April 30, 2026
Mr. Begich (for himself, Ms. Gillen, and Ms. King-Hinds) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to acquire and install certified airborne position reference tools at air traffic control towers, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Air Traffic Situational Awareness Enhancement Act
.
Sec. 2. Improvements to air traffic situational awareness
(a) Airborne position reference tool installation
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall acquire and install certified Airborne Position Reference Tools at air traffic control towers of the Federal Aviation Administration that are—
(1)
operating under contract with the Federal Aviation Administration pursuant to section 47124 of title 49, United States Code; and
(2)
not equipped with Standard Terminal Automation Replacement Systems or other situational awareness tools.
(b) Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System installation and maintenance
Section 47124(f)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
(2) Installation and maintenance
For any tower operated under the Contract Tower Program that is not equipped with Standard Terminal Automation Replacement Systems or other situational awareness tools as of the date of enactment of the Air Traffic Situational Awareness Enhancement Act, not later than 1 year after such date, the Secretary shall purchase a Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System, or any equivalent system, and install and maintain such system using services directly from an original equipment manufacturer or services of the Federal Aviation Administration.
(c) Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System funding
Section 47124(f)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (B), by inserting and
after the semicolon; and
(2)
by striking subparagraphs (C) through (E) and inserting the following:
(C)
shall establish, in consultation with contract tower operators, an appropriate training program to periodically train air traffic controllers employed by such operators to ensure proper and efficient integration and use of the situational awareness equipment and technology described in paragraph (1) into contract tower operations.
(d) Retroactivity
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Transportation shall provide to any airport sponsor or air traffic control tower described in subsection (a)—
(1)
reimbursement for any certified situational awareness system (including Airborne Position Reference Tools in accordance with subsection (a)) that was independently acquired and installed prior to the date on which the Administrator installs any such system under subsection (a); or
(2)
reimbursement or retroactive grant funding in accordance with section 47124(b) of title 49, United States Code, for any certified situational awareness system (including a Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System) that was independently acquired and installed prior to the effective date of the amendments made by subsection (b).
(e) Authorized expenditures for air navigation facilities and equipment
Section 48101(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(10)
The acquisition, installation, and annual operating expenses of certified Airborne Position Reference Tools at air traffic control towers that are operating under contract with the Federal Aviation Administration under section 47124 and are not equipped with Standard Terminal Automation Replacement Systems or other situational awareness tools.