Air traffic control facility levels

(a) Review of air traffic control facility level criteria (1) In general The National Validation Team may review the criteria and procedures used to assess, determine, and validate the classification level of air traffic control facilities. (2) Considerations To conduct the review required under paragraph (1), the National Validation Team may consider— (A) the accuracy of the factors and multipliers used to calculate the traffic count index and other related formulas for air traffic control facilities; (B) whether new relevant factors and multipliers should be incorporated into such formulas to more accurately reflect the complexity of the facility operations; and (C) the findings and recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board with respect to air traffic control facility levels. (3) Update criteria and procedures Upon completion of the review of criteria and procedures under this subsection, the National Validation Team may revise, as appropriate, such criteria and procedures. (4) Conforming amendments to FAA documents In issuing such revised guidance, the National Validation Team may recommend revisions to FAA Order 7210.57, titled Traffic Counting, Reporting, and Processing for Determining Facility Classification Levels, or any successor document, and corresponding policy or guidance materials to reflect any criteria and procedures revised pursuant to paragraph (3). (b) Reassessment of air traffic control facility levels (1) In general Upon completion of the review conducted under subsection (a), the National Validation Team shall reassess, taking into account any revisions to criteria and procedures revised under such subsection, the air traffic control facility level at— (A) the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport; and (B) any other air traffic control facilities with high volumes of mixed helicopter and airplane traffic. (2) Report Not later than 1 year after completion of the review conducted under subsection (a), the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report detailing the findings of the reassessment required under paragraph (1) and recommendations with respect to the classification level of air traffic control facilities described in such paragraph. (3) Implementation If the National Validation Team determines that a reclassification of the air traffic control facilities described in paragraph (1) to a higher level is appropriate, the National Validation Team may take any such actions as necessary to do so. (c) Rule of Construction Nothing in this section may be construed to interfere with any agreement between a governmental entity and the exclusive bargaining representative of air traffic controllers certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code, including requirements under sections 5333(b) and 40122 of title 49, United States Code, and section 7106(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code. (d) National Validation Team defined In this section, the term National Validation Team means the joint working group comprised of the FAA and the exclusive bargaining representative of air traffic controllers certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code, established in May 2011 to administer and assess the agreed-upon calculations, formulas, and standards related to air traffic control facility levels.