What does Preamble of S 3866 do?

This bill, formally titled 'A BILL To provide for updates to the Federal Aviation Administration type certification process to support development of new and novel technologies, and for other purposes,' aims to update the Federal Aviation Administration's type certification process. The bill intends to support the development of new and novel technologies within the aviation sector.

What does TABLE OF CONTENTS. of S 3866 do?

This Act includes a table of contents.

What does TRANSPARENCY OF THE FAA TYPE CERTIFICATION PROCESS. of S 3866 do?

This section requires the FAA to publish a plan within 180 days of enactment to improve the type certification process, focusing on issue papers and the use of industry standards. The plan must address creating stable policy regarding common issues in certification documents and ensuring consideration of performance-based standards. The FAA is directed to amend FAA order 8110.112A (or its successor) within 270 days to establish standard expected timelines for various milestones in the type certification process. These timelines include responses to petitions for exemptions, proposals for compliance, and FAA responses to applicant submissions. The FAA's application of these timelines is excluded for complex issues presenting an unsafe condition. The Administrator must consult with trade associations, infrastructure providers, and union representatives during the implementation of these requirements. The FAA must submit annual reports to Congress on the implementation status, including performance metrics and any timeline exceedances.

What does CRITERIA FOR FAA ISSUE PAPERS. of S 3866 do?

This section directs the Administrator to amend FAA order 8110.112A (or a successor document) within 180 days of enactment. The amendments must include specific criteria for determining when an issue warrants an issue paper and which FAA roles are responsible for evaluation. The amendments must account for performance-based rule projects requiring issue papers. The amendments aim to improve efficiency by eliminating recurring issue papers. Stable means of compliance issue papers will be converted into published policy or advisory circulars. Stable issue papers for special conditions and other requirements will be incorporated into annual updates to product airworthiness standards. If FAA order 8110.112A is superseded, the Administrator must ensure the described matters are included in a subsequent order.

What does FAA DELEGATION GUIDANCE. of S 3866 do?

This section requires the FAA Administrator to publish updated delegation guidance for type certification of aircraft and aircraft engines. The guidance must be published within 90 days of the section's enactment. The updated guidance must include criteria for applicant eligibility for delegation. It must also include criteria for classifying compliance findings as routine or safety-critical. The guidance must outline processes for documentation and management review when the FAA does not use authorized representatives. The guidance must consider how to ensure safety and foster predictable type certification processes for new and novel technologies. The guidance must consider the impact of the type certification process on United States global leadership in technology development and production.

Back to bills

A bill to provide for updates to the Federal Aviation Administration type certification process to support development of new and novel technologies, and for other purposes. — S. 3866

Last updated: 2/12/2026 · Introduced: 2/12/2026

Author: Peter Welch (D-VT)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill mandates the FAA to develop and publish a plan to improve the type certification process, including establishing standard timelines for key milestones and reporting annually on its implementation.
The FAA must update its guidance on type certification delegation, outlining eligibility criteria for applicants and classifying compliance findings based on safety criticality.
The bill directs the FAA to refine criteria for issuing guidance papers, aiming to streamline the process and incorporate stable issue papers into published policies and standards.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

Verified Votes

No verified votes yet.

Community Votes

No community votes yet. Be the first!

Voting as guest · Sign in for verified votes

Other Sections

Includes provisions on preamble, table of contents., and 3 more.

5 sections

Click "Show details" to explore individual sections. Use the community vote above or visit All Sections to vote per section.

Read official text

Want the full experience?

Create a free account to cast verified votes on each section, get a personalized summary, and track your voting history.

Create Free Account