Airborne collision avoidance systems for rotorcraft

(a) In general Not later than December 31, 2026, the Administrator shall take necessary action with the appropriate standards-setting organization to finalize and publish minimum operational performance standards for the collision avoidance system known as Airborne Collision Avoidance System Xr (in this section referred to as ACAS Xr) that uses both ADS–B In and a second independent source of target aircraft data, such as transponder interrogations. (b) ACAS Xr aviation rulemaking committee (1) Establishment Not later than 30 days after the date on which the appropriate standards-setting organization publishes minimal operational performance standards for ACAS Xr under subsection (a), or January 31, 2027, (whichever is earlier), the Administrator shall establish an aviation rulemaking committee (in this section referred to as the Committee) to review and develop findings and recommendations to require selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lift aircraft be equipped and operating with ACAS Xr that has ADS–B In and is configured to provide visual and audible alerting to the pilot and flight crew. (2) Composition The Committee shall consist of members appointed by the Administrator, including representatives of— (A) rotorcraft operating under part 135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; (B) rotorcraft operating under part 91 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; (C) rotorcraft manufacturers; (D) an organization representing rotorcraft operators and pilots; (E) an organization representing rotorcraft air medical services; (F) general aviation aircraft manufacturers; (G) powered-lift aircraft operators and manufacturers; (H) avionics manufacturers; (I) supplemental type certificate holders; (J) modification service providers; (K) exclusive bargaining representatives of air traffic controllers certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code; (L) the certified bargaining representative of aviation safety inspectors and engineers for the FAA; (M) aviation safety experts with specific knowledge of human factors or human factors experts with specific knowledge of aviation safety; (N) a career representative from the National Transportation Safety Board with subject matter expertise as an observer; and (O) any other stakeholders the Administrator determines appropriate. (3) Considerations In developing the findings and recommendations required under paragraph (1), the Committee shall consider— (A) any anticipated modifications to the minimum operational performance standards of ACAS Xr that are required by subsection (c)(1)(B); (B) the anticipated certification timeline for ACAS Xr equipment given the technical complexity and requisite procedures for approval; (C) a projected deadline for equipping newly manufactured selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lift aircraft with ACAS Xr that considers— (i) the safety benefits of ACAS Xr; (ii) the anticipated timeline needed for the FAA to approve the installation of ACAS Xr on various rotorcraft and powered-lift aircraft or for various operations; (iii) the commercial availability of the necessary components associated with ACAS Xr; and (iv) the operational and technical considerations associated with installing ACAS Xr on newly manufactured selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lift aircraft; (D) a projected deadline to retrofit selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lifted aircraft with ACAS Xr that considers— (i) the safety benefits of ACAS Xr; (ii) the feasibility of using existing antennas of existing collision prevention systems equipped in selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lift aircraft; (iii) the feasibility and cost associated with retrofitting selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lift aircraft not equipped with existing collision avoidance systems; (iv) the commercial availability of the necessary components associated with ACAS Xr; and (v) the operational and technical considerations associated with retrofitting selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lift aircraft; (E) actions that the Administrator can take to prioritize the certification and installation of ACAS Xr; (F) the interaction of ACAS Xr with existing collision prevention technologies; (G) the efficacy of ACAS Xr in low-altitude and high-density airspace environments; (H) any available safety data assessing the effectiveness of ACAS Xr in reducing midair collision risk; (I) related training for air traffic controllers, pilots, and others; (J) National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Investigation Report AIR–26–02 adopted on January 27, 2026; and (K) any other considerations the Committee determines appropriate. (4) Report Not later than 1 year after the establishment of the Committee, the Committee shall submit to the Administrator and the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the findings and the recommendations developed by the Committee under this subsection. (c) Rulemaking and modification of minimal operating performance standards (1) In general Not later than 18 months after the submission of the report required under subsection (b)(4), or 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act (whichever is earlier), the Administrator shall— (A) issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to prohibit persons from operating selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lift aircraft unless such rotorcraft or powered-lift aircraft are equipped and operating with ACAS Xr that uses both ADS–B In and transponder interrogations, as required under the minimum operational performance standards as required under subsection (a); and (B) take necessary actions with the appropriate standards-setting organization to modify the minimal operational performance standards for ACAS Xr to— (i) update traffic advisory aural alert standards to include clock position, relative altitude, range and vertical tendency; and (ii) integrate directional traffic symbols into visual displays. (2) Contents The notice of proposed rulemaking required under paragraph (1)(A) shall include, at a minimum— (A) appropriate guidance for the certification of ACAS Xr systems; (B) defined standards for the modifications to such systems described in paragraph (1)(B); (C) a deadline for any newly manufactured selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lift aircraft to be equipped with ACAS Xr, considering the findings and recommendations developed pursuant to subsection (b); (D) a deadline for selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lift aircraft to be retrofit with ACAS Xr, considering the findings and recommendations developed pursuant to subsection (b); and (E) a deadline for selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lift aircraft to be equipped with collision prevention technology pursuant to section 104, not to exceed December 31, 2031. (3) Final rule Not later than 18 months after the issuance of a notice of proposed rulemaking under paragraph (1)(A), the Administrator shall issue a final rule associated with such proposed rulemaking. (d) Technical assistance The Administrator shall provide technical assistance to facilitating equipage across the entire fleet of affected aircraft to provide support for selected rotorcraft operators and selected powered-lift aircraft operators in complying with the requirements of this section. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Selected rotorcraft The term selected rotorcraft means a non-military rotorcraft operating in Class B airspace. (2) Powered-lift aircraft The term powered-lift aircraft has the meaning given the term powered-lift in section 1.1 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. (3) Selected powered-lift aircraft The term selected powered-lift aircraft means a non-military powered-lift aircraft operating in Class B airspace.

(a) In general Not later than December 31, 2026, the Administrator shall take necessary action with the appropriate standards-setting organization to finalize and publish minimum operational performance standards for the collision avoidance system known as Airborne Collision Avoidance System Xr (in this section referred to as ACAS Xr) that uses both ADS–B In and a second independent source of target aircraft data, such as transponder interrogations. (b) ACAS Xr aviation rulemaking committee (1) Establishment Not later than 30 days after the date on which the appropriate standards-setting organization publishes minimal operational performance standards for ACAS Xr under subsection (a), or January 31, 2027, (whichever is earlier), the Administrator shall establish an aviation rulemaking committee (in this section referred to as the Committee) to review and develop findings and recommendations to require selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lift aircraft be equipped and operating with ACAS Xr that has ADS–B In and is configured to provide visual and audible alerting to the pilot and flight crew. (2) Composition The Committee shall consist of members appointed by the Administrator, including representatives of— (A) rotorcraft operating under part 135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; (B) rotorcraft operating under part 91 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; (C) rotorcraft manufacturers; (D) an organization representing rotorcraft operators and pilots; (E) an organization representing rotorcraft air medical services; (F) general aviation aircraft manufacturers; (G) powered-lift aircraft operators and manufacturers; (H) avionics manufacturers; (I) supplemental type certificate holders; (J) modification service providers; (K) exclusive bargaining representatives of air traffic controllers certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code; (L) the certified bargaining representative of aviation safety inspectors and engineers for the FAA; (M) aviation safety experts with specific knowledge of human factors or human factors experts with specific knowledge of aviation safety; (N) a career representative from the National Transportation Safety Board with subject matter expertise as an observer; and (O) any other stakeholders the Administrator determines appropriate. (3) Considerations In developing the findings and recommendations required under paragraph (1), the Committee shall consider— (A) any anticipated modifications to the minimum operational performance standards of ACAS Xr that are required by subsection (c)(1)(B); (B) the anticipated certification timeline for ACAS Xr equipment given the technical complexity and requisite procedures for approval; (C) a projected deadline for equipping newly manufactured selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lift aircraft with ACAS Xr that considers— (i) the safety benefits of ACAS Xr; (ii) the anticipated timeline needed for the FAA to approve the installation of ACAS Xr on various rotorcraft and powered-lift aircraft or for various operations; (iii) the commercial availability of the necessary components associated with ACAS Xr; and (iv) the operational and technical considerations associated with installing ACAS Xr on newly manufactured selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lift aircraft; (D) a projected deadline to retrofit selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lifted aircraft with ACAS Xr that considers— (i) the safety benefits of ACAS Xr; (ii) the feasibility of using existing antennas of existing collision prevention systems equipped in selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lift aircraft; (iii) the feasibility and cost associated with retrofitting selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lift aircraft not equipped with existing collision avoidance systems; (iv) the commercial availability of the necessary components associated with ACAS Xr; and (v) the operational and technical considerations associated with retrofitting selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lift aircraft; (E) actions that the Administrator can take to prioritize the certification and installation of ACAS Xr; (F) the interaction of ACAS Xr with existing collision prevention technologies; (G) the efficacy of ACAS Xr in low-altitude and high-density airspace environments; (H) any available safety data assessing the effectiveness of ACAS Xr in reducing midair collision risk; (I) related training for air traffic controllers, pilots, and others; (J) National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Investigation Report AIR–26–02 adopted on January 27, 2026; and (K) any other considerations the Committee determines appropriate. (4) Report Not later than 1 year after the establishment of the Committee, the Committee shall submit to the Administrator and the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the findings and the recommendations developed by the Committee under this subsection. (c) Rulemaking and modification of minimal operating performance standards (1) In general Not later than 18 months after the submission of the report required under subsection (b)(4), or 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act (whichever is earlier), the Administrator shall— (A) issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to prohibit persons from operating selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lift aircraft unless such rotorcraft or powered-lift aircraft are equipped and operating with ACAS Xr that uses both ADS–B In and transponder interrogations, as required under the minimum operational performance standards as required under subsection (a); and (B) take necessary actions with the appropriate standards-setting organization to modify the minimal operational performance standards for ACAS Xr to— (i) update traffic advisory aural alert standards to include clock position, relative altitude, range and vertical tendency; and (ii) integrate directional traffic symbols into visual displays. (2) Contents The notice of proposed rulemaking required under paragraph (1)(A) shall include, at a minimum— (A) appropriate guidance for the certification of ACAS Xr systems; (B) defined standards for the modifications to such systems described in paragraph (1)(B); (C) a deadline for any newly manufactured selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lift aircraft to be equipped with ACAS Xr, considering the findings and recommendations developed pursuant to subsection (b); (D) a deadline for selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lift aircraft to be retrofit with ACAS Xr, considering the findings and recommendations developed pursuant to subsection (b); and (E) a deadline for selected rotorcraft and selected powered-lift aircraft to be equipped with collision prevention technology pursuant to section 104, not to exceed December 31, 2031. (3) Final rule Not later than 18 months after the issuance of a notice of proposed rulemaking under paragraph (1)(A), the Administrator shall issue a final rule associated with such proposed rulemaking. (d) Technical assistance The Administrator shall provide technical assistance to facilitating equipage across the entire fleet of affected aircraft to provide support for selected rotorcraft operators and selected powered-lift aircraft operators in complying with the requirements of this section. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Selected rotorcraft The term selected rotorcraft means a non-military rotorcraft operating in Class B airspace. (2) Powered-lift aircraft The term powered-lift aircraft has the meaning given the term powered-lift in section 1.1 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. (3) Selected powered-lift aircraft The term selected powered-lift aircraft means a non-military powered-lift aircraft operating in Class B airspace.