Summary#
This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to buy and install certified Airborne Position Reference Tools at air traffic control towers that: (1) operate under the Contract Tower Program (49 U.S.C. 47124) and (2) do not already have Standard Terminal Automation Replacement Systems (STARS) or other situational awareness tools. The FAA must do this within 1 year after the bill becomes law. The bill also requires the FAA or the original equipment manufacturer to install and maintain STARS or equivalent systems at contract towers that lack them, within 1 year. It adds a requirement to set up training, in consultation with contract tower operators, for controllers to use the new equipment. The bill directs the Department of Transportation to reimburse airport sponsors or contract towers that bought and installed certified situational awareness systems before the FAA’s installation, either by reimbursement or retroactive grant funding under 49 U.S.C. 47124(b). Finally, it adds a specific authorization of funds to cover acquisition, installation, and annual operating expenses of these Airborne Position Reference Tools for affected contract towers.
What it means for you#
- If you work at or use an airport with a contract tower that does not have STARS or similar tools, the FAA is required to install certified position reference equipment within one year of the law taking effect.
- If your airport already bought and installed a certified system before FAA installation, you may be eligible for reimbursement or retroactive grant funding.
- Air traffic controllers at affected contract towers will receive periodic training on the new equipment as part of an FAA program developed with contract tower operators.
- The FAA or its contractors will be responsible for installing and maintaining the systems.
Expenses#
- The bill explicitly authorizes the acquisition, installation, and annual operating expenses for certified Airborne Position Reference Tools at affected contract towers by amending 49 U.S.C. 48101(c).
- The bill requires purchase, installation, and maintenance of STARS or equivalent systems for qualifying contract towers and provides for reimbursement or retroactive grants when towers independently acquired certified systems before FAA installation.
- No publicly available information on total cost estimates, budgetary impacts, or appropriations amounts is included in the bill text.
Proponents' View#
No publicly available information.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.