[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5224 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5224
To improve training for airport drivers in the movement area at
commercial service airports through the establishment of a task force
and the use of technology, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
August 4, 2026
Mr. Moran (for himself, Mr. Hickenlooper, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Wicker,
Ms. Blunt Rochester, Mrs. Fischer, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Sheehy, and
Mr. Kennedy) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve training for airport drivers in the movement area at
commercial service airports through the establishment of a task force
and the use of technology, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Runway Surface Awareness and
Focused, Effective Training and Technology Act'' or the ``Runway SAFE-T
Act''.
SEC. 2. TASK FORCE ON AIRPORT DRIVER TRAINING.
(a) In General.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of this section, the Administrator shall convene a task force
on airport driver training programs (in this section referred to as the
``Task Force'').
(b) Composition.--The Task Force shall be composed of members
appointed by the Administrator, which shall include--
(1) representatives of national organizations representing
airport sponsors and airport executives;
(2) representatives of commercial service airports,
including at least 1 representative of--
(A) large-hub airports;
(B) medium-hub airports;
(C) small-hub airports; and
(D) nonhub primary airports;
(3) three representatives of air carriers and airline and
cargo ground handling companies (including fixed- based
operators) who service air carriers;
(4) individuals with demonstrated experience in aviation
training, including classroom instructor led training, and
training technologies and systems;
(5) designees from the Office of Airports and Air Traffic
Organization of the FAA;
(6) representatives from an organization that represents
aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) personnel;
(7) a career representative from the National
Transportation Safety Board with subject matter expertise as an
observer;
(8) at least 3 representatives from labor that operate
vehicles in the airport movement area or work the air traffic
in the airport movement area;
(9) representatives of air medical operators;
(10) representatives of air traffic control companies with
expertise in technologies that provide airport surface
detection or surveillance or otherwise provide greater
situational awareness for drivers of airport ground vehicles
and air traffic controllers;
(11) a representative designated by the Secretary of War
with expertise in military aviation operations conducted at
joint-use or commercial service airports; and
(12) other individuals the Administrator deems appropriate.
(c) Development of Recommendations.--The Task Force shall develop
recommendations for the Administrator to consider for implementation to
enhance and modernize training programs for personnel authorized to
operate vehicles in the movement area at part 139 airports. In
developing such recommendations for the Administrator, the Task Force
shall consider the following:
(1) Improving the consistency of movement area driver
safety training across part 139 airports nationwide.
(2) Enhancing recurrent training requirements for personnel
authorized to operate vehicles in the movement area.
(3) The feasibility and value of a part 139 airport, or its
contractors, attesting that personnel are authorized to operate
vehicles in the movement area in accordance with FAA-approved
certification standards.
(4) Existing training technologies including classroom
instructor led training and systems that may be utilized to
improve movement area driver training programs.
(5) Other technology, measures, and training enhancements
that could reduce the frequency and severity of vehicle-
involved surface events, vehicle and pedestrian deviations, and
other surface safety incidents.
(6) Barriers, including cost, accessibility, and workforce
availability, that may limit part 139 airports from adopting
emerging training technologies.
(7) The feasibility and value of enhancing training for
personnel authorized to operate vehicles on paved surfaces
immediately adjacent to or intersecting movement areas.
(8) Other items determined appropriate by the
Administrator.
(d) Final Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which
the Task Force is established under subsection (a), the Task Force
shall submit to the Administrator, the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the
recommendations developed under subsection (c).
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the FAA.
(2) FAA.--The term ``FAA'' means the Federal Aviation
Administration.
(3) Movement area.--The term ``movement area'' means the
runways, taxiways, and other areas of an airport that are used
for taxiing, takeoff, and landing of aircraft, exclusive of
loading ramps and aircraft parking areas.
(4) Part 139 airport.--The term ``part 139 airport'' means
an airport certified under part 139 of title 14, Code of
Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).
(5) Surface event and vehicle.--The terms ``surface event''
and ``vehicle'' have the respective meanings specified for such
terms in Federal Aviation Administration order 7050.1B (or any
successor document).
(6) Vehicle-involved surface event.--The term ``vehicle-
involved surface event'' means a surface event that involves--
(A) operation of any vehicle (including an aircraft
tow vehicle or towing tractor); or
(B) operation of an aircraft under its own power by
an individual other than a flightcrew member (as
defined in section 1.1 of title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations, or any successor provision) for such
aircraft.
SEC. 3. FUNDING FOR VEHICLE MOVEMENT AREA TRAINING AND TECHNOLOGY.
Section 47115(j) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the following
new subparagraph:
``(E) Application.--Subparagraphs (A) through (D)
shall not apply to grants under paragraph (5).''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(5) Vehicle movement area training and technology.--
``(A) Available funding.--Of the amounts available
under this subsection for each of fiscal years 2027
through 2031, the Secretary may provide grants to
airport sponsors for projects described in subparagraph
(B).
``(B) Eligible projects.--The projects described in
this subparagraph are the following:
``(i) Projects for the purchase of vehicle
movement area technology, including hardware,
software, sensors, onboard vehicle equipment,
displays, communications equipment, positioning
or geolocation equipment, mapping systems,
situational awareness systems, simulation
systems, or other related technology, that is
designed to improve the safe operation of
vehicles in the movement area of an airport.
``(ii) Projects for the acquisition,
licensing, subscription, deployment,
integration, operation, maintenance, and
recurring use of technology-enabled training
systems, software, and services for vehicle
operators in the movement area.
``(C) Priority.--In making grants under this
paragraph, the Secretary shall give priority to
projects that--
``(i) are designed to reduce vehicle-
involved surface event or other vehicle related
surface safety incidents;
``(ii) improve situational awareness for
vehicle operators and radio communications in
the movement area;
``(iii) can be tailored to the specific
airfield geometry, signage, markings, lighting,
communications, and operating procedures of the
airport at which the technology will be used;
or
``(iv) are proposed by airport sponsors and
demonstrate cost, accessibility, workforce
availability, or other barriers to purchasing
or deploying vehicle movement area technology.
``(D) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
``(i) Movement area.--The term `movement
area' means the runways, taxiways, and other
areas of an airport that are used for taxiing,
takeoff, and landing of aircraft, exclusive of
loading ramps and aircraft parking areas.
``(ii) Surface event and vehicle.--The
terms `surface event' and `vehicle' have the
respective meanings specified for such terms in
Federal Aviation Administration order 7050.1B
(or any successor document).
``(iii) Vehicle-involved surface event.--
The term `vehicle-involved surface event' means
a surface event that involves--
``(I) operation of any vehicle
(including an aircraft tow vehicle or
towing tractor); or
``(II) operation of an aircraft
under its own power by an individual
other than a flightcrew member (as
defined in section 1.1 of title 14,
Code of Federal Regulations, or any
successor provision) for such aircraft.
``(E) Savings provision.--Nothing in this paragraph
shall be construed to limit the eligibility of a
project described in subparagraph (B) for funding under
any other provision of this chapter.''.
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