HR7553-119

What This Bill Does

This bill directs the FAA to make type certification more transparent and predictable for aircraft, engines, propellers, powered-lift, and advanced air mobility technologies. Within 180 days, FAA must publish a plan to improve the issue-paper process, use industry consensus standards where appropriate, stabilize recurring policy, and consider performance-based standards. Within 270 days, FAA must amend Order 8110.112A and related documents to set expected timelines for certification milestones, issue papers, special-condition rulemaking, exemption petitions, means-of-compliance proposals, and applicant responses, while excluding complex unsafe-condition issues. FAA must consult with manufacturers, advanced air mobility stakeholders, airport and vertiport infrastructure providers, aviation safety bargaining representatives, and others. It must report annually on performance against timelines and policy stability. FAA also must amend issue-paper criteria within 180 days and publish delegation guidance within 90 days covering applicant eligibility, routine versus safety-critical findings, management review when delegation is not used, and how delegation affects safety, predictability, and U.S. leadership. The timelines create no new legal rights and are not judicially reviewable.

Who Benefits and How

Aircraft manufacturers, advanced air mobility developers, aircraft engine manufacturers, propeller manufacturers, airport and vertiport infrastructure providers, and FAA applicants benefit from clearer certification timelines, issue-paper criteria, consensus-standard use, and delegation guidance.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The FAA, Aircraft Certification Service, aviation safety inspectors, aviation safety engineers, and congressional transportation committees must write guidance, consult stakeholders, track timelines, report performance, maintain safety discretion, and manage delegation decisions.

Key Provisions

• Requires FAA within 180 days to publish a public plan improving issue papers, consensus-standard use, stable policy, and performance-based standards.
• Requires FAA within 270 days to amend Order 8110.112A and set expected timelines for certification milestones and responses.
• Requires FAA issue-paper criteria and annual updates that convert stable recurring issue papers into policy or standards.
• Requires FAA delegation guidance within 90 days for applicant eligibility, routine findings, safety-critical findings, and management review.
• Limits litigation by stating the expected timelines create no new legal right and are not subject to judicial review.