Sec. 683. Airspace access for high-speed aircraft
537 words·~2 min read·
/bill/118/hr/3935/rh/section-683A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, in coordination with any other Federal agency the Administrator determines appropriate, shall ensure that there is a process in which manufacturers and operators of high-speed aircraft can engage in flight testing of such high-speed aircraft, which may include the establishment of high speed testing corridors in the national airspace system. The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall, after consultation with aircraft manufacturers, institutions of higher learning, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Secretary of Defense, and any other agencies the Administrator determines appropriate, conduct a study to assess actions necessary to facilitate the safe operation and integration of high-speed aircraft into the national airspace system.
In carrying out the study under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall— assess various altitudes and operating conditions of high-speed aircraft in Class E airspace above the upper boundary of Class A airspace and the resulting aircraft noise levels at the surface; include the development of a framework and timeline to establish the appropriate regulatory requirements to conducting high-speed aircraft flights; identify the data required to develop certification, flight standards, and air traffic requirements for the deployment and integration of high-speed aircraft; assess cross-agency equities related to high-speed aircraft technologies and flight; and survey global high-speed aircraft-related regulatory and testing developments or activities.
As part of the study under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall issue recommendations to update, if feasible, regulations for certification, flight standards and air traffic management. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a), including the recommendations under subsection (b)(3), to facilitate the safe operation and integration of high-speed aircraft in the national airspace system.
Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and relevant stakeholders, including industry and academia, shall identify the minimum altitude above the upper boundary of Class A airspace at or above which flights operating with speeds above Mach 1 generate sonic booms that are inaudible at the surface under prevailing atmospheric conditions. Not later than 2 years after the date on which the Administrator identifies the minimum altitude described in paragraph (1), the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend sections 91.817 and 91.818 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, and such other regulations as appropriate, to permit flight operations with speeds above Mach 1 at or above the minimum altitude identified under paragraph
(1)without specific authorizations, provided that such flight operations— show compliance with airworthiness requirements; do not cause a measurable sonic boom over pressure to reach the surface; and have ordinary instrument flight rules clearances necessary to operate in controlled airspace. In this section, the term high-speed aircraft means an aircraft operating at speeds in excess of Mach 1, which shall include supersonic and hypersonic aircraft.