Sec. 621. Remote towers
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Section 47124 of title 49, United States Code, is further amended— by adding at the end the following: Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall create a program and publish milestones to achieve system design and operational approval for a remote tower system. In carrying out paragraph (1), the Administrator shall— rely on support from the Office of Airports of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Air Traffic Organization of the Federal Aviation Administration, including the Air Traffic Services Service Unit and the Technical Operations Service Unit; consult with relevant stakeholders, as the Administrator determines appropriate; establish requirements for the system design and operational approval of remote towers, including— visual siting processes and requirements for electro-optical sensors; datalink latency requirements; visual presentation design requirements for monitors used to display sensor and camera feeds; and any other wireless telecommunications infrastructure requirements to enable the operation of such towers; use a safety risk management panel process to address any safety issues with respect to a remote tower; if a remote tower is intended to be installed at a non-towered airport, assess the safety benefits of the remote tower against the lack of an existing tower; allow the use of surface surveillance technology, either standalone or integrated into the visual automation platform, as a situational awareness tool; establish protocols for contingency operations and procedures in the event of remote tower technology failures and malfunctions; and support active testing of a remote tower system that has achieved system design approval by the William J.
Hughes Technical Center at an airport that has installed remote tower infrastructure to support such system. Not later than December 31, 2024, the Administrator shall expand the system design approval and evaluation process for a digital or remote tower system to not less than 3 airports at which a digital or remote tower will be installed or operated at airports not located at the William J. Hughes Technical Center and using the criteria under section 161 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 ( 49 U.S.C. 47104 note), to the extent the Administrator has willing technology providers and airports interested in the installation and operation of such towers.
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to invalidate any system design approval activity carried out by the William J. Hughes Technical Center prior to the date of enactment of this subsection. In carrying out the program established under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall prioritize system design and operational approval for a remote tower system at— airports that do not have a permanent air traffic control tower at the time of application; airports that would provide small and rural community air service; or airports that have been newly accepted as of the date of enactment of this subsection into the Contract Tower Program. .
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 6 months thereafter through October 1, 2028, the Administrator shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on— the status of remote and digital tower projects in the system design approval and commissioning process; the effectiveness and adequacy of the pilot program established under section 161 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 ( 49 U.S.C. 47104 note); and any other issues related to the demand for and potential use of remote tower technology that the Administrator determines are appropriate.
Section 47124(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— in paragraph (3)(B)(ii) by inserting or a remote air traffic control tower equipment that has received System Design Approval from the Federal Aviation Administration after an operating air traffic control tower ; and in paragraph (4)(A)— in clause (i)(III) by inserting or remote air traffic control tower equipment that has received System Design Approval from the Federal Aviation Administration after certified by the Federal Aviation Administration ; and in clause (ii)(III) by inserting or remote air traffic control tower equipment that has received System Design Approval from the Federal Aviation Administration after certified by the Federal Aviation Administration .
Section 161(a)(10) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 ( 49 U.S.C. 47104 note) is amended by striking May 10, 2024 and inserting September 30, 2028 .
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U.S. Code