Sec. 620. CONTRACT TOWER PROGRAM

659 words·~3 min read·/statute-compilations/comps-17764/sec-620

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

## SEC. 620 CONTRACT TOWER PROGRAM Section 47124 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— ####

(1)in subsection (b)(3) by adding at the end the following: > > ##### “(H) Period for completion of an operational readiness inspection > > The Secretary shall provide airport sponsors acting in good faith 7 years to complete an operational readiness inspection after receiving a benefit-to-cost ratio of air traffic control services for an airport.” > ; and ####

(2)by adding at the end the following: > > ### “(f) Improving Controller Situational Awareness > > > #### “(1) In general > > Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall allow air traffic controllers at towers operated under the Contract Tower Program to use approved advanced equipment and technologies to improve operational situational awareness, including Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System radar displays, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, Flight Data Input/Output, and Automatic Terminal Information System. > > > #### “(2) Installation and maintenance > > Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall allow airports to— > > > ##### “(A) > > procure a Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System or any equivalent system through the Federal Aviation Administration, and install and maintain such system using Administration services; or > > > ##### “(B) > > purchase a Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System, or any equivalent system, and install and maintain such system using services directly from an original equipment manufacturer. > > > #### “(3) Requirements > > To help facilitate the integration of the equipment and technology described in paragraph (1), the Secretary— > > > ##### “(A) > > shall establish minimum performance and technical standards that ensure the safe use of equipment and technology, including commercial radar displays capable of displaying primary and secondary radar targets, for use by controllers in contract towers to improve situational awareness; > > > ##### “(B) > > shall identify approved vendors for such equipment and technology, to the maximum extent practicable; > > > ##### “(C) > > shall establish, in consultation with contract tower operators, an appropriate training program to periodically train air traffic controllers employed by such operators to ensure proper and efficient integration and use of the situational awareness equipment and technology described in paragraph

(1)into contract tower operations; > > > ##### “(D) > > may add Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System equipment or any equivalent system to the minimum level of equipage necessary for Federal contract towers to perform the function of such towers, as applicable; and > > > ##### “(E) > > shall require that any technology, system, or equipment procured pursuant to this subsection be procured using non-Federal funds, except as made available under a grant issued pursuant to 47124(b)(4). > > > ### “(g) Liability Insurance > > > #### “(1) In general > > Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall consult with aviation industry experts, including air traffic control contractors and aviation insurance professionals, to determine adequate limits of liability for the Contract Tower Program. > > > #### “(2) Interim steps > > Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this subsection and until the Secretary makes a determination on liability limits under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall require air traffic control contractors to have excess liability insurance (as determined by the Secretary) to ensure continuity of such coverage should a major accident occur. > > > #### “(3) Briefing > > Not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall brief the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the findings, conclusions, and actions taken and planned to be taken to carry out this subsection.” > .