframe and engine design, that would mitigate the 
                concerns that led to restrictions on the operation of 
                supersonic aircraft, such as noise, and support 
                amending the laws under paragraph (1); and
                    (B) recommendations regarding the laws under 
                paragraph (1) that would need to be amended to allow 
                the operation of supersonic aircraft over land in the 
                United States.

SEC. 5018. TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST.

    (a) Terminal Aerodrome Forecast.--The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall permit a covered air carrier operation to 
operate to a destination in a noncontiguous State determined to be 
under visual flight rules without a Terminal Aerodrome Forecast 
(referred to in this section as ``TAF'') or Meteorological Aerodrome 
Report (METAR) if a current Area Forecast, supplemented by other local 
weather observations or reports, is available, and an alternate airport 
that has an available TAF and weather report is specified. The air 
carrier shall have approved procedures for dispatch and enroute weather 
evaluation and shall operate under instrument flight rules enroute to 
the destination.
    (b) Limitation.--Without a written finding of necessity, based on 
objective evidence of imminent threat to safety, the Administrator 
shall not promulgate any operation specification, policy, or guidance 
document that is more restrictive than, or requires procedures that are 
not expressly stated in, the regulations.
    (c) Covered Air Carrier Operation.--In this section, the term 
``covered air carrier operation'' means a Part 121 air carrier 
operating in a noncontiguous State.

SEC. 5019. 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), as amended by section 3103 of this Act, is further 
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, as amended by section 1006 
of this Act, is further 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>