- Review of FAA Policies and Regulations (Section 2(a))
- Due Date: Within 6 months after enactment.
- Action: The FAA Administrator, in consultation with specified stakeholders, must review existing FAA policies and regulations related to low-altitude airspace safety.
Objective: Identify appropriate policy, operational, or technical improvements, including updated requirements related to markings on slacklines.
Considerations for Review (Section 2(a)(2))
The Administrator must consider:
- Adequacy and clarity of obstruction marking and lighting policies for slacklines, highlines, wires, and similar temporary obstructions, and their effectiveness in reducing low-altitude aircraft strikes.
- Potential improvements to Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), obstacle data, and other aeronautical information to support consistent digital depiction across flight planning tools, EFBs, avionics, and related systems (including coordinates, dimensions, effective dates/times, responsible parties, and required markings/lighting).
- Enhanced coordination with federal, state, tribal, and local land management agencies (e.g., National Park Service, BLM, USFS) regarding activities that create low-altitude hazards.
- Whether penalties for violations of low-altitude airspace requirements are sufficient.
- Improvements to FAA outreach to non-aviation communities whose activities may create airspace hazards to raise awareness and compliance.
Stakeholder Consultation (Section 2(a)(3))
Stakeholders to consult include:
- Helicopter and powered-lift operators and pilots
- Air medical operators
- General aviation pilots and aircraft owners
- Agricultural aviation operators
- Uncrewed aircraft system operators
- Aviation safety experts with vertical flight expertise
- Other relevant stakeholders as determined by the Administrator
Updated Regulations, Guidance, and Policies (Section 2(b))
If the review finds that current policies do not adequately address markings or lighting for slacklines or other temporary obstructions, the Administrator must update FAA regulations, guidance, or policies as necessary.
Timeline: Updates to be completed not later than 1 year after enactment.
Congressional Briefing (Section 2(c))
Not later than 90 days after completing the review, the Administrator must brief:
- Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- Senate Committee on Appropriations
- House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
- House Committee on Appropriations
Briefing content to include:
- Findings of the review
- Regulations, guidance, or policies to be updated
- Any recommended legislative actions to improve low-altitude airspace safety
