H.R. 658 (112^th): FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012

Introduced:: Feb 11, 2011 (112^th Congress, 2011–2013)
Status:: Signed by the President
Slip Law:: This bill became Pub.L. 112-95.

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Sponsor: John Mica
Representative for Florida's 7th congressional district
Party: Republican

Text: Read Text »
Last Updated: Feb 08, 2012
Length
: 145 pages

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H.Res. 533 (rule)

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Feb 03, 2012

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Status: This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on February 14, 2012.

Progress

Introduced	Feb 11, 2011
Referred to Committee	Feb 11, 2011
Reported by Committee	Feb 16, 2011
Passed House	Apr 01, 2011
Passed Senate with Changes	Apr 07, 2011
Conference Report Agreed to by House	Feb 03, 2012
Conference Report Agreed to by Senate	Feb 06, 2012
Signed by the President	Feb 14, 2012

Full Title: To amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration for fiscal years 2011 through 2014, to streamline programs, create efficiencies, reduce waste, and improve aviation safety and capacity, to provide stable funding for the national aviation system, and for other purposes.

Summary: No summaries available.

Votes

On Agreeing to the Amendment: Amendment 1 to H R 658

Mar 31, 2011 6:48 p.m.
Agreed to 251/168

On Agreeing to the Amendment: Amendment 7 to H R 658

Mar 31, 2011 6:56 p.m.
Failed 120/303

On Agreeing to the Amendment: Amendment 8 to H R 658

Mar 31, 2011 7 p.m.
Failed 161/263

On Agreeing to the Amendment: Amendment 9 to H R 658

Mar 31, 2011 7:03 p.m.
Failed 174/241

On Agreeing to the Amendment: Amendment 16 to H R 658

Mar 31, 2011 7:07 p.m.
Failed 187/235

On Agreeing to the Amendment: Amendment 17 to H R 658

Mar 31, 2011 7:11 p.m.
Failed 195/227

On Agreeing to the Amendment: Amendment 26 to H R 658

Apr 01, 2011 11:40 a.m.
Failed 207/215

On Agreeing to the Amendment: Amendment 27 to H R 658

Apr 01, 2011 11:46 a.m.
Failed 178/243

On Agreeing to the Amendment: Amendment 19 to H R 658

Apr 01, 2011 11:54 a.m.
Failed 183/238

On Agreeing to the Amendment: Amendment 20 to H R 658

Apr 01, 2011 noon
Failed 206/220

On Agreeing to the Amendment: Amendment 23 to H R 658

Apr 01, 2011 12:07 p.m.
Agreed to 215/209

On Motion to Recommit with Instructions: H R 658 FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011

Apr 01, 2011 12:34 p.m.
Failed 184/235

House Vote on Passage

Apr 01, 2011 12:40 p.m.
Passed 223/196

House Vote on Passage

On the Conference Report
Feb 03, 2012 11:42 a.m.
Passed 248/169

Senate Vote on Passage

On the Conference Report
Feb 06, 2012 5:33 p.m.
Conference Report Agreed to 75/20

Cosponsors

24 cosponsors (23R, 1D) (show)

Committees

House Homeland Security

House Science, Space, and Technology

House Judiciary

House Transportation and Infrastructure

The committee chair determines whether a bill will move past the committee stage.

Primary Source

THOMAS.gov (The Library of Congress)

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Notes

H.R. stands for House of Representatives bill.

A bill must be passed by both the House and Senate in identical form and then be signed by the president to become law.

GovTrack’s Bill Summary

We don’t have a summary available yet.

Library of Congress Summary

The summary below was written by the Congressional Research Service, which is a nonpartisan division of the Library of Congress.

2/14/2012--Public Law.

FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 -

Title I - Authorizations

Subtitle A - Funding of FAA Programs

Section 101 -

Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) out of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund for FY2012-FY2015 for: (1) airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning programs, (2) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air navigation facilities and equipment, and (3) FAA operations.

Section 103 -

Requires the Secretary, in cases where appropriations are insufficient to meet FAA operations, to reduce nonsafety-related FAA activity expenses to a level to meet such appropriations.

Section 104 -

Authorizes additional appropriations from the general fund of the Treasury for aviation programs through FY2015.

Section 105 -

Requires the FAA Administrator to include in the Airway Capital Investment Plan a list of capital projects that are part of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).

Subtitle B - Passenger Facility Charges

Section 111 -

Converts to permanent the pilot program for passenger facility charges (PFCs) at nonhub airports.

Section 112 -

Requires the Comptroller General to study alternative means of collecting PFCs without their being included in the airline ticket price.

Section 113 -

Expresses the sense of Congress that airports should consider the use of qualifications-based selection in carrying out capital improvement projects funded using PFCs.

Subtitle C - Fees for FAA Services

Section 121 -

Revises requirements for establishment and adjustment of user overflight fees for FAA services.

Section 122 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to prescribe certain registration, certification, and other specified fees.

Subtitle D - Airport Improvement Program Modifications

Section 131 -

Revises airport improvement program (AIP) requirements. Directs the Secretary to encourage airport sponsors and state and local officials, in the development of their airport master plans, to consider as additional goals passenger convenience, airport ground access, and access to airport facilities.

Section 132 -

Extends the meaning of "airport development," for AIP project grant purposes, to: (1) construction of mobile refueler parking within a fuel farm at a nonprimary airport meeting specified requirements; (2) terminal development; and (3) acquisition and installation of facilities and equipment to provide air conditioning, heating, or electric power from terminal-based, nonexclusive use facilities to aircraft parked at a public use airport.

Section 133 -

Requires an airport's master plan to address issues relating to solid waste recycling at the airport as a condition to the approval of an AIP project.

Section 134 -

Repeals the requirements that competition plans include patterns of air service and airfare levels.

Section 135 -

Revises requirements for written assurances on AIPs for acquiring land for a noise compatibility or airport purpose to allow for reinvestment in another specified kind of AIP of proceeds from disposition of the land proportional to the government's share of the cost of acquiring it.

Section 136 -

Allows a general aviation airport sponsor, without federal sanction, to enter into a through-the-fence agreement granting a person owning residential real property adjacent to the airport access to the airfield for the person's aircraft or an aircraft the person has authorized.

Section 137 -

Prescribes special rules for the federal share of allowable costs for AIP projects for: (1) transition from a small hub to medium hub airport status (90% share), and (2) economically distressed communities (95% share).

Section 138 -

Revises or adds new justifications for allowable AIP project costs, including costs incurred: (1) before execution of the grant agreement because the airport has a shortened construction season due to climactic conditions in the airport vicinity, or (2) on a measure to improve the efficiency of an airport building.

Prescribes requirements for allowing the costs of relocating or replacing an airport-owned facility.

Directs the FAA Administrator, upon the conclusion of all planned research regarding avian (bird) radar systems, to: (1) update Advisory Circular No. 150/5220-25 to specify which systems have been studied, and (2) issue a final report on their use in the national airspace system.

Section 139 -

Adds Afghanistan-Iraq war and Persian Gulf veterans to veterans preference requirements for contracts involving labor on AIP projects. Requires that preference as well be given to the use of small business concerns owned and controlled by disabled veterans.

Section 140 -

Directs the Secretary to establish a mandatory training program to provide streamlined training for airport owners and operators on how to certify a small business airport concession as one owned and operated by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals under the airport disadvantaged business program.

Requires DOT's Inspector General to report to Congress for FY2013-FY2015 on the number of new small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (including those owned by veterans) that participated in FAA programs.

Section 141 -

Authorizes the Secretary to apportion to an airport sponsor in a fiscal year an amount equal to the minimum amount apportioned to that sponsor in the previous fiscal year if: (1) the airport received scheduled or unscheduled air service from a large certificated air carrier, and (2) the airport had more than 10,000 passenger boardings in the preceding calendar year used to calculate the apportionment.

Prescribes a special rule for FY2012-FY2013. Allows an airport sponsor apportionment in FY2012 or FY2013 equal to the amount apportioned to that sponsor in FY2009 for an airport: (1) that had more than 10,000 passenger boardings and scheduled passenger aircraft service in calendar year 2007; but (2) in either calendar years 2009 or 2010, or both years, the number of passenger boardings at the airport decreased to below 10,000 per year.

Section 142 -

Requires the Secretary to make minimum supplemental apportionments to Puerto Rico and all other U.S. territories for AIP projects. Declares that nothing in this section shall prohibit the Secretary from making discretionary fund grants for such projects.

Section 143 -

Revises the formula for reducing the amount apportioned for an AIP in a fiscal year to the sponsor of an airport having at least .25% of the total number of boardings each year in the United States and for which a passenger facility fee is imposed. Prescribes a special formula for such reductions in Hawaii with respect to an airport sponsor's PFC of $3.00 or less and a PFC of more than $3.00.

Section 144 -

Extends through FY2015 the eligibility of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau for AIP grants.

Section 145 -

Revises requirements for special apportionments for airport noise compatibility planning and program grants to limit the dollar amount of the minimum 35% apportionment to a maximum of $300 million. Applies the same apportionment, also, to water quality mitigation projects approved in an environmental record of decision for an AIP project.

Section 146 -

Makes current or former military airports that preserve or enhance minimum airfield infrastructure facilities to support emergency diversionary operations for transoceanic flights eligible for certain discretionary grant funding used to develop current or former such airports.

Section 147 -

Prescribes a special rule that, if the Secretary determines that a contract air traffic control tower already operating under the low activity (Visual Flight Rules) Level I contract program has a benefit-to-cost ratio of less than 1.0, the airport sponsor or state or local government with jurisdiction over the airport shall not be required to pay the portion of the costs that exceeds the benefit for a period of 18 months.

Establishes funding levels for FY2012-FY2015 for the air traffic control contract tower program.

Increases the federal share of the cost of construction of a nonapproach control tower under the program.

Directs the Secretary to establish uniform standards and requirements for safety assessments of air traffic control towers that receive funding under such program.

Section 148 -

Applies to foreign air carriers (under current law, applies only to domestic air carriers) requirements for resolution of airport fee disputes.

Section 149 -

Revises exceptions to the prohibition against use of local taxes on aviation fuel or the revenues generated by an airport for any purpose (revenue diversion) other than the capital or operating costs of the airport, the local airport system, or any other local facility owned or operated by the airport owner or operator that is directly and substantially related to the air transportation of passengers or property.

Excepts from such prohibition any proceeds from the sale of a privately owned airport to a public sponsor that meets specified criteria, including repayment by the private owner to the Secretary of the remaining unamortized portion of any AIP grant to that airport.

Section 150 -

Repeals the prohibition against approval of any Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority application: (1) for an airport development project grant; or (2) to impose a PFC.

Section 151 -

Amends Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act to extend for FY2012- FY2015 the eligibility of Midway Island Airport for an AIP grant.

Section 152 -

Limits the amount of discretionary funds the Secretary may distribute for terminal development projects at nonhub or small hub airports to $20 million.

Revises reporting requirements of the Secretary's annual AIP report to Congress, moving its deadline from April 1 to June 1.

Section 153 -

Extends through FY2015 the authority for grants to state and local governments for compatible land use planning and projects.

Section 154 -

Directs the FAA Administrator, to the extent practicable, to schedule the review as early as possible of construction projects which cannot be carried out in a state before May 1 because of weather during a typical calendar year.

Section 155 -

Directs the Secretary to evaluate the formulation of the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems.

Section 156 -

Revises certain requirements for approval of applications for exemption from the revenue diversion prohibition under the airport privatization pilot program. Increases from 5 to 10 the number of airport exemption applications the Secretary may approve.

Title II - NextGen Air Transportation System and Air Traffic Control Modernization

Section 202 -

Directs the Secretary to give priority to 18 Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) activities, including demonstrations and infrastructure, trajectory-based operations, and reduced weather impact.

Section 203 -

Authorizes a federal agency head to transfer non-administrative supplies, personnel, services, and equipment to, or receive them from, the FAA, with or without reimbursement (currently, only without reimbursement).

Section 204 -

Requires the FAA Administrator to appoint a Chief NextGen Officer to implement all NextGen programs.

Section 205 -

Extends the meaning of air navigation facility to specify: (1) runway lighting and airport surface visual and other navigation aids; (2) apparatus, equipment, software, or service for distributing aeronautical and meteorological information to air traffic control facilities or aircraft; (3) communication, navigation, or surveillance equipment for air-to-ground or air-to-air applications; and (4) buildings, equipment, and systems dedicated to the national airspace system.

Section 206 -

Repeals the restriction on the FAA's authority to use noncompetitive procurement of goods and services that allows such procurement only in the kind of situation when the property or services are available from only one responsible source or only from a limited number of responsible sources and no other type of property or services will satisfy FAA needs.

Section 207 -

Authorizes the FAA Administrator to bid competitively to provide air traffic services to aviation authorities abroad, both public and private, if it promotes aviation safety and efficiency (currently, only safety). Authorizes the FAA Administrator to accept payments for such services in arrears (rather than in advance).

Section 208 -

Amends the Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act to make the director of the NextGen Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO) the Associate Administrator for NextGen Planning, Development, and Interagency Coordination within the FAA, to be appointed by the FAA Administrator, with the approval of the Secretary.

Specifies additional JPDO responsibilities.

Requires NextGen partner federal agencies to designate senior officials to carry out NextGen activities at their respective agencies.

Requires the JPDO to coordinate NextGen activities with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Requires the integrated NextGen plan to include a multiagency integrated work plan containing certain elements, including an outline of the activities of partner federal agencies required to achieve the end-state architecture.

Section 209 -

Requires the Next Generation Air Transportation Senior Policy Committee to meet at least twice each year. Directs the Secretary to report annually to Congress on progress made by NextGen partner federal agencies in implementing the NextGen integrated work plan.

Section 210 -

Grants the FAA Administrator authority to retain as part of its appropriation any proceeds from the disposal of FAA property.

Section 211 -

Directs the DOT Inspector General to review the award and oversight of FAA contracts to provide automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) services for the national airspace system.

Section 212 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to arrange with the National Research Council to review and report to Congress on the enterprise architecture for the NextGen.

Section 213 -

Requires the FAA Administrator to:

(1) report on navigation performance and area navigation operations and procedures required to maximize the efficiency and capacity of NextGen commercial operations at 35 operational evolution partnership (OEP) airports and 35 non-OEP airports, including any medium or small hub airports within the same metroplex area;

(2) establish a plan and schedule for implementing such procedures; and

(3) submit to Congress a plan for deploying a nationwide data communications system.

Section 214 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to establish, track, and report to Congress on specified National Airspace System performance metrics.

Section 215 -

Requires the FAA Administrator to develop plans to accelerate the process for certification of NextGen technologies.

Section 216 -

Directs the Chief Operating Officer of the Air Traffic Organization to: (1) evaluate the Airport Surface Detection Equipment-Model X program for its potential contribution to implementation of the NextGen initiative, (2) evaluate airport surveillance technologies and associated collaborative surface management software for potential contributions to implementation of NextGen surface management, and (3) accelerate implementation of the program.

Directs the FAA Administrator to: (1) consider options for expediting the certification of Ground-Based Augmentation System technology, and (2) develop a plan to utilize such a system at the 35 OEP airports.

Section 217 -

Requires the FAA Administrator to include certain stakeholders to serve in a collaborative capacity in the planning and development of air traffic control modernization projects, including NextGen.

Section 218 -

Requires the FAA Administrator, in conjunction with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the Philadelphia International Airport, to monitor the noise impacts of the New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia Metropolitan Area Airspace Redesign.

Section 219 -

Requires the FAA Administrator to study the feasibility of developing a public website on the height and latitudinal and longitudinal locations of guy-wire and free-standing tower obstructions.

Section 220 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to enter into an agreement, on a competitive basis, to assist the establishment of a center of excellence for the research and development of NextGen technologies.

Section 221 -

Authorizes the Secretary to establish an avionics equipage incentive program to equip through public-private partnerships general aviation and commercial aircraft with communications, surveillance, navigation, and other avionics equipment to achieve NextGen capabilities.

Section 222 -

Requires the FAA Administrator to issue a report that identifies incentive options to encourage the equipage of aircraft with NextGen technologies, including ADS-B technology.

Section 223 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to make payments to the Department of Defense (DOD) for the education of dependent children of those FAA employees in Puerto Rico and Guam as they are subject to transfer by policy and practice and meet specified eligibility requirements.

Section 224 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to: (1) ensure a sufficient number of contract instructors, classroom space, and simulators to allow for an increase in the number of air traffic controllers at air traffic control facilities, and (2) initiate an analysis of scheduling processes and practices at those facilities as well as training programs with below-average success rates.

Section 225 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to report to Congress on the FAA strategy for implementing, on an accelerated basis, the NextGen operational capabilities produced by the Greener Skies project (for reducing environmental impacts of aviation).

Title III - Safety

Subtitle A - General Provisions

Section 301 -

Authorizes a person substantially affected (denied an airman certificate) by an order of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), or the FAA Administrator when an NTSB order will have a significant adverse impact on FAA issuance or renewal of airman certificates, to seek judicial review in the appropriate U.S. Court of Appeals.

Section 302 -

Prescribes a process under which the FAA may release, without the consent of the aircraft's owner of record, engineering data relating to abandoned aircraft type certificates and supplemental aircraft type certificates for an aircraft, engine, propeller, or appliance to a person seeking to maintain the airworthiness of or develop product improvements to such aircraft or equipment.

Section 303 -

Revises requirements for FAA issuance of a design organization certificate to a design organization (as under current law), a production organization, or a design and production organization which authorizes the organization to certify compliance of aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and appliances with the pertinent requirements and minimum standards. Calls an organization holding such a certificate a certified design and production organization (CDPO).

Section 304 -

Prohibits anyone from serving as a flight attendant, except solely between points outside the United States, unless he or she has the ability to read, speak, and write English.

Section 305 -

Repeals the requirement that air carriers evaluate biannually through a line check the performance of their pilots who have attained age 60.

Section 306 -

Requires part 135 certificate holders providing helicopter air ambulance services to comply with certain weather minimums and flight and duty time regulations whenever medical personnel are onboard the aircraft. Exempts a certificate holder who is training under instrument flight rules from the weather reporting requirement if authorized by the FAA Administrator.

Directs the FAA Administrator to: (1) issue a final rule to improve the safety of flight crewmembers, medical personnel, and passengers onboard helicopters providing helicopter air ambulance services; and (2) ensure that a part 135 certificate holder providing such services to establish a flight risk evaluation program, have an operational control center if 10 or more helicopters are used, and report certain data.

Section 307 -

Makes it unlawful for a flight crewmember of an aircraft used to provide air transportation to use a personal wireless communications device or laptop computer while at his or her duty station on the aircraft's flight deck while the aircraft is being operated, except for operational, emergency safety-related, or employment-related communications, or another purpose directly related to operation of the aircraft. Directs the FAA Administrator to initiate a rulemaking for implementing regulations.

Directs the FAA Administrator to: (1) review relevant air carrier data, (2) identify common sources of distraction for flight crewmembers on the flight deck, and (3) determine the safety impacts of such distractions.

Section 308 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to: (1) establish and implement a safety assessment system for all part 145 repair stations located outside the United States that perform maintenance on U.S. aircraft; and (2) require such stations to be inspected as safety concerns warrant.

Requires the safety assessment system also to: (1) consider inspection results and findings submitted by foreign civil aviation authorities operating under a maintenance safety or maintenance implementation agreement with the United States, and (2) require all maintenance safety or maintenance implementation agreements with the United States to provide an opportunity for the FAA to conduct independent inspections of covered part 145 repair stations when safety concerns warrant them.

Directs the Secretaries of State and of Transportation jointly to request foreign countries belonging to the International Civil Aviation Organization to establish standards for alcohol and controlled substances testing of persons who perform safety-sensitive maintenance functions on commercial air carrier aircraft.

Requires the FAA Administrator to promulgate a proposed rule to require alcohol and controlled substances testing of foreign part 145 repair station employees responsible for safety-sensitive maintenance functions on part 121 air carrier aircraft.

Section 309 -

Requires air carriers to provide initial and annually recurring training for flight attendants they employ or contract with regarding the serving of alcohol to passengers, as well as recognizing and dealing with disruptive passengers.

Section 310 -

Prohibits the public disclosure of certain safety information (except de-identified information) voluntarily submitted to the FAA.

Section 311 -

Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the aiming of the beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft or in its flight path. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to five years.

Exempts from such prohibition: (1) individuals conducting research and development or flight test operations for an aircraft manufacturer or the FAA; (2) DOD or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel conducting research, development, operations, testing or training; or (3) an individual using a laser emergency signaling device to send a distress signal.

Section 312 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to: (1) assess the FAA aircraft certification and approval process, and (2) make recommendations to improve and streamline it.

Section 313 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to establish an advisory panel to: (1) review the October 2010 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on certification and approval processes (GAO-11-14) and develop related recommendations, (2) determine the causes of inconsistent interpretation of regulations by the FAA Flight Standards Service and Aircraft Certification Service, and (3) develop recommendations to improve the consistency of interpreting such regulations.

Section 314 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to develop: (1) a strategic runway safety plan; (2) a process for tracking and investigating operational errors, losses of standard separation, and runway incursions; and (3) report a plan for installing systems to alert controllers or flight crew members of potential runway incursions.

Section 315 -

Requires the FAA Administrator to modify the Flight Standards Evaluation Program to: (1) include periodic and random reviews as part of FAA's oversight of air carriers; and (2) prohibit an individual from participating in the review of an office with responsibility for an air carrier if, for five-years preceding such review, such individual had responsibility for inspecting that carrier's operations.

Section 316 -

Directs the Comptroller General to study the effectiveness of FAA oversight activities to prevent or mitigate the effects of dense, continuous smoke in the cockpit of a commercial aircraft.

Section 317 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to: (1) review off-airport, low-altitude aircraft weather observation technologies; and (2) study the feasibility of requiring air ambulance helicopter pilots to use night vision goggles during nighttime operations.

Section 319 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to issue regulations requiring covered maintenance work on passenger aircraft to be performed by certain authorized individuals employed by:

(1) a part 121 (domestic) air carrier;

(2) a part 145 repair station or a person holding a valid Transport Canada Civil Aviation Maintenance Engineer license; or

(3) a person providing contract maintenance workers, services, or maintenance functions to a part 145 repair station or part 121 air carrier and meeting related requirements.

Section 320 -

Requires the FAA Administrator to study air quality in aircraft cabins.

Section 321 -

Requires the FAA Administrator to: (1) issue improved pilot licenses that are tamper-resistant, include a photograph, and are smart cards capable of accommodating iris and fingerprint biometric identifiers; and (2) develop methods to determine whether a license has been tampered with, altered, or counterfeited.

Subtitle B - Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Section 332 -

Requires the Secretary to develop a plan to accelerate safely the integration by September 30, 2015, of civil unmanned aircraft systems (UASes, or drones) into the national airspace system.

Requires the FAA Administrator to establish a pilot program to integrate drones into the national airspace system at six test ranges meeting specified criteria.

Directs the Secretary to develop a plan to designate permanent areas in the Arctic where small drones may operate 24 hours per day for research and commercial purposes.

Section 333 -

Requires the Secretary to determine if certain drones may operate safely in the national airspace system before completion of the plan.

Section 334 -

Requires the Secretary to: (1) issue guidance regarding the operation of public drones to expedite the issuance of a certificate of authorization process, and for other specified reasons; and (2) enter into agreements with appropriate government agencies to simplify the process for issuing certificates of waiver or authorization to operate public drones in such system.

Requires the FAA Administrator to develop and implement, by December 31, 2015, operational and certification requirements for the operation of public drones in the national airspace system.

Section 335 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to carry out all safety studies necessary to support the integration of drones into the national airspace system.

Section 336 -

Prohibits the FAA Administrator from promulgating rules or regulations on model aircraft flown strictly for hobby or recreational purposes and meeting certain other criteria.

Subtitle C - Safety and Protections

Section 341 -

Establishes in the FAA an Aviation Safety Whistleblower Investigation Office, which shall receive and assess complaints and information relating to possible violations of aviation safety laws and regulations.

Section 342 -

Prohibits any person holding an air carrier operating certificate from knowingly employing, or contracting with, an individual to act as an agent or representative of the certificate holder in any matter before the FAA if, in the preceding two-year period, the individual: (1) served as, or was responsible for oversight of, a FAA flight standards inspector; and (2) had responsibility to inspect, or oversee inspection of, the operations of the certificate holder.

Section 343 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to establish a process for the monthly review of the FAA air transportation oversight system database by regional teams of FAA employees, including at least one employee on each team representing aviation safety inspectors.

Section 344 -

Requires the FAA Administrator to modify the Voluntary Disclosure Reporting Program to require inspectors to: (1) verify that air carriers implement comprehensive solutions to correct the underlying causes of the violations they have voluntarily disclosed; and (2) confirm, before approving a final report of a disclosed violation, that a violation with the same root causes has not previously been discovered by an inspector or self-disclosed by the air carrier.

Requires the FAA Administrator to establish a process for the review and approval of voluntary self-disclosures received from air carriers.

Requires the DOT Inspector General to study the Voluntary Disclosure Reporting Program.

Section 345 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to initiate rulemaking proceedings regarding duty periods and flight time limitations for flight crew members.

Section 346 -

Prohibits the FAA Administrator from finalizing a rule regarding flight time and rest period regulations for part 135 certificate holders providing air ambulance services and pilots and flight crewmembers of all-cargo aircraft, as proposed in docket No. FAA-2010-1259, Interpretations of Rest Requirements, published in the Federal Register on December 23, 2010.

Section 347 -

Requires the FAA Administrator to:

(1) require an annual inspection of each emergency locator transmitter (ELT) installed in general aviation aircraft operating in the United States to ensure that it is mounted and retained in accordance with manufacturer's specifications,

(2) determine if the ELT mounting requirements and retention tests specified by Technical Standard Orders C91a and C126 are adequate, and

(3) make any revisions to the requirements and tests based on the determination's results.

Title IV - Air Service Improvements

Subtitle A - Passenger Air Service Improvements

Section 401 -

Prohibits an individual from smoking in an aircraft: (1) in scheduled interstate, intrastate, or foreign air passenger transportation; and (2) in nonscheduled intrastate, interstate, or foreign commercial air passenger transportation, if a flight attendant is a required crewmember onboard the aircraft.

Section 402 -

Requires the Secretary to collect, and publish on the DOT website, data regarding canceled and diverted flights of air carriers.

Section 403 -

Requires an air carrier to permit an air passenger to carry, without charge, a violin, guitar, or other musical instrument on a passenger aircraft if it can be stowed safely in a suitable baggage compartment or under a passenger seat in accordance with FAA requirements for carry-on baggage or cargo. Sets forth requirements for the carriage of musical instruments as checked baggage or as occupants of a purchased seat.

Section 404 -

Extends, through FY2014, the requirement that large or medium hub airports file competitive access reports with the Secretary before receiving approval for an AIP grant.

Section 405 -

Expresses the sense of Congress urging all U.S. commercial air carriers to reduce air fares and eliminate certain fees or charges for members of the Armed Forces who are traveling on leave or liberty at their own expense.

Section 406 -

Requires the DOT Inspector General to review air carrier flight delays, cancellations, and associated causes to update its 2000 report entitled "Audit of Air Carrier Flight Delays and Cancellations."

Section 407 -

Directs the Comptroller General to study checked baggage delivery delays and the options and impact of establishing minimum standards to compensate a passenger for an unreasonable delivery delay.

Section 408 -

Authorizes the Secretary to investigate consumer complaints regarding: (1) flight cancellations; (2) overbooking compliance; (3) lost, damaged, or delayed baggage; (4) fares; (5) incorrect or incomplete fare information; (6) frequent flyer mile rights; and (7) deceptive or misleading advertising.

Section 409 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to study: (1) commuter and on demand aircraft operators, and (2) the impact of cell phone use in foreign aircraft during flight.

Section 411 -

Directs the Secretary to establish an advisory committee for aviation consumer protection.

Section 412 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to prescribe regulations to require each commercial air carrier to post on its website the maximum dimensions of a child safety seat that can be used on its aircraft.

Section 413 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to convene a meeting of air carriers to reduce, on a voluntary basis, the number of their aircraft operations during any hour at an airport so as not to exceed the maximum departure and arrival rate if: (1) such operations exceed the hourly maximum departure and arrival rate established by the FAA, and (2) such excess operations are likely to have a significant adverse effect on the safe and efficient use of navigable airspace.

Section 414 -

Requires the Secretary to grant certain air carriers an additional 16 slot exemptions from specified requirements and prohibitions concerning operation of an aircraft nonstop between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and another airport more than 1,250 statute miles away (Perimeter Rule limit), or an airport located within such perimeter.

Directs the Secretary to make 8 such exemptions available to limited incumbent air carriers or new entrant air carriers and 8 available to other non-limited incumbent air carriers.

Prohibits an air carrier using such an exemption for beyond-perimeter flight operations from: (1) operating a multi-aisle or widebody aircraft in conducting such operations, or (2) transferring the rights to its beyond-perimeter exemptions.

Prohibits such exemptions: (1) for operations between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., and (2) from increasing the number of operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in any 1-hour period between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:59 p.m. by more than 5 operations.

Section 415 -

Requires certain air carriers and airport operators to submit for the Secretary's approval emergency contingency plans for:

(1) how adequate food, potable water, restroom facilities, comfortable cabin temperatures, and access to medical treatment will be provided to passengers who are onboard an aircraft at the airport when departure of the flight or disembarkation of passengers is delayed;

(2) sharing of facilities and gates during an airport emergency;

(3) allowed deplanement of passengers following excessive tarmac delays;

(4) a passenger option to deplane and return to the airport terminal when there is an excessive tarmac delay; and

(5) the provision of a sterile area following excessive tarmac delays for passengers who have not yet cleared U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Requires: (1) the Secretary to establish a consumer complaints toll-free hotline telephone number for use by air passengers; and (2) certain air carriers to include on their websites, and prominently on displayed signs at airport ticket counters and any electronic ticket purchase confirmation issued to a passenger, such hotline number and other air carrier information, including contact information for the DOT Aviation Consumer Protection Division for service complaints.

Requires:

(1) the Secretary to make available to the public a website listing countries that may require an air carrier or foreign air carrier to treat an aircraft passenger cabin with insecticides before a flight to the country or to apply an aerosol insecticide when the cabin is occupied with passengers; and

(2) an air carrier, foreign air carrier, or ticket agent selling a ticket in the United States for foreign air transportation to a country on the list to refer a flight ticket purchaser to the website for additional information.

Subtitle B - Essential Air Service

Section 421 -

Revises Essential Air Service (EAS) program eligibility requirements to limit such service to airports (except those in Alaska or Hawaii and those located more than 175 driving miles from the nearest large or medium hub airport) that had an average of 10 enplanements per service day or more. Authorizes the Secretary to waive such requirements provided certain conditions are met.

Section 422 -

Makes eligible for EAS communities that, between September 30, 2010, and September 30, 2011, received: (1) EAS for which compensation was provided to an air carrier, or (2) a 90-day notice of intent to terminate EAS but the air carrier was required to continue to provide such service.

Section 423 -

Requires the Secretary, in selecting an air carrier to provide EAS for compensation to an eligible community, to consider whether an air carrier has a marketing plan.

Section 424 -

Requires the Secretary to: (1) notify communities before their termination of eligibility for EAS, and (2) establish procedures by which each community notified of an impending loss of subsidy may work directly with an air carrier to ensure that the carrier is able to submit a proposal to the Secretary for EAS to such community for an amount of compensation not exceeding the subsidy cap.

Section 425 -

Authorizes a state or local government to submit to the Secretary a proposal for restoring EAS subsidies to an air carrier terminated from providing EAS to a small community.

Requires the Secretary to restore eligibility for EAS with compensation to such a community if certain conditions are met.

Section 426 -

Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) increase EAS subsidies to air carriers on an expedited basis paid to compensate for increased aviation fuel costs; and (2) waive, on a case-by-case basis, the $200 per passenger subsidy cap.

Section 427 -

Revises certain guidelines for compensation for continued EAS to small and rural communities. Requires such guidelines to permit the Secretary to: (1) incorporate financial incentives in EAS contracts based on specified performance goals, and (2) execute long-term EAS contracts when in the public interest to do so.

Requires the Secretary to issue revised guidelines governing the rate of compensation paid to an air carrier for EAS.

Section 428 -

Authorizes appropriations out of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund for the EAS program for FY2012-FY2015.

Section 429 -

Revises certain priorities in the funding of communities under the small community air service development (SCASD) program to give funding priority to multiple communities that cooperate to submit a regional or multistate application to improve air service under the program.

Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for FY2012-FY2015 to make agreements to provide SCASD program assistance.

Section 430 -

Repeals the requirement for a pilot EAS Local Participation Program.

Section 431 -

Extends through FY2015 the effective period of final orders of the Secretary regarding the eligibility of small communities for EAS subsidies based on the highway mileage of a community from the nearest hub airport.

Title V - Environmental Streamlining

Section 501 -

Exempts from air tour management program requirements a national park that has 50 or fewer commercial air tour flights a year, unless the Director of the National Park Service (NPS) determines that an air tour management plan or voluntary agreement is necessary to protect park resources and values or park visitor use and enjoyment.

Authorizes the NPS Director to deny an application to begin commercial air tour operations at Crater Lake National Park (Oregon) without the establishment of an air tour management plan if the Director determines that such operations would adversely affect park resources or visitor experiences.

Authorizes the NPS Director and the FAA Administrator, as an alternative to an air tour management plan, to enter into a voluntary agreement with a commercial air tour operator to manage commercial air tour operations over a national park.

Section 502 -

Changes the requirement that the Secretary prescribe regulations for the AIP State Block Grant Program to a requirement that the Secretary issue guidance instead.

Requires the Secretary, in selecting a state for an AIP block grant, to find that the state has agreed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, state and local environmental policy Acts, executive orders, agency regulations and guidance, and other federal environmental requirements.

Requires federal agencies (other than the FAA) that issue approvals, licenses, or permits to states for projects under the AIP State Block Grant Program to: (1) coordinate and consult with the state, and (2) use adequate state environmental review analyses.

Section 503 -

Authorizes the FAA Administrator to accept funds from an airport sponsor to hire additional staff or obtain the services of consultants to conduct:

(1) special environmental studies related to an airport project;

(2) special studies or reviews to support approved noise compatibility measures;

(3) special studies or reviews to support environmental mitigation in an FAA record of decision or finding of no significant FAA impact; and

(4) the timely processing, review, and completion of environmental activities associated with new or amended flight procedures, such as required navigation performance procedures and area navigation procedures.

Section 504 -

Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant to an airport operator to assist in completing environmental review and assessment activities for proposals to implement flight procedures at an airport that has been approved as part of an airport noise compatibility program.

Section 505 -

Sets forth requirements with respect to the determination of the fair market value of residential properties acquired for soundproofing purposes under an airport development project.

Section 506 -

Prohibits, after December 31, 2015, the operation of any civil subsonic turbojet of 75,000 pounds or less operating out of airports in the continental United States unless the aircraft complies with stage three noise levels, with exceptions for specified temporary operations.

Section 507 -

Directs the Secretary to carry out a pilot program at up to five public-use airports to design, develop, and test new air traffic flow management technology that will allow air traffic controllers to better manage the flow of aircraft on the ground and reduce ground holds and idling times for aircraft. Limits the amount that may be expended at any single public-use airport to $2.5 million.

Section 508 -

Authorizes the FAA Administrator to implement practices for the incorporation of energy-efficient measures in the construction and renovation of FAA air traffic control facilities.

Section 509 -

Expresses the sense of Congress that:

(1) the European Union (EU) should work with other contracting states of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to develop a consensual approach to addressing aircraft greenhouse gas emissions through the ICAO; and

(2) U.S. Government officials, particularly the Secretary and the FAA Administrator, should use all political, diplomatic, and legal tools to ensure that the EU's emissions trading scheme is not applied to U.S. aircraft or the operators of such aircraft, including the mandates that U.S. air carriers provide emissions data to and purchase emissions allowances from or surrender emissions allowances to EU member states.

Section 510 -

Requires an owner or operator of a large hub airport to publish on its website a telephone number to receive aviation noise complaints related to the airport.

Section 511 -

Directs the Secretary to establish a pilot program for the acquisition and use of zero-emission vehicles, including the construction of infrastructure to deliver fuel and services to such vehicles, at public-use airports.

Section 512 -

Directs the Secretary to establish a program to award grants to public-use airport operators to assess airports energy needs and identify opportunities and take specified action to reduce harmful emissions and increase energy efficiency at the airports.

Title VI - FAA Employees and Organization

Section 601 -

Revises requirements for mediation in negotiations over changes to the FAA personnel management system between the FAA Administrator and the exclusive bargaining representatives of FAA employees.

Authorizes the Administrator and employee bargaining representative by mutual agreement to adopt other procedures for the resolution of negotiation disputes or impasses as an alternative to using the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS).

Requires the negotiating parties, if the services of the FMCS do not lead to an agreement, to submit their controversy to the Federal Service Impasses Panel for binding arbitration.

(Currently, the services of the FMCS shall be used and, if their services do not lead to an agreement, the Administrator's proposed change to the personnel management system shall not take effect until 60 days have elapsed after the Administrator has transmitted them to Congress, along with employee objections to the changes, and the reasons for such objections.)

Sec. 602) Allows senior FAA executives and employees to participate in the Presidential Rank Award Program.

Section 603 -

Directs the Comptroller General to study training options for graduates of the Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) program.

Section 604 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to study frontline manager staffing requirements in air traffic control facilities.

Section 605 -

Requires the FAA Administrator to: (1) assess the adequacy of the FAA technical training strategy and improvement plan for airway transportation systems specialists, and (2) make arrangements with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to study FAA assumptions and methods used to determine FAA systems specialist staffing needs.

Section 606 -

Requires the FAA Administrator to implement by October 1, 2012, the staffing model developed by NAS for aviation safety inspectors.

Section 607 -

Authorizes the FAA Administrator to appoint air traffic control specialist candidates who have received control tower operator certification and satisfied all other applicable qualifications (including successful completion of orientation training at the FAA Academy) for placement in airport traffic control facilities.

Requires the Administrator to increase the number of appointments if it is determined that certified air traffic control specialists are more successful in carrying out their duties than those who are uncertified.

Section 608 -

Requires the FAA Administrator to arrange with NAS to study the air traffic controller standards used by the FAA to estimate staffing needs for FAA air traffic controllers.

Section 609 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to study the adequacy of training programs and improvement plan for air traffic controllers.

Directs the DOT Inspector General to assess FAA's air traffic controller scheduling practices.

Section 610 -

Directs the Comptroller General to study conditions of a sampling of FAA facilities.

Section 611 -

Declares that, retroactive to April 1, 1996, the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) shall have the same remedial authority over FAA employee appeals under the FAA personnel management system that the MSPB had as of March 31, 1996.

Title VII - Aviation Insurance

Section 701 -

Extends through FY2013, and authorizes extension through December 31, 2013, existing policies of insurance and reinsurance against loss or damage arising out of any risk from the operation of a domestic or foreign aircraft.

Section 702 -

Extends through December 31, 2013, the authority to certify that an air carrier is a victim of an act of terrorism and is liable for damages only as specified (thus extends certain limits on the third-party liability of air carriers).

Section 704 -

Authorizes the Secretary to use a claims adjuster independent of the underwriting agent to adjust aviation insurance claims.

Title VIII - Miscellaneous

Section 801 -

Exempts from Privacy Act requirements regarding government records on individuals any FAA disclosures to any federal law enforcement, intelligence, protective service, immigration, or national security official in order to assist the official receiving the information in the performance of official duties.

Section 802 -

Authorizes the FAA Administrator, for certification purposes only, to conduct criminal history background checks of airmen by submitting positive identification to fingerprint-based criminal repositories of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or states. Prohibits the FAA Administrator from using such authority to conduct criminal investigations.

Section 803 -

Applies certain civil penalties to violations of specified alcohol and controlled substance testing requirements.

Section 804 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to develop the National Facilities Realignment and Consolidation Report to support the transition to the NextGen System.

Requires the FAA Administrator to: (1) submit the Report to Congress with recommendations on realignment and consolidation of FAA services and facilities, and (2) realign and consolidate such services and facilities in accordance with such recommendations upon congressional approval.

Section 805 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to assess the feasibility of developing a physical means, or combination of physical and procedural means, to prohibit unauthorized access to flight decks of all-cargo aircraft.

Section 806 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to report biennially to Congress on the costs savings that would result from eliminating or consolidating any required FAA reports to Congress found to be obsolete or redundant.

Prohibits the FAA from publishing any required FAA report in printed format unless doing so is essential to the FAA mission. Requires the FAA to publish such reports in electronic form on its website, unless publication would violate the Privacy Act or have an adverse impact on aviation safety or security.

Section 807 -

Prohibits the Secretary from using funds to name, rename, designate, or redesignate any project or program under this Act for a serving Member of Congress, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or Senator.

Section 808 -

Directs the Comptroller General to study the impact of increases in aviation fuel prices on the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and the aviation industry in general.

Section 809 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to study wind turbine lighting systems.

Section 810 -

Directs the Comptroller General to study: (1) the existing airline and intercity passenger rail code sharing arrangements; and (2) the feasibility, costs to taxpayers and other parties, and benefits of increasing intermodal connectivity of airline and intercity passenger rail facilities and systems to improve passenger travel.

Section 811 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to submit to Congress a plan outlining changes to the D.C. Metropolitan Area Special Flight Rules Area that will decrease operational impacts and improve general aviation access to National Capital Region airports.

Section 812 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to: (1) review each FAA program and office (including the Air Traffic Organization) to identify duplicative positions, programs, roles, or offices as well as wasteful practices and inefficient policies; and (2) consolidate, phase-out, eliminate, or streamline anything duplicative, wasteful, redundant, obsolete, or ineffectual.

Section 813 -

Authorizes the FAA Administrator to declare certain revenue derived from or generated by the mining of minerals at a general aviation airport to be greater than the revenue needed to carry out the airport's five-year projected maintenance needs in order to comply with FAA design and safety standards.

Allows an airport sponsor in compliance with specified conditions to allocate such revenues for federal, state, or local transportation infrastructure projects carried out by the airport sponsor or by a local governing body.

Section 814 -

Directs the FAA Administrator when drafting FAA contract proposals for training facilities to ensure: (1) a proposal is drafted so that all parties can fairly compete; and (2) the proposal takes into consideration the most cost-effective location, accessibility, and services options.

Section 815 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to review the state of preparedness and response capability for airports located in flood plains to respond to and seek assistance in rebuilding after a catastrophic flood.

Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to consider as eligible for mitigation assistance the demolition and rebuilding of properties to at least base flood levels or higher, if required either by FEMA or by any state or local ordinance.

Section 816 -

Requires the FAA Administrator to take necessary actions to preserve original FAA aircraft type certificate engineering and technical data related to: (1) approved aircraft type certificate numbers ATC 1 through ATC 713; and (2) Group-2 approved aircraft type certificate numbers 2-1 through 2-554.

Section 817 -

Authorizes the Secretary, subject to certain conditions, to release specified restrictions on the use of property conveyed to an airport, city, or county for airport purposes.

Section 818 -

Expresses the sense of Congress that Los Angeles World Airports, operator of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), should consult regularly with representatives of the surrounding community regarding LAX operations and plans to expand.

Section 819 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to develop a Human Intervention Management Study program for cabin crews employed by U.S. commercial air carriers.

Section 820 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to report to Congress on aeronautical mobile telemetry services.

Section 821 -

Directs the FAA Administrator, in administering federal aviation safety regulations, to allow an aircraft owner or operator who has volunteered for the transportation of an individual for medical purposes to accept reimbursement of operational fuel costs from a volunteer pilot organization.

Section 822 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to establish a pilot program for redevelopment of airport property at up to four public-use airports with an approved noise compatibility program. Makes the federal share of allowable project costs 80%.

Section 823 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to report to Congress on FAA's staffing and scheduling plans for New York and Newark Region air traffic control facilities.

Section 824 -

Exempts the transportation within Alaska of cylinders of compressed oxygen or other oxidizing gases aboard aircraft from compliance with FAA and Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) standards requiring that oxidizing gases aboard aircraft be enclosed in flame resistant outer packaging, without regard to their end use, if:

(1) transportation by ground or water vessel transportation is unavailable and transportation by aircraft is the only practical means of transporting the cylinders to their destination,

(2) the cylinders are secured and covered with a fire-resistant blanket, and

(3) the aircraft operator complies with certain federal notification procedures.

Section 825 -

Rescinds any FAA earmark of funds with more than 90% of the appropriated amount remaining available for obligation at the end of the 9th fiscal year after it was first made available. Permits the FAA Administrator to delay any such rescission if an additional obligation of the earmark is likely to occur during the following 12-month period.

Requires the FAA Administrator to identify and report every FAA earmark with an unobligated balance to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), who shall report a listing for such earmarks to Congress and to the public via the OMB website.

Section 826 -

Directs the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration [TSA]) to ensure, beginning June 1, 2012, that any advanced imaging technology used for the screening of air passengers be equipped with automatic target recognition software (software that produces a generic image of the screened individual).

Section 827 -

Postpones until FY2016 the Secretary's authority to propose, without regard to specified constraints, any regulations governing the design or operation of a commercial space launch vehicle to protect the health and safety of crew and space flight participants.

Section 828 -

Prohibits the Secretary, with a specified exceptions, from issuing or enforcing regulations for the transportation of lithium metal or ion cells or batteries by aircraft that are more stringent than the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, as amended.

Section 829 -

Requires the FAA Administrator to establish milestones and a policy statement for the completion of certain work with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under a specified August 2000 memorandum of understanding regarding application of OSHA requirements to crewmembers while working in an aircraft.

Section 830 -

Authorizes the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security (Department of Transportation [DOT]) to approve or deny within 120 days after receipt the application of an airport operator to have the airport screening of passengers and property be carried out by the screening personnel of a qualified private screening company (security screening opt-out program).

Requires the Under Secretary to: (1) reconsider and approve applications pending between January 1, 2011, and February 3, 2011, that demonstrate the level of screening of passengers and property by private personnel is equal to or greater than that provided by federal personnel; and (2) report to the airport operator and Congress the reasons for the denial of an application.

Title IX - Federal Aviation Research and Development

Section 901 -

Authorizes appropriations for FY2012-FY2015 for civil aviation research and development, including specified research, engineering, and development projects.

Section 903 -

Requires the FAA Administrator to conduct or supervise specified research to develop technologies and methods to assess the risk of and prevent defects, failures, and malfunctions in all classes of drones.

Section 904 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to continue to conduct, through grants and cooperative agreements, research on: (1) the design, construction, rehabilitation, and repair of airfield pavements as well as engineered material restraining systems for such runways at both general aviation and commercial airports, and (2) methods and procedures to improve certification of new technologies for introduction into the national airspace system.

Section 906 -

Converts the airport cooperative research program from a four-year pilot into a permanent program.

Section 907 -

Authorizes the FAA Administrator to increase the federal share of costs of operating regional centers of air transportation excellence and related research activities from a maximum of 50% to a maximum of 75% for any fiscal year if a center is unable to carry out authorized activities without additional funding.

Section 908 -

Authorizes the FAA Administrator to establish a center of excellence for aviation human resource research on: (1) human performance in the air transportation environment, including air traffic controllers, pilots, and technicians; and (2) any other aviation human resource issues pertinent to developing and maintaining a safe and efficient air transportation system.

Section 909 -

Authorizes the FAA Administrator, in coordination with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), to: (1) maintain a research program to assess the potential effect of aviation on the environment and, if warranted, to evaluate approaches to address such effect; and (2) continue research and development into the qualification of and safe transition to the use of unleaded aviation fuel by the fleet of piston engine aircraft.

Section 911 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to establish a research grant program that includes participation of Centers of Excellence for Alternative Jet-Fuel Research in Civil Aircraft to develop technologies that produce jet fuel from alternative sources such as natural gas, biomass, ethanol, butanol, hydrogen and other renewable sources.

Section 912 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to arrange for an independent external review of FAA energy-, environment-, and aviation safety-related research programs.

Section 914 -

Directs the the FAA Administrator to establish a research program that includes participation of Centers of Excellence for Coal-to-Jet-Fuel Research to develop technologies that produce jet fuel from clean coal.

Section 915 -

Requires the FAA Administrator to conduct aviation safety research to reduce the dangers of wake turbulence, volcanic ash, and weather on aircraft.

Section 916 -

Amends the Vision 100--Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act to reauthorize through FY2015 the FAA Center for Excellence for Applied Research and Training in the Use of Advanced Materials in Transport Aircraft.

Section 917 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to implement a research program for the development of air cleaning technology and sensor technology for the engine and auxiliary power unit (APU) bleed air supplied to passenger cabin and flight deck of all pressurized aircraft.

Section 918 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to arrange for an independent external review of the enterprise architecture for the NextGen System.

Section 919 -

Directs the FAA Administrator to prepare and submit a problem statement to the Transportation Research Board for the purpose of initiating a study under the Airport Cooperative Research Program of the best sustainability practices for the design, construction, planning, and operation of an airport.

Title X - National Mediation Board

Section 1001 -

Amends the Railway Labor Act to grant the National Mediation Board (NMB) the authority to make, amend, and rescind such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of that Act.

Section 1002 -

Revises requirements for a secret ballot to ascertain rail carrier employee choice of authorized representatives without interference, influence, or coercion by the carrier.

Requires the NMB, in cases where there are three or more options (including the option of not being represented by any labor organization) on the ballot that do not receive a majority of the valid votes cast, to arrange for a second (runoff) election between those options receiving the largest and the second largest number of votes.

Section 1003 -

Prohibits the NMB from directing an election or using any other method to determine the representative of a craft or class unless the application for representative certification is supported by a showing of interest from at least 50% of the employees in the craft or class.

Section 1004 -

Requires the Comptroller General to evaluate and audit NMB programs and expenditures.

Title XI - Airport and Airway Trust Fund Provisions and Related Taxes

Section 1101 -

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through FY2015: (1) excise taxes on aviation fuels and air transportation of persons and property, and (2) authority for expenditures from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund.

Section 1103 -

Imposes through FY2015 a surtax of 14.1 cents per gallon on fuel used in aircraft which is part of a fractional ownership program.

Section 1104 -

Prohibits inclusion in mandatory disclosures of passenger excise taxes on airline tickets of any amounts not attributable to such taxes (non-tax charges).

Section 1105 -

Allows tax-exempt private activity bond financing for fixed-wing aircraft equipped for, and exclusively dedicated to providing, acute care emergency medical services.

Section 1106 -

Allows commercial airline employees who had participated in a commercial airline's tax-exempt defined benefit pension plan, that was terminated or otherwise restricted, to transfer to a traditional individual retirement account (IRA) any amount received from the airline resulting from a bankruptcy proceeding filed between September 11, 2001, and January 1, 2007.

Permits also a rollover of such an amount from a Roth IRA to a traditional IRA. Allows exclusion from the gross income of such employees of any such amount received from an airline that has been transferred under this Act to a traditional IRA.

Section 1107 -

Terminates the exemption from air transportation excise taxes for turbine engine powered aircraft (small jet aircraft) operated on nonestablished lines.

Section 1108 -

Revises the denial of an income deduction to the issuing corporation for any premium paid upon the repurchase of a bond, debenture, note, or other evidence of indebtedness which is convertible into the stock of a corporation in control of, or controlled by, the issuing corporation, to the extent the repurchase price exceeds the adjusted issue price plus a normal call premium on bonds or other evidences of indebtedness which are not convertible.

Replaces the specification of a corporation in control of, or controlled by, the issuing corporation with that of a corporation in the same parent-subsidiary controlled group as the issuing corporation.

Title XII - Compliance With Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010

Section 1201 -

Requires determination of the budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, by reference to the latest statement entitled "Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation" for this Act.

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H.R. 658 (112th): FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012

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House Democratic Caucus Summary

H.R. 658 (112^th): FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012