H.R. 9225: 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.

This bill would require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to study whether certain smaller aircraft could be used in part 121 commercial airline operations, which are the rules that govern scheduled airlines and other larger-scale passenger air service.

What aircraft are covered

The study would focus on aircraft that:

• have at least 10 passenger seats but no more than 19 seats, and
• were type certificated under part 23 of the FAA regulations after August 30, 2017.

In plain terms, the bill looks at whether certain newer small passenger airplanes could safely be used in regular commercial airline service under the stricter part 121 rules.

What the FAA would have to do

Within 180 days after the bill becomes law, the FAA Administrator would have to begin the study. In doing so, the FAA would have to:

• examine whether using these aircraft in scheduled airline service would be safe and airworthy;
• consider how any change might affect the economics for airlines serving small communities;
• look at how foreign aviation regulators handle similar aircraft in scheduled service;
• gather technical input from:
  • aircraft manufacturers and their trade groups,
  • small, rural, and remote communities that have seen reduced airline service, including communities receiving federal subsidy support, and
  • aviation safety experts familiar with FAA aircraft certification rules.

Reporting requirement

After finishing the study, the FAA would have to send a report on its findings to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

What the bill does not do

The bill does not itself change airline safety rules or automatically allow these aircraft into commercial service. It only directs the FAA to study the issue and report back to Congress.

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