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HR 7501

Safe Flights for Passengers and Flight Crews Act

119th Congress Introduced by Tim Kennedy and 1 co-sponsor

The bill moves passenger-carrying scheduled charters with more than 9 seats from Part 380 to Part 121, 90 days after enactment.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 7501

Overview

  • Bill: H.R. 7501, the Safe Flights for Passengers and Flight Crews Act
  • Congress: 119th Session, 2nd Congress (House filed)
  • Purpose: Direct the FAA to regulate certain passenger-carrying on-demand and public charter operations by reclassifying them under standard air-transport regulatory framework, with the aim of eliminating public charters from eligibility for on-demand operations under part 380, and moving applicable operations to Part 121 rules for larger passenger aircraft.

Main purpose and intent

  • The bill seeks to tighten regulatory control over passenger-carrying charter flights that currently function as public charters under part 380.
  • It requires that, beginning 90 days after enactment, passenger-carrying scheduled charter operations with more than 9 passenger seats (excluding crew seats) be regulated as either domestic or flag operations under Part 121, depending on the operation’s characteristics.
  • In effect, the bill would remove these larger public-charter, on-demand operations from the Part 380 on-demand eligibility framework and place them under standard Part 121 safety and operating requirements.

Key provisions

  • Section 2(a) On-demand eligibility
    • Establishes that within 90 days after enactment, any passenger-carrying scheduled charter operation (with more than 9 passenger seats, excluding crew) must be regulated as a Part 121 domestic or flag operation by the FAA.
  • Section 2(b) Rulemaking timing
    • The effect takes place 90 days after enactment, even if the FAA has not yet issued implementing regulations.
  • Section 2(c) Definition
    • Defines “passenger-carrying scheduled charter operation” as a common carriage passenger-carrying operation for compensation or hire conducted by an air carrier or commercial operator that is a public charter under Part 380, where the certificate holder or its representative offers in advance the departure location, departure time, and arrival location.
  • Short title
    • Referred to as the “Safe Flights for Passengers and Flight Crews Act.”

Who or what would be affected

  • Larger passenger-carrying charter operations (public charters) with more than 9 passenger seats on flights where the operator offers in advance specified departure/arrival details.
  • The FAA regulatory framework would shift these operations from Part 380 on-demand/public charter eligibility to Part 121 operation status (domestic or flag operations, as appropriate).

Regulatory and timeline impacts

  • Regulatory shift: Transition from on-demand eligibility under Part 380 to Part 121 compliance for qualifying charter flights.
  • Timeline: Automatic effective date 90 days after enactment for the new classification, regardless of whether implementing FAA regulations are issued.
  • Administrative action: While the bill requires the shift, it anticipates subsequent FAA rulemaking to implement related regulatory details, though the operative effect does not wait for final regulations.

Potential implications and considerations

  • Safety and oversight: Bringing broader charter operations under Part 121 could tighten regulatory oversight, safety requirements, crew qualifications, and operational standards consistent with standard airline operations.
  • Industry impact: Public charter operators with large seating capacity may need to adjust operations, business models, or fleet utilization to comply with Part 121 requirements.
  • Passenger protections: Potential improvements in consistency of consumer protections, transparency, and safety compliance due to standardized Part 121 rules.

If you’d like, I can compare this bill to current Part 380/public charter rules and outline specific regulatory differences and potential compliance steps for affected operators.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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