Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016

1/11/2023, 1:31 PM

Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016

This bill reauthorizes through FY2017 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations and specified FAA programs.

The bill revises requirements for the airport improvement program and pilot program for passenger facility charges at nonhub airports.

The Government Accountability Office shall review privacy issues and concerns associated with the operation of unmanned aircraft (drones) in the national airspace system.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology and the FAA shall initiate a process to develop risk-based, consensus industry airworthiness standards for the safe integration of drones into the system.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) shall issue guidance for the operation of public drones.

The FAA shall carry out a pilot program for airspace hazard mitigation at airports and other critical infrastructure.

DOT shall issue a final rule authorizing the carriage of property by small drones for compensation or hire.

The FAA shall establish a Collegiate Training Initiative program for drones.

The bill requires the FAA to have a Senior Advisor for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration.

DOT shall establish a Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory Committee.

The FAA shall issue a final rule reorganizing the certification, and streamlining the approval of safety advancements, of small airplanes.

The FAA shall establish:

  • the FAA Task Force on Flight Standards Reform, and
  • a Regulatory Consistency Communications Board.

The FAA shall review and revise its safety workforce training strategy.

DOT shall take appropriate actions to promote U.S. aerospace standards, products, and services abroad.

The FAA shall:

  • take specified actions to improve airline passenger safety,
  • update automated weather observing systems, and
  • appoint a Designated Agency Safety and Health Officer.

Pilot's Bill of Rights 2

The bill directs the FAA to issue or revise medical certification regulations to ensure that an individual may operate as a pilot of certain small aircraft if the flight and the individual meet certain criteria.

The FAA may not take enforcement action against a pilot for not holding a valid third-class medical certificate unless the FAA has published final medical certification regulations in the Federal Register.

The bill amends the Pilot's Bill of Rights to authorize an individual adversely affected by an FAA decision to deny, suspend or revoke an airman certificate to file an appeal in the U.S. district court for a de novo hearing.

The bill establishes passenger air service improvements and consumer protections.

The bill amends the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 to extend through FY2017 DOT's Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection.

DOT may issue regulations to prohibit certain cell phone voice communications during the flight of an aircraft.

The bill reauthorizes through FY2017 the essential air service program and the small community air service development program.

The FAA shall conduct a return on investment assessment on each Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) program.

The bill prescribes requirements regarding:

  • treatment of essential FAA employees during a furlough, and
  • maximum age limits for hiring of air traffic controllers.

The bill applies federal civil service requirements to leave used by disabled armed forces veterans in the FAA personnel management system.

The bill revises requirements for overflights of National Parks.

The FAA shall continue operation of the Advanced Materials Center of Excellence.

Congress
114

Number
S - 2658

Introduced on
2016-03-09

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

12/7/2016

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016

This bill reauthorizes through FY2017 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations and specified FAA programs.

The bill revises requirements for the airport improvement program and pilot program for passenger facility charges at nonhub airports.

The Government Accountability Office shall review privacy issues and concerns associated with the operation of unmanned aircraft (drones) in the national airspace system.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology and the FAA shall initiate a process to develop risk-based, consensus industry airworthiness standards for the safe integration of drones into the system.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) shall issue guidance for the operation of public drones.

The FAA shall carry out a pilot program for airspace hazard mitigation at airports and other critical infrastructure.

DOT shall issue a final rule authorizing the carriage of property by small drones for compensation or hire.

The FAA shall establish a Collegiate Training Initiative program for drones.

The bill requires the FAA to have a Senior Advisor for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration.

DOT shall establish a Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory Committee.

The FAA shall issue a final rule reorganizing the certification, and streamlining the approval of safety advancements, of small airplanes.

The FAA shall establish:

  • the FAA Task Force on Flight Standards Reform, and
  • a Regulatory Consistency Communications Board.

The FAA shall review and revise its safety workforce training strategy.

DOT shall take appropriate actions to promote U.S. aerospace standards, products, and services abroad.

The FAA shall:

  • take specified actions to improve airline passenger safety,
  • update automated weather observing systems, and
  • appoint a Designated Agency Safety and Health Officer.

Pilot's Bill of Rights 2

The bill directs the FAA to issue or revise medical certification regulations to ensure that an individual may operate as a pilot of certain small aircraft if the flight and the individual meet certain criteria.

The FAA may not take enforcement action against a pilot for not holding a valid third-class medical certificate unless the FAA has published final medical certification regulations in the Federal Register.

The bill amends the Pilot's Bill of Rights to authorize an individual adversely affected by an FAA decision to deny, suspend or revoke an airman certificate to file an appeal in the U.S. district court for a de novo hearing.

The bill establishes passenger air service improvements and consumer protections.

The bill amends the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 to extend through FY2017 DOT's Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection.

DOT may issue regulations to prohibit certain cell phone voice communications during the flight of an aircraft.

The bill reauthorizes through FY2017 the essential air service program and the small community air service development program.

The FAA shall conduct a return on investment assessment on each Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) program.

The bill prescribes requirements regarding:

  • treatment of essential FAA employees during a furlough, and
  • maximum age limits for hiring of air traffic controllers.

The bill applies federal civil service requirements to leave used by disabled armed forces veterans in the FAA personnel management system.

The bill revises requirements for overflights of National Parks.

The FAA shall continue operation of the Advanced Materials Center of Excellence.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedA bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration for fiscal years 2016 through 2017, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
Transportation and Public Works

Potential Impact
Accidents•
Accounting and auditing•
Administrative law and regulatory procedures•
Administrative remedies•
Advisory bodies•
Air quality•
Alternative and renewable resources•
Arizona•
Atmospheric science and weather•
Aviation and airports•
Child health•
Child safety and welfare•
Civil actions and liability•
Competition and antitrust•
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits•
Computer security and identity theft•
Computers and information technology•
Congressional oversight•
Consumer affairs•
Crime victims•
Department of Transportation•
Disability and paralysis•
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use•
Emergency medical services and trauma care•
Emergency planning and evacuation•
Employee hiring•
Employee performance•
Employment and training programs•
Employment discrimination and employee rights•
Energy efficiency and conservation•
Energy storage, supplies, demand•
Executive agency funding and structure•
Federal officials•
Fires•
First responders and emergency personnel•
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management•
Government information and archives•
Government liability•
Government studies and investigations•
Government trust funds•
Health promotion and preventive care•
Health technology, devices, supplies•
Human trafficking•
Infectious and parasitic diseases•
Infrastructure development•
Intellectual property•
International law and treaties•
International organizations and cooperation•
Internet and video services•
Internet, web applications, social media•
Judicial review and appeals•
Land use and conservation•
Law enforcement administration and funding•
Licensing and registrations•
Marketing and advertising•
Marshall Islands•
Materials•
Medical education•
Medical tests and diagnostic methods•
Mental health•
Micronesia•
Mining•
Motor fuels•
Motor vehicles•
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)•
Neurological disorders•
Nevada•
Noise pollution•
Palau•
Parks, recreation areas, trails•
Performance measurement•
Personnel records•
Prescription drugs•
Public transit•
Research administration and funding•
Research and development•
Right of privacy•
Roads and highways•
Rural conditions and development•
Small towns•
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations•
Solid waste and recycling•
Spacecraft and satellites•
Trade restrictions•
Transportation costs•
Transportation employees•
Transportation programs funding•
Transportation safety and security•
User charges and fees•
Violent crime•
Worker safety and health

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary3/9/2017

Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016

This bill reauthorizes through FY2017 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations and specified FAA programs.

The bill revises requirements for the airport impr...


Latest Action12/20/2016
By Senator Thune from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report under authority of the order of the Senate of 12/10/2016. Report No. 114-428. Additional views filed.