S. 3885 · In committee · Transportation and Public Works

Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act

What it does

Directs the FAA Administrator to publish within 180 days a plan for improving the issue paper process, determining use of industry consensus standards, creating stable policy on common certification subjects, and considering performance-based standards in aircraft type certification.
Requires the FAA to amend FAA order 8110.112A within 270 days to establish standard expected timelines for type certification milestones, issue paper closure, responses to exemption petitions, and applicant submissions, excluding complex safety issues.
Directs the FAA to amend FAA order 8110.112A within 180 days to establish criteria for determining when issues warrant issue papers, account for performance-based rule projects, and eliminate recurring issue papers by converting them to policy or annual regulatory updates.
Requires the FAA to publish updated delegation guidance within 90 days for type certification, including eligibility criteria, classification of routine versus safety-critical findings, documentation processes, and safety and predictability considerations for novel technologies.

Jul 22, 2026: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation