Sponsors (3)
The bill trades a deliberate, evidence-gathering approach that could restore regional air service for rural communities and improve regulatory decisions against risks of delayed relief, modest taxpayer costs, and potential safety concerns if policy changes are adopted without strong mitigations.
Residents of small and rural communities could regain or retain scheduled air service if the study enables safe use of 10–19 seat Part 23 aircraft under Part 121, restoring or improving local connectivity.
The FAA will get technical input from manufacturers and safety experts, strengthening the technical basis for any future regulatory changes.
Congress will receive an evidence-based report to inform potential regulatory or legislative action affecting regional air service, which can lead to better-targeted policymaking.
If the study results in relaxed operational approvals without strong mitigations, passengers and crew could face increased safety risks.
The study could delay policy action, leaving communities that are losing service without timely relief during the study period.
Conducting the study will create administrative costs for the FAA funded by taxpayers and may divert agency resources from other priorities.
Based on analysis of 1 section of legislative text.
Directs the FAA to study whether modern Part 23 aircraft with 10–19 seats can safely be used in Part 121 scheduled commercial service and report findings to Congress.
Official title: To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct a study to assess whether certain aircraft certified under part 23 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, may be used in operations conducted under part 121 of such title, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 9, 2026 by Tracey Mann · Last progress June 9, 2026
Requires the FAA Administrator to start a study, within 180 days of enactment, to assess whether aircraft certified under modern Part 23 design standards with 10–19 passenger seats can be used safely in Part 121 commercial scheduled service. The study must evaluate safety, operational and economic impacts on scheduled service to small, rural, and remote communities, review foreign regulatory approaches, gather technical input from manufacturers, community representatives, and safety experts, and report findings to congressional transportation committees.