H.R. 6153: Communities Before Air Tourism Act

This legislation is named the Communities Before Air Tourism Act. The purpose of this bill is to amend existing regulations related to commercial air tour operations over national parks. Here are the main points of what the bill would do:

1. Focus on Community Well-being

The bill aims to ensure that when voluntary agreements related to commercial air tour operations are made, they must take into account the well-being of communities that are affected by these aircraft overflights. This means that the experiences and concerns of the residents living in areas below the flight paths need to be considered when planning air tours.

2. Amend Existing Regulations

The bill seeks to amend Section 40128(b)(7) of Title 49 of the United States Code, which deals with regulations around air tour operations. The specific changes include:

• Removing the reference to only considering "the air traffic control system" in decision-making about commercial air tour operations and replacing it with a requirement to also consider "the well-being of communities overflown by aircraft involved in such commercial air tour operations." This indicates a broader approach that includes community impacts.
• Clarifying that communities impacted by these operations include those whose lands may be overflown, as well as including considerations for any Indian tribes in the area.

3. Implementation and Enforcement

The bill does not specify how the changes would be enforced or what the mechanisms would be to assess the well-being of communities. However, it implies that future agreements and approvals for commercial air tours would need to incorporate these considerations.

4. Purpose of Changes

The aim of these amendments is to protect the interests of nearby communities, recognizing that air tours can produce noise, environmental, and other impacts that may not have been previously considered under existing guidelines.

5. Broader Implications

This legislation reflects growing attention to the impacts of tourism and aviation on local communities, as well as a desire for more sustainable and considerate tourism practices.

Relevant Companies

• AAL - American Airlines Group Inc.: This company could see impacts due to adjustment in air tour agreements and regulations that may affect operational routes.
• UAL - United Airlines Holdings Inc.: Similar to American Airlines, United Airlines might face changes in its route planning and agreements due to community concerns raised by this legislation.
• DAL - Delta Air Lines Inc.: Delta may also be affected by increased scrutiny or changes in operational procedures as they relate to air tours over national parks.