Sponsors (9)
The bill speeds certification and creates clearer, more predictable rules to help manufacturers and innovators bring new aviation technologies to market, but it shifts more responsibility to industry and the FAA (and limits judicial enforcement), raising risks of strained agency capacity, reduced oversight, and potential safety or accountability gaps.
Aircraft manufacturers, certification applicants, and small aviation tech firms gain clearer, more predictable certification timelines, delegation rules, and processes (shorter, more certain approval paths).
Industry consensus and performance-based standards are emphasized, lowering compliance costs and speeding approvals for safe designs.
Stable issue papers will be converted into published policy/Advisory Circulars and incorporated into product airworthiness standards, creating consistent, predictable guidance that helps manufacturers plan investment and advance novel aviation technologies.
FAA staff, reviewers, and contractors face increased workload and tighter deadlines that could strain agency capacity, raise error/burnout risk, and divert resources from other safety work.
The bill limits judicial remedies and bars creation of new private rights tied to internal timelines, reducing avenues for individuals and businesses to challenge agency delay or obtain compensation.
Greater reliance on industry standards and expanded delegation to industry representatives could weaken regulatory stringency and oversight, increasing safety, community impact, or national‑security risks if not tightly managed.
Based on analysis of 12 sections of legislative text.
Introduced February 12, 2026 by Peter Welch · Last progress February 12, 2026
Requires the FAA to publish public plans, clear timelines, and updated guidance to make aircraft, engine, and propeller type certification more transparent, predictable, and efficient—with special attention to advanced air mobility and new or novel technologies. It directs the FAA to revise internal orders and delegation guidance, convert recurring certification “issue papers” into stable policy where appropriate, consult industry and labor stakeholders, and report annually to Congress on implementation and performance. Also includes a non‑binding Sense of Congress supporting advanced air mobility, a rule limiting legal claims based on the new timelines, and definitions for terms used in the Act. Many required actions must be completed within specific timeframes (90–270 days) after enactment and include ongoing reporting and stakeholder consultation.