Sec. 6. Safety reviews of airspace
851 words·~4 min read·
/bill/119/s/1985/is/section-6A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall establish or designate an office within the FAA as the Office of FAA–DOD Coordination (in this section referred to as the Office ), which shall— coordinate airspace usage of military aircraft and rotorcraft with relevant FAA lines of business including the Air Traffic Organization; and carry out the safety review required by subsection (b). Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Office is established or designated, the Administrator, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the heads of any other Federal agencies determined appropriate by the Administrator, shall initiate a safety review (in this subsection referred to as the review ) of all military, law enforcement, and civilian rotary wing, powered lift, and unmanned aircraft system flight operations and flight routes in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area Special Flight Rules Area, including but not limited to flight operations conducted by the Department of Defense and emergency response providers, to evaluate any associated safety risk on commercial transport airplane operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The Administrator, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the heads of any Federal agencies determined appropriate by the Administrator, shall conduct safety reviews of all military, law enforcement and civilian rotary wing, powered lift, and unmanned aircraft system flight operations and flight routes at other Class B airports (as listed in section 1 of Appendix D to part 91 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation)) in Class B airspace in the national airspace system, including flight operations conducted by the Department of Defense and emergency response providers, to evaluate any associated safety risk on commercial transport airplane operations.
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this section, for the sole purpose of carrying out the safety reviews required by subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall classify Class B airports into the following categories based on the volume of mixed air traffic at each airport, as determined by the Administrator: Class B airports with higher volumes of mixed air traffic. Class B airports with lower volumes of mixed air traffic. In conducting the safety reviews required by subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall prioritize the evaluation of Class B airports in the category under clause (i)(I).
The Administrator shall initiate the review under subparagraph
(A)of Class B airports in the category under subparagraph (B)(i)(I) no later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this section. The Administrator shall initiate the review under subparagraph
(A)of Class B airports in the category under subparagraph (B)(i)(II) no later than 90 days after the deadline for completion of the reviews under paragraph (4)(B)(i). In conducting the safety reviews required by paragraphs
(1)and (2), the Office shall do the following: Analyze air traffic and airspace management. Evaluate the level of coordination the Administrator exercises with the Secretary of Defense and the heads of any other Federal agencies, and emergency response providers as appropriate, to inform the designation and approval of airspace use and flight routes for non-transport airplane operations. Assess any risks posed to transport airplanes from military aircraft, civil rotorcraft, powered lift aircraft, and unmanned aircraft systems operating in Class B airspace in proximity to Class B airports. Review relevant incidents submitted to the Administrator through Air Traffic Mandatory Occurrence reports (as documented via FAA Form 7210–13), Aviation Safety Reporting System reports, and Aviation Safety Action Program reports, and relevant reports submitted to the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration through the Aviation Safety Reporting System, to identify any safety trends regarding the operation of military aircraft, civil rotorcraft, powered lift aircraft, and unmanned aircraft systems in Class B airspace near Class B airports. Select appropriately qualified representatives of aviation labor organizations (designated by the applicable represented organization) as participants in the reviews, including, at a minimum— the principal organization representing the largest certified collective bargaining representative of airline pilots; and the exclusive bargaining representative of air traffic controllers of the FAA certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code. The Administrator shall complete the safety review required by paragraphs
(1)not later than 120 days after the date on which such review is initiated. The Administrator shall complete the safety reviews required by paragraphs
(2)of Class B airports in the category under subparagraph (B)(i)(I) of such paragraph no later than 2 years after the date on which the first of such reviews is initiated. The Administrator shall complete the safety review required by paragraphs
(2)of Class B airports in the category under subparagraph (B)(i)(II) of such paragraph no later than 2 years after the deadline for completion of the reviews under clause (i). Not later than 60 days after the safety reviews required by paragraphs
(1)and
(2)are completed, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report detailing the analysis and results of the review, together with relevant findings and recommendations, including any recommendations for legislative or administrative action determined appropriate by the Administrator.