FAA SMS Compliance Review Act of 2026

Independent FAA safety review panel

If enacted, the bill would require the FAA Administrator to convene an independent expert review panel within 60 days to evaluate FAA implementation of a Safety Management System. The panel would include NASA experts, labor representatives (including airline flight crew and FAA air traffic controller bargaining reps), at least five independent SMS experts with 10+ years' experience, air carrier and Part 21 certificate-holder reps, other aerospace representatives, a U.S. Mission to ICAO rep, and a non-voting NTSB rep. Up to five FAA advisory employees (at least three SMS implementers) may advise the panel. The panel must review SMS policy, risk management, assurance, promotion, safety culture, audits, training, voluntary reporting programs, and integration across FAA offices including the Air Traffic Organization, the Office of Aviation Safety, and the Office of Airports. The panel would have limited authority to enter FAA sites, inspect records, and interview staff when a majority agrees, but non-federal members could only see certain de-identified materials and must sign nondisclosure agreements. The panel must deliver findings and majority-endorsed recommendations within 180 days of its first meeting, the Administrator would publish the report within 5 days, and must brief Congress on implementation 180 days after submission and every 90 days after; the panel would terminate after it files the report. The panel would be exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act and proprietary or protected information would remain shielded from FOIA as allowed by law.