McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act

Jeff Merkley

Democrat · OR · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• John R. Curtis (R-UT)Original· 2026-07-15
• Mark Kelly (D-AZ)Original· 2026-07-15
• Ron Wyden (D-OR)Original· 2026-07-15
• Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)Original· 2026-07-15
• Tim Sheehy (R-MT)· 2026-07-22

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

2026-07-15

Source: Congress.gov

The FAA would be required to review and update its rules, policies, and guidance for safety in low-altitude airspace, which is the airspace closer to the ground where small aircraft, drones, and helicopters operate. This review could lead to new or revised regulations to address potential safety issues in this airspace. The changes would affect drone operators, small aircraft pilots, and other users of low-altitude airspace.

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] [S. 4990 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4990 To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to review and update Federal Aviation Administration regulations, policies, and guidance related to low-altitude airspace safety, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 15, 2026 Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Gallego, and Mr. Curtis) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to review and update Federal Aviation Administration regulations, policies, and guidance related to low-altitude airspace safety, 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 ``McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act''. SEC. 2. REVIEW OF FAA POLICIES AND REGULATIONS RELATED TO LOW-ALTITUDE AIRSPACE SAFETY. (a) Review.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (referred to in this section as the ``Administrator''), in consultation with the stakeholders described in paragraph (3), shall review existing Federal Aviation Administration (referred to in this section as ``FAA'') policies and regulations related to low-altitude airspace safety for the purpose of identifying appropriate policy, operational, or technical improvements, such as updated requirements related to markings on slacklines. (2) Considerations.--In conducting the review required under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall consider the following: (A) Whether existing FAA policies regarding obstruction marking and lighting clearly identify when slacklines, tight ropes, highlines, wires, and similar temporary obstructions should be marked, lighted, or otherwise identified and whether such policies are effective in reducing the risk of low-altitude aircraft strikes. (B) Whether the FAA can improve Notices to Airmen, obstacle data, or other aeronautical information products to better support consistent digital depiction across flight planning tools, electronic flight bags, avionics systems, and other associated tools utilized by industry, including information related to coordinates, radius-distance, maximum height above ground level, effective dates and times, responsible party information, and any marking, lighting, or identification required by the FAA. (C) Whether the FAA can improve coordination with relevant Federal, State, Tribal, and local land management agencies, including the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the United States Forest Service, with respect to activities that may create low-altitude aviation hazards. (D) Whether the existing penalties for violations of low-altitude airspace requirements are sufficient to ensure the safety of such airspace. (E) Suggested improvements to FAA outreach to non- aviation communities whose activities may create hazards in the national airspace system to improve awareness of, and compliance with, applicable requirements and guidance. (3) Consultation.--For purposes of paragraph (1), the stakeholders described in this paragraph are representatives of the following: (A) Helicopter and powered-lift aircraft operators and pilots. (B) Air medical operators. (C) General aviation pilots and aircraft owners. (D) Agricultural aviation operators. (E) Uncrewed aircraft system operators. (F) Aviation safety experts with specific knowledge of vertical flight operations. (G) Any other stakeholder the Administrator determines appropriate. (b) Updated Regulations, Guidance, and Policies.--If, upon conducting the review required under subsection (a), the Administrator determines that the policies described in subsection (a)(2)(A) do not adequately identify requirements related to markings or lightings for slacklines or other temporary obstructions, the Administrator shall, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, update FAA regulations, guidance,…

or policies as necessary. (c) Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the completion of the review required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall brief the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives regarding-- (1) the findings of such review; (2) the regulations, guidance, or policies to be updated pursuant to subsection (b); and (3) any recommendations for legislative action determined appropriate by the Administrator to improve the safety of low- altitude airspace. <all>

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