H.R. 6012: Fair Aviation in Restrictions and Emergencies Act

The bill titled the **Fair Aviation in Restrictions and Emergencies Act** (FARE Act) is focused on the regulation of flight operations during periods when there are lapses in federal appropriations. Here are the key points of the bill:

Objective

The main goal of the bill is to ensure that commercial flight operations are not restricted before private flights during a lapse in appropriations within the National Airspace System. In other words, if the government faces a funding gap, commercial flights cannot be grounded unless private flights are also banned in the same area and for the same duration.

Definitions

• Commercial flight: A flight operated as a regularly scheduled service by a passenger common carrier, which falls under specific federal regulations.
• Private aircraft flight: A flight conducted using an aircraft with one or more jet engines that is not part of a scheduled commercial service.

Provisions of the Bill

Prohibition on Commercial Flight Restrictions

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is prohibited from reducing or temporarily banning commercial flights in navigable airspace due to a lapse in appropriations unless they also prohibit all private aircraft flights in the same area during that time.

Exceptions

There are specific exceptions to this rule. The FAA does not need to restrict private flights that are solely for:

• Public safety purposes
• Government business
• Military or diplomatic purposes
• Medical reasons
• Agricultural purposes
• Meteorological or scientific research
• Humanitarian, nutritional, or emergency relief efforts, including responses to natural disasters
• Carrying cargo

Enforcement Provisions

The FAA is authorized to enforce these regulations through civil penalties or legal action in U.S. District Court to prevent violations of this act.

Relevant Companies

• DAL (Delta Air Lines): As a major carrier, Delta could see changes in flight operations and scheduling based on the provisions of this bill.
• AAL (American Airlines Group): Like Delta, American Airlines may be affected by restrictions on commercial flights during government funding lapses.
• UAL (United Airlines): This legislation could impact United Airlines in managing its commercial flight operations juxtaposed with private flights during appropriations lapses.
• LUV (Southwest Airlines): Southwest Airlines may also see implications for its flight operations under the regulations outlined in the bill.