Study on dynamic restricted area

(a) In general Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall initiate a study on the feasibility, costs, and benefits of establishing a dynamic restricted area for rotorcraft and powered-lift (as such terms are defined in section 1.1 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this section)) over the Potomac River to the north, south, and east of DCA. Such study’s final report shall be— (1) completed not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section; and (2) submitted to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives. (b) Considerations In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall review, but is not limited to— (1) terrestrial and aircraft-based technology or equipment improvements required to operationalize a dynamic restricted area inside the FRZ and in proximity to DCA; (2) the training requirements to enable the use of an automated visual warning system in a way that functions as a traffic signal that is similar to the system deployed in the FRZ, as of the date of enactment of this section, to warn aircraft that they are entering a dynamic restricted airspace that is active or inactive; (3) the ways in which the dynamic restricted area can be depicted on various paper and electronic aeronautical charts and other navigational materials; (4) the feasibility of using automated audio sounds to indicate active or inactive restricted area, including a continuous tone being generated on a certain aviation VHF and UHF radio communication and VOR and TACAN frequencies that are modulated in tone frequency and tone length (such as Instrument Landing System marker sounds) such that they are received by existing aviation VHF or UHF radio communications transceivers and an automated visual warning system deployed in the FRZ; (5) the potential and mitigation steps for pilot and air traffic controller distraction; (6) procedures to allow air traffic controllers to override any automatic function of the system for manual control; (7) the creation of an indication or other signal in the air traffic control tower at DCA and the Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control Facility (TRACON) to communicate the status of whether the dynamic restricted area is active or inactive; (8) the creation of methods to anticipate fixed wing aircraft taking off from DCA so to provide sufficient warning to rotorcraft and powered-lift aircraft of the imminent activation of the dynamic restricted area; and (9) any other matters determined appropriate by the Administrator. (c) Briefing Not later than 30 days after completing the study required by subsection (a), the Administrator shall brief the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives on the results of the study. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) DCA The term DCA means Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. (2) Dynamic restricted area The term dynamic restricted area means an area of restriction placed on specific areas of airspace, which is contemplated to be an area over the Potomac River that is 4 miles north, south, and east of DCA, to prevent the transit of rotorcraft and powered lift aircraft that activates independently from air traffic controller action and automatically by computer action based on criteria that uses position, altitude, and velocity data from fixed wing aircraft. (3) FRZ The term FRZ means the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Flight Restricted Zone, as defined by section 93.335 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act). (4) TACAN The term TACAN means tactical air navigation pursuant to Appendix 3 Abbreviation/Acronyms of the Aeronautical Information Manual. (5) UHF The term UHF means ultra high frequency pursuant to Appendix 3 Abbreviation/Acronyms of the Aeronautical Information Manual. (6) VHF The term VHF means very high frequency pursuant to Appendix 3 Abbreviation/Acronyms of the Aeronautical Information Manual. (7) VOR The term VOR means VHF Omnidirectional Range pursuant to Appendix 3 Abbreviation/Acronyms of the Aeronautical Information Manual.