A bill to provide for updates to the Federal Aviation Administration type certification process to support development of new and novel technologies, and for other purposes.
Sponsored By: Senator Peter Welch
Introduced
Summary
Would streamline and clarify FAA type certification for new aviation technologies and advanced air mobility. It would require public plans, deadlines, and updated delegation rules to speed approvals while keeping safety central.
Show full summary
- Aircraft and technology developers would get clearer, public plans and standard timelines. The bill would require the FAA to publish a plan within 180 days and set standard milestone timelines within 270 days to guide certification, issue papers, and responses.
- Airport and vertiport planners would be consulted about infrastructure impacts. The bill would require FAA to consult providers when certification could require design or infrastructure changes.
- FAA staff and applicants would see updated delegation guidance within 90 days. The guidance would set who is eligible for delegation, classify findings as routine or safety-critical, and require documentation when FAA keeps work in-house.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Updated FAA delegation rules
If enacted, the FAA would post updated delegation guidance within 90 days on who can be delegated type‑certification work. The guidance would set eligibility rules, say when findings are routine or safety‑critical, and require documentation and management review if the FAA does not use authorized representatives. It would also require the FAA to assess how delegation keeps safety and supports predictable certification for new technologies.
Clearer FAA certification plans and timelines
If enacted, the FAA would post a public plan within 180 days to improve how it handles certification issue papers. The FAA would update its issue‑paper rules within 180 days and set standard expected timelines for major certification milestones within 270 days. The timelines would cover FAA response times, rule publication after special conditions, petitions, and applicant replies, but would not apply to complex unsafe issues the Administrator finds. The FAA would consult industry groups, air mobility and infrastructure stakeholders, and FAA bargaining representatives while making these plans, and would report yearly to two congressional committees on progress and missed deadlines.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Peter Welch
VT • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]
NC • R
Sponsored 2/12/2026
John Curtis
UT • R
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Cynthia Lummis
WY • R
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]
MT • R
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
KS • R
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
IN • R
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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