Sec. 347. ZERO TOLERANCE FOR NEAR MISSES, RUNWAY INCURSIONS, AND SURFACE SAFETY RISKS
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## SEC. 347 ZERO TOLERANCE FOR NEAR MISSES, RUNWAY INCURSIONS, AND SURFACE SAFETY RISKS ###
(a)Policy ####
(1)In general Section 47101(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— #####
(A)by redesignating paragraphs
(2)through
(13)as paragraphs
(3)through (14), respectively; and #####
(B)by inserting after paragraph
(1)the following: > > #### “(2) > > that projects, activities, and actions that prevent runway incursions serve to— > > > ##### “(A) > > improve airport surface surveillance; and > > > ##### “(B) > > mitigate surface safety risks that are essential to ensuring the safe operation of the airport and airway system;” > . ####
(2)Conforming amendments Section 47101 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— #####
(A)in subsection
(g)by striking “subsection (a)(5)” and inserting “subsection (a)(6)”; and #####
(B)in subsection
(h)by striking “subsection (a)(6)” and inserting “subsection (a)(7)”. ####
(3)Continuous evaluation **[**[49 U.S.C. 47101 note](/us/usc/t49/s47101)**]** In carrying out section 47101(a) of title 49, United States Code, as amended by this subsection, the Administrator shall establish a process to continuously track and evaluate ground traffic and air traffic activity and related incidents at airports. ###
(b)Runway Safety Council **[**[49 U.S.C. 47101 note](/us/usc/t49/s47101)**]** ####
(1)In general Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a council, to be known as the “Runway Safety Council” (in this section referred to as the “Council”), to develop a systematic management strategy to address airport surface safety risks. ####
(2)Duties The duties of the Council shall include, at a minimum, advancing the development of risk-based, data driven, integrated systems solutions and strategies to enhance airport surface safety risk mitigation. ####
(3)Membership #####
(A)In general In establishing the Council, the Administrator shall appoint at least 1 member from each of the following: ######
(i)Airport operators. ######
(ii)Air carriers. ######
(iii)Aircraft operators. ######
(iv)Avionics manufacturers. ######
(v)Flight schools. ######
(vi)The exclusive collective bargaining representative of aviation safety professionals for the FAA certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code. ######
(vii)The exclusive bargaining representative of the air traffic controllers certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code. ######
(viii)Other safety experts the Administrator determines appropriate. #####
(B)Additional members The Administrator may appoint members representing any other stakeholder organization that the Administrator determines appropriate to the Runway Safety Council. ###
(c)Airport Surface Safety Technologies **[**[49 U.S.C. 47101 note](/us/usc/t49/s47101)**]** ####
(1)Identification Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall, in coordination with the Council, consult with relevant stakeholders to identify technologies, equipment, systems, and process changes, that— #####
(A)may provide airport surface surveillance capabilities at airports lacking such capabilities; #####
(B)may augment existing airport surface detection and surveillance system; or #####
(C)may improve onboard situational awareness for flight crewmembers, including technologies for use in an aircraft that— ######
(i)reduce the risk of collision on the runway with other aircraft or vehicles; ######
(ii)calculate safe landing distances; and ######
(iii)prompt actions to bring the aircraft to a safe stop. ####
(2)Criteria Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall— #####
(A)based on the information obtained pursuant to paragraph (1)(A) and (1)(B), identify airport surface detection and surveillance systems that meet the standards of the FAA and may be able to— ######
(i)provide airport surface surveillance capabilities at airports lacking such capabilities; or ######
(ii)augment existing airport surface detection and surveillance systems, such as Airport Surface Detection System—Model X or the Airport Surface Surveillance Capability; #####
(B)establish a timeline and action plan for replacing, maintaining, or enhancing the operational capability provided by existing airport surface detection and surveillance systems, and implementing runway safety technologies at airports without airport surface detection and surveillance systems, as needed, to improve runway safety; #####
(C)based on the information obtained pursuant to paragraph (1)(C), identify safety technologies and systems in transport airplanes that meet the standards of the FAA that will— ######
(i)enhance runway safety for transport airplanes that lack the capabilities of such technologies and systems, as appropriate; or ######
(ii)augment existing onboard situational awareness runway traffic alerting and runway landing safety technologies installed on transport airplanes; and #####
(D)establish clear and quantifiable criteria relating to operational factors, including ground traffic and air traffic activity and the rate of runway and terminal airspace safety events (including runway incursions), that determine when the installation and deployment of an airport surface detection or surveillance system, or other runway safety system (including runway status lights), at an airport is required. ####
(3)Deployment Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall ensure that airport surface detection and surveillance systems are deployed and operational at— #####
(A)all airports described in paragraph (2)(A); and #####
(B)all medium and large hub airports. ####
(4)Briefing Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on the progress of the deployment described in paragraph (3). ###
(d)Foreign Object Debris Detection **[**[49 U.S.C. 47101 note](/us/usc/t49/s47101)**]** ####
(1)In general Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall assess, in coordination with the Council, automated foreign object debris monitoring and detection systems at not less than 3 airports that are using such systems. ####
(2)Considerations In conducting the assessment under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall consider the following: #####
(A)The categorization of an airport. #####
(B)The potential frequency of foreign object debris incidents on airport runways or adjacent ramp areas. #####
(C)The availability of funding for the installation and maintenance of foreign object debris monitoring and detection systems. #####
(D)The impact of such systems on the airfield operations of an airport. #####
(E)The effectiveness of available foreign object debris monitoring and detection systems. #####
(F)Any other factors relevant to assessing the return on investment of foreign object debris monitoring and detection systems. ####
(3)Consultation In carrying out this subsection, the Administrator and the Council shall consult with manufacturers and suppliers of foreign object debris detection technology and any other relevant stakeholders. ###
(e)Runway Safety Study **[**[49 U.S.C. 47101 note](/us/usc/t49/s47101)**]** ####
(1)In general Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall seek to enter into appropriate arrangements with a federally funded research and development center to conduct a study of runway incursions, airport surface incidents, operational errors, or losses of standard separation of aircraft in the approach or departure phase of flight to determine how advanced technologies and future airport development projects may be able to reduce the frequency of such events and enhance aviation safety. ####
(2)Considerations In conducting the study under paragraph (1), the federally funded research and development center shall— #####
(A)examine data relating to recurring runway incursions, surface incidents, operational errors, or losses of standard separation of aircraft in the approach or departure phase of flight at airports to identify the underlying factors that caused such events; #####
(B)assess metrics used to identify when such events are increasing at an airport; #####
(C)assess available and developmental technologies, including and beyond such technologies considered in subsection (c), that may augment existing air traffic management capabilities of surface surveillance and terminal airspace equipment; #####
(D)consider growth trends in airport size, staffing and communication complexities to identify— ######
(i)future gaps in information exchange between aerospace stakeholders; and ######
(ii)methods for meeting future near real-time information sharing needs; and #####
(E)examine airfield safety training programs used by airport tenants and other stakeholders operating on airfields of airports, including airfield familiarization training programs for employees, to assess scalability to handle future growth in airfield capacity and traffic. ####
(3)Recommendations In conducting the study required by paragraph (1), the federally funded research and development center shall develop recommendations for the strategic planning efforts of the Administration to appropriately maintain surface safety considering future increases in air traffic and based on the considerations described in paragraph (2). ####
(4)Report to congress Not later than 90 days after the completion of the study required by paragraph (1), the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the findings of such study and any recommendations developed under paragraph (3). ###
(f)Definitions **[**[49 U.S.C. 47101 note](/us/usc/t49/s47101)**]** In this section: ####
(1)Air carrier; foreign air carrier The terms “air carrier” and “foreign air carrier” have the meanings given such terms in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code. ####
(2)Airport surface detection and surveillance system The term “airport surface detection and surveillance system” means an airport surveillance system that is— #####
(A)designed to track surface movement of aircraft and vehicles; or #####
(B)capable of alerting air traffic controllers or flight crewmembers of a possible runway incursion, misaligned approach, or other safety event. ####
(3)Transport airplane The term “transport airplane” means a transport category airplane designed for operation by an air carrier or foreign air carrier jet type-certificated with a passenger seating capacity of at least 10 seats or a maximum takeoff weight above 12,500 pounds or an all-cargo or combi derivative of such an airplane.
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Sec. 347
ZERO TOLERANCE FOR NEAR MISSES, RUNWAY INCURSIONS, AND SURFACE SAFETY RISKS
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