Sec. 548. AIRCRAFT ACCESS STANDARDS
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## SEC. 548 AIRCRAFT ACCESS STANDARDS **[**[49 U.S.C. 41728 note](/us/usc/t49/s41728)**]** ###
(a)Aircraft Access Standards ####
(1)Standards #####
(A)Advance notice of proposed rulemaking Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking regarding standards to ensure that the aircraft boarding and deplaning process is accessible, in terms of design for, transportation of, and communication with, individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs. #####
(B)Notice of proposed rulemaking Not later than 1 year after the date on which the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking under subparagraph
(A)is completed, the Secretary shall issue a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding standards addressed in subparagraph (A). #####
(C)Final rule Not later than 1 year after the date on which the notice of proposed rulemaking under subparagraph
(B)is completed, the Secretary shall issue a final rule. ####
(2)Covered airport, equipment, and features The standards prescribed under paragraph (1)(A) shall address, at a minimum— #####
(A)boarding and deplaning equipment; #####
(B)improved procedures to ensure the priority cabin stowage for manual assistive devices pursuant to section 382.67 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; and #####
(C)improved cargo hold storage to prevent damage to assistive devices. ####
(3)Consultation For purposes of the rulemaking under this subsection, the Secretary shall consult with the Access Board and any other relevant department or agency to determine appropriate accessibility standards. ###
(b)In-Flight Entertainment Rulemaking Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a notice of proposed rulemaking in accordance with the November 22, 2016, resolution of the Department of Transportation ACCESS Committee and the consensus recommendation set forth in the Term Sheet Reflecting Agreement of the Access Committee Regarding In-Flight Entertainment. ###
(c)Negotiated Rulemaking on In-Cabin Wheelchair Restraint Systems and Enplaning and Deplaning Standards ####
(1)Timing #####
(A)In general Not later than 1 year after completion of the report required by section 544(e)(2), and if such report finds economic and financial feasibility of air carriers and foreign air carriers implementing seating arrangements that accommodate individuals with disabilities using wheelchairs (including power wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, and scooters) in the main cabin during flight, the Secretary shall conduct a negotiated rulemaking on new type certificated aircraft standards for seating arrangements that accommodate such individuals in the main cabin during flight or an accessible route to a minimum of 2 aircraft passenger seats for passengers to access from personal assistive devices of such individuals. #####
(B)Requirement The negotiated rulemaking under subparagraph
(A)shall include participation of representatives of— ######
(i)air carriers; ######
(ii)aircraft manufacturers; ######
(iii)national disability organizations; ######
(iv)aviation safety experts; and ######
(v)mobility aid manufacturers. ####
(2)Notice of proposed rulemaking Not later than 1 year after the completion of the negotiated rulemaking required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall issue a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the standards described in paragraph (1). ####
(3)Final rule Not later than 1 year after the date on which the notice of proposed rulemaking under paragraph
(2)is completed, the Secretary shall issue a final rule regarding the standards described in paragraph (1). ####
(4)Considerations In the negotiated rulemaking and rulemaking required under this subsection, the Secretary shall consider— #####
(A)a reasonable period for the design, certification, and construction of aircraft that meet the requirements; #####
(B)the safety of all persons on-board the aircraft, including necessary wheelchair standards and wheelchair compliance with FAA crashworthiness and safety performance criteria; and #####
(C)the costs of design, installation, equipage, and aircraft capacity impacts, including partial fleet equipage and fare impacts. ###
(d)Visual and Tactilely Accessible Announcements The Advisory Committee established under section 439 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (49 U.S.C. 41705 note) shall examine technical solutions and the feasibility of visually and tactilely accessible announcements on-board aircraft. ###
(e)Airport Facilities Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, in direct consultation with the Access Board, prescribe regulations setting forth minimum standards under section 41705 of title 49, United States Code, that ensure all gates (including counters), ticketing areas, and customer service desks covered under such section at airports are accessible to and usable by all individuals with disabilities, including through the provision of visually and tactilely accessible announcements and full and equal access to aural communications. ###
(f)Definitions In this section: ####
(1)Access board The term “Access Board” means the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. ####
(2)Air carrier The term “air carrier” has the meaning given such term in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code. ####
(3)Individual with a disability The term “individual with a disability” has the meaning given such term in section 382.3 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. ####
(4)Foreign air carrier The term “foreign air carrier” has the meaning given such term in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code.
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