Air Traffic Situational Awareness Enhancement Act

Nicholas J. Begich III

Republican · AK · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R-MP)Original· 2026-04-30
• Laura Gillen (D-NY-4)Original· 2026-04-30

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

2026-04-30

Source: Congress.gov

The FAA would be required to buy and install specialized equipment at air traffic control towers that helps accurately track and display aircraft positions in real-time. This equipment, known as certified airborne position reference tools, would improve the accuracy and safety of air traffic control operations by giving controllers better information about where planes are located. The change would primarily affect air traffic controllers and the flying public by enhancing the precision of flight tracking and coordination.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8597 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8597 To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to acquire and install certified airborne position reference tools at air traffic control towers, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 30, 2026 Mr. Begich (for himself, Ms. Gillen, and Ms. King-Hinds) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to acquire and install certified airborne position reference tools at air traffic control towers, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Air Traffic Situational Awareness Enhancement Act''. SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO AIR TRAFFIC SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. (a) Airborne Position Reference Tool Installation.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall acquire and install certified Airborne Position Reference Tools at air traffic control towers of the Federal Aviation Administration that are-- (1) operating under contract with the Federal Aviation Administration pursuant to section 47124 of title 49, United States Code; and (2) not equipped with Standard Terminal Automation Replacement Systems or other situational awareness tools. (b) Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System Installation and Maintenance.--Section 47124(f)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ``(2) Installation and maintenance.--For any tower operated under the Contract Tower Program that is not equipped with Standard Terminal Automation Replacement Systems or other situational awareness tools as of the date of enactment of the Air Traffic Situational Awareness Enhancement Act, not later than 1 year after such date, the Secretary shall purchase a Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System, or any equivalent system, and install and maintain such system using services directly from an original equipment manufacturer or services of the Federal Aviation Administration.''. (c) Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System Funding.-- Section 47124(f)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``and'' after the semicolon; and (2) by striking subparagraphs (C) through (E) and inserting the following: ``(C) shall establish, in consultation with contract tower operators, an appropriate training program to periodically train air traffic controllers employed by such operators to ensure proper and efficient integration and use of the situational awareness equipment and technology described in paragraph (1) into contract tower operations.''. (d) Retroactivity.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Transportation shall provide to any airport sponsor or air traffic control tower described in subsection (a)-- (1) reimbursement for any certified situational awareness system (including Airborne Position Reference Tools in accordance with subsection (a)) that was independently acquired and installed prior to the date on which the Administrator installs any such system under subsection (a); or (2) reimbursement or retroactive grant funding in accordance with section 47124(b) of title 49, United States Code, for any certified situational awareness system (including a Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System) that was independently acquired and installed prior to the effective date of the amendments made by subsection (b). (e) Authorized Expenditures for Air Navigation Facilities and Equipment.--Section 48101(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(10) The acquisition, installation, and annual operating expenses of certified Airborne Position Reference Tools at air traffic control towers that are operating under contract with the Federal Aviation Administration under section…

47124 and are not equipped with Standard Terminal Automation Replacement Systems or other situational awareness tools.''. <all>

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