What does Preamble of Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 do?

This bill is formally titled 'To improve aviation safety, and for other purposes'.

What does DEFINITIONS. of Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 do?

This section defines terms used throughout the Act. “Administrator” is defined as the Administrator of the FAA. “ADS-B In” refers to avionics technology receiving ADS-B Out broadcasts. “ADS-B Out” is defined by reference to a specific section of the Code of Federal Regulations. “Air carrier” and “foreign air carrier” are defined by reference to Title 49 of the United States Code. “Appropriate committees of Congress” are specified as the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. “Cabinet Member” refers to the head of specified federal departments. “Comptroller General” is defined as the Comptroller General of the United States. “FAA” is defined as the Federal Aviation Administration. “Powered-lift” and “Rotorcraft” are defined by reference to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. “Secretary” is defined as the Secretary of Transportation. “SMS” refers to a safety management system. “Transport airplane” is defined as a transport category airplane with a passenger seating capacity of 30 or more. “Unmanned aircraft system” is defined by reference to Title 49 of the United States Code.

What does EXPERT COMPLIANCE REVIEW OF FAA SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. of Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 do?

This section establishes an independent expert panel, referred to as the “review panel,” to review and make findings and recommendations regarding the FAA's Safety Management System (SMS). The review panel will assess the FAA's SMS compliance with orders and policies, evaluate safety enhancements achieved, and examine the effectiveness of SMS components (safety policy, risk management, assurance, and promotion). The panel's composition includes representatives from NASA, aviation labor organizations, independent subject matter experts, the aviation industry, and the U.S. Mission to the ICAO, as well as FAA employees providing advisory support. The review panel must submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Administrator and Congress within 180 days of its first meeting. Dissenting views from panel members regarding findings or recommendations will be appended to the report and published on the FAA website. The review panel is granted authority to access FAA premises, records (de-identified where appropriate), and interview employees to complete its work. Members of the review panel, particularly those not federal employees, are required to sign agreements prohibiting the disclosure of non-public information. The review panel is not subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The Administrator must report to Congress on the status of actions taken in response to the review panel’s recommendations within one year of submission.

What does ADS-B OUT REFORMS. of Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 do?

This section concerns reforms related to ADS-B Out requirements, particularly for government aircraft. It restricts the interpretation of 'sensitive government mission' under 14 C.F.R. § 91.225(f), excluding training flights, flights of Federal officials below Cabinet rank, and routine flights. It amends the definition of 'special mission aircraft' to require the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the FAA, to designate aircraft where ADS-B Out creates a unique risk. The FAA Administrator is directed to modify regulations and related agreements to align with these changes. The Comptroller General must review the utilization of ADS-B Out exceptions and report findings to Congress within one year of enactment. Following the GAO report, the FAA Administrator will determine if agencies found to be non-compliant can continue using exceptions. A joint council, comprised of the FAA Administrator and the Secretary of Defense, will be established to regularly review operations utilizing ADS-B Out exceptions and report annually to Congress.

What does ADS-B IN REQUIREMENT TO ENHANCE SAFETY. of Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 do?

This section establishes a deadline for air carriers to equip aircraft with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast In (ADS-B In) equipment. Air carriers operating under parts 121 or 135 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations must comply with the ADS-B In requirement within four years of the section's enactment. Aircraft must have ADS-B In equipment installed and operational unless explicitly authorized by air traffic control. The Administrator is tasked with determining performance requirements for ADS-B In equipment to enhance flight crew safety. These safety enhancements include increasing situational awareness, providing conflict alerts, and facilitating collision avoidance.

What does SAFETY REVIEWS OF AIRSPACE. of Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 do?

This section establishes an Office of FAA-DOD Coordination within the FAA to coordinate airspace usage. The Administrator must initiate a safety review of flight operations near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport within 30 days of the Office's establishment. Safety reviews will also be conducted at other Class B airports to evaluate risks to commercial transport airplane operations. Class B airports will be categorized based on mixed air traffic volume, with higher volume airports prioritized for review. The reviews will analyze air traffic management, coordination between agencies, and potential risks posed by various aircraft. Relevant incident reports will be reviewed to identify safety trends. Representatives from aviation labor organizations, including airline pilots and air traffic controllers, will participate in the reviews. The Administrator must submit a report to Congress detailing the review's analysis, results, and recommendations within 60 days of completion.

What does FAA-DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SAFETY INFORMATION SHARING. of Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 do?

This section requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of the Army to establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) within 60 days of enactment. The MOU will allow for the sharing of information from the Army's Safety Management Information System with the FAA. The purpose of this information sharing is to facilitate communications, analyze impacts, and mitigate risk to civil aviation operations and the national airspace system. The FAA must also establish MOUs with the Department of the Navy, the Department of the Air Force, and the Coast Guard within 90 days of enactment. These MOUs will permit the sharing of applicable aviation safety information to improve civil aviation safety and efficiency.

What does NO DISRUPTIONS TO FAA WORKFORCE. of Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 do?

This section aims to protect the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) workforce from certain personnel actions. It excludes the FAA workforce from hiring freezes, deferred resignation programs, and voluntary furlough opportunities. It mandates a review by the Comptroller General of FAA probationary personnel terminations occurring between February 14, 2025, and the enactment date. The Comptroller General's review will assess safety risk management analyses, congressional notifications, and the impact of workforce reductions on the national airspace system. The Comptroller General must submit a report detailing the review's findings and recommendations to Congress within 240 days of enactment. The Secretary and Administrator are prohibited from implementing FAA workforce reductions or decreasing full-time equivalent positions.

What does EXTENSION OF FAA AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER MAX HIRING REQUIREMENT. of Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 do?

This section amends Section 437(a) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. The amendment changes the year referenced in 49 U.S.C. 44506 note from 2028 to 2033.

What does AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER TRAINING IMPROVEMENTS. of Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act of 2025 do?

This section establishes an Enhanced Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative program (Enhanced Initiative) to support the recruitment, education, and hiring of qualified developmental air traffic controllers. The Administrator must select accredited institutions of higher education with accredited air traffic curricula, evaluating their resources and proximity to air traffic facilities. The Administrator aims to certify a minimum of 15 qualified institutions for participation in the Enhanced Initiative, including those already participating as of January 20, 2025. Qualified graduates from participating institutions who achieve a well-qualified score on the Air Traffic Skills Assessment may be appointed to Air Traffic Control Specialist positions. Funds are authorized to support the recruitment and hiring of qualified faculty and evaluators at participating institutions. The Comptroller General will conduct a study within five years of enactment to examine the Enhanced Initiative's effectiveness in increasing air traffic controller education and training capacity. The Administrator is directed to hire licensed medical physicians with relevant backgrounds to increase the Aviation Medical Examiner workforce and achieve maximum staffing capacity within the FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine. The Administrator must develop and execute an air traffic control instructor outreach program to assist with the recruitment, hiring, and retention of instructors, particularly targeting controllers nearing retirement.

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Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act of 2025

Last updated: 6/5/2025 · Introduced: 6/5/2025

Author: Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill establishes an independent expert panel to review and recommend improvements to the FAA's Safety Management System (SMS), reporting findings to Congress and the Administrator.
It restricts exceptions to ADS-B Out requirements for government aircraft, directing the FAA to modify regulations and establishing a joint council to regularly review these exceptions.
The bill mandates that air carriers equip their aircraft with ADS-B In equipment within four years to enhance flight crew safety and situational awareness.
It directs the FAA to coordinate airspace usage and conduct safety reviews of airports with high air traffic volume, prioritizing those near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
To bolster the air traffic controller workforce, the bill extends a hiring requirement, creates an enhanced training initiative for air traffic controllers, and protects FAA employees from certain personnel actions.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

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Includes provisions on preamble, definitions., and 11 more.

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