HouseH.R. 9622119th Congress
Modernizing Aeronautical Standards Act
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9622 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9622
To require NASA to conduct a study on the modernization of aeronautical
standards, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 9, 2026
Mr. Beyer introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require NASA to conduct a study on the modernization of aeronautical
standards, 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 ``Modernizing Aeronautical Standards
Act''.
SEC. 2. STUDY ON AERONAUTICAL STANDARDS.
(a) Study Required.--The Administrator of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA), in consultation with the Administrator
of the Federal Aviation Administration, the Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and representatives of
relevant academic, industry, nonprofit, or standards organizations as
the Administrator of NASA determines appropriate, shall conduct a study
on the modernization of aeronautical standards.
(b) Designation.--The study conducted under subsection (a) shall be
known as the ``Modernization of Aeronautical Standards and Aircraft
Performance Study'' (in this section referred to as the ``study'').
(c) Elements.--The study may include the following:
(1) An assessment of--
(A) current atmospheric conditions, and
(B) corresponding atmospheric conditions over the
immediately preceding 50 years,
including an assessment of significant variations between the
conditions specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B).
(2) An assessment of the state of current predictions for,
or mapping of, future trends or variations in atmospheric
conditions in the 50 years beginning after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(3) An analysis of the impacts to operation, maintenance,
and sustainment costs of covered commercial aircraft as a
result of any significant variations related to atmospheric
conditions assessed pursuant to paragraph (1).
(4) An estimation of the number of weight restriction hours
for covered commercial aircraft at covered commercial airports
as a consequence of the assessment of atmospheric conditions
pursuant to paragraph (1).
(5) An assessment of required infrastructure investment at
covered commercial airports as a result of the assessments of
atmospheric conditions pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2).
(6) An assessment of recommended considerations for design
modifications for future aircraft to account for the
assessments of atmospheric conditions pursuant to paragraphs
(1) and (2).
(7) An analysis of impacts to operation, maintenance, and
sustainment costs and aircraft performance of aircraft as a
result of the atmospheric conditions assessed pursuant to
paragraph (1).
(8) Design requirements for aircraft owned by the Federal
Government, or other equipment, which should be updated to
account for atmospheric conditions.
(9) Assessments of United States aeronautical and
atmospheric standards, as a result of the assessments of
atmospheric conditions pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2).
(10) Criteria under which future updates or supplements to
atmospheric standards should be made.
(d) Transmittal.--The Administrator NASA may transmit the results
of the study to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate not later than 18 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Aircraft performance.--The term ``aircraft
performance'' includes the following:
(A) Range.
(B) Payload capacity.
(C) Runway length requirement.
(D) Climb rate.
(E) Turn rate.
(F) Operating altitude.
(G) Acceleration.
(2) Atmospheric standards.--The term ``atmospheric
standards'' means the following:
(A) The United States Standard Atmosphere of 1976.
(B) Any other standard as determined by the
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.
(3) Covered commercial aircraft.--The term ``covered
commercial aircraft'' means the ten aircraft types still in
production with the highest number of operations at covered
commercial airports in the most recent calendar year ending
before the date of the enactment of this Act.
(4) Covered commercial airports.--The term ``covered
commercial airports'' means the following:
(A) The 30 commercial service airports (as such
term is defined in section 47102(7) of title 49, United
States Code) with the most passenger boardings (as such
term is defined in section 47102(15) of title 49,
United States Code) in the most recent calendar year
ending before the date of the enactment of this Act.
(B) The five public airports (as such term is
defined in section 47102(21) of title 49, United States
Code) not described in subparagraph (A) with the
highest all-cargo landed weight in the most recent
calendar year ending before the date of the enactment
of this Act.
(5) Weight restriction hour.--The term ``weight restriction
hour'' means an hour when the maximum temperature for that hour
matches or exceeds the weight-restriction temperature threshold
for a specific aircraft.
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