High-speed air travel readiness study

(a) In general The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, in consultation with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and any other relevant stakeholders the Administrator determines appropriate, including industry and academia, shall conduct a study to assess the capability of large hub airports, including the largest airports in the United States, to accommodate high-speed aircraft. (b) Considerations In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall evaluate— (1) runway length and structural integrity; (2) ground equipment compatibility, including fueling and maintenance facilities; (3) air traffic control systems and procedures; (4) environmental regulations that may prevent the use of high-speed aircraft at an airport described in subsection (a), including any such regulation relating to noise pollution or emissions; and (5) potential economic benefits and challenges relating to accommodating high-speed aircraft at any such airport. (c) Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes— (1) the results of the study required under subsection (a); (2) recommendations for policy changes and infrastructure improvements necessary to facilitate the use of high-speed aircraft at the airports described in subsection (a); and (3) estimated costs and a projected timeline for any such improvement. (d) Definitions In this Act: (1) Appropriate committees of Congress The term appropriate committees of Congress means the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives. (2) High-speed aircraft The term high-speed aircraft means an aircraft operating at speeds in excess of Mach 1, including supersonic and hypersonic aircraft. (3) Hypersonic The term hypersonic means flights operating at speeds that exceed Mach 5. (4) Large hub airport The term large hub airport has the meaning given that term in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code. (5) Supersonic The term supersonic means flights operating at speeds in excess of Mach 1 but less than Mach 5.