Working group to evaluate shared frequency around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

(a) In general Not later than 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall convene a working group (in this section referred to as the Working Group) to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the safety benefits and risks of requiring all aircraft to use the same communications frequency during any period in which helicopter and local air traffic control positions are combined in the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport air traffic control tower. (b) Members The Working Group convened under subsection (a) shall be comprised of representatives of— (1) the exclusive bargaining representatives of air traffic controllers certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code; (2) the organization representing air traffic control operational supervisors and managers; (3) not fewer than 3 separate organizations representing the certified collective bargaining representatives of pilots operating under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; (4) air medical services; (5) an organization representing helicopter aviation operators and pilots; (6) an organization representing business aviation operators and pilots; (7) air carriers operating under part 121 of title 14, United States Code; (8) an individual that has expertise in an operational or academic discipline that is relevant to the analysis of human factors in aviation, which may include air carrier operations, line pilot expertise, air traffic control, linguistics, human-machine integration, general aviation operations, and organizational behavior and culture; (9) the FAA, provided the representative has expertise on flight operations in the area described in subsection (a); (10) the Department of Defense, provided the representative has expertise on Department of Defense flight operations in the area described in subsection (a); (11) the Coast Guard, provided the representative has expertise on Coast Guard flight operations in the area described in subsection (a); (12) the National Transportation Safety Board; and (13) other organizations or agencies as determined necessary by the Administrator. (c) Local operator preference The members described in paragraphs (3), (4), (5), (6), and (7) of subsection (b) shall be, or represent, individuals who operate in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Special Flight Rules Area, as defined in subpart V of part 93 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. (d) Government representatives The members described in paragraphs (11), (12), (13), (14), and, in the case of a representative chosen by the Administrator that is from a governmental agency, (15) of subsection (b)— (1) may not be political appointees; and (2) shall be nonvoting members of the Working Group. (e) Duration (1) In general Members of the Working Group shall be appointed for the duration of the Working Group. (2) Length of existence (A) In general The Working Group shall have an initial duration of 1 year. (B) Optional extension The Administrator may extend the duration of the Working Group for an additional period of up to 1 year. (f) Considerations In conducting the comprehensive evaluation under subsection (a), the Working Group shall, at minimum, consider— (1) the benefits or detriments to pilot and air traffic controller situation awareness; (2) to the greatest extent possible, the human factors that would impact pilot and air traffic controller situation awareness; (3) to the greatest extent possible, the human factors that would impact pilot and air traffic controllers during critical phases of flight; (4) existing products by other working groups related to human factors in aviation safety; (5) pilot training requirements; (6) air traffic controller training requirements; (7) if any, technological limitations or challenges that would impede aircraft from using the same communications frequency; (8) the potential for overlapping, conflicting, and simultaneous communication transmissions, prior to and after any improvements made as a result of the assessment conducted pursuant to section 115; (9) the potential for misdirected, missed, or stepped on communications if requiring all aircraft to use the same communication frequency; (10) National Transportation Safety Board recommendations pertaining to miscommunications on crowded frequencies, including relevant recommendations included in the National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Investigation Report AIR–26–02 adopted on January 27, 2026; and (11) solicited feedback from air carriers operating under part 121 and part 135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, and general aviation operators under part 91 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. (g) Report Not later than 6 months after the conclusion of the Working Group, the Working Group shall submit to the Administrator and the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the findings and recommendations resulting from the activities carried out under this section. (h) Implementation Not later than 6 months after receiving recommendations outlined in the report under subsection (g), the Administrator shall operationally validate such recommendations and may take such action, as appropriate, to implement such recommendations.