H.R. 7501: Safe Flights for Passengers and Flight Crews Act

This bill, titled the Safe Flights for Passengers and Flight Crews Act, aims to change how certain passenger-carrying charter flights are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Below is a summary of its main provisions:

Change in Regulatory Framework

The bill proposes that starting 90 days after it becomes law, any scheduled charter operation that carries passengers and uses an aircraft with more than 9 passenger seats must be treated as a domestic operation or as a flag operation under part 121 of title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This means these charter flights will be subject to stricter operational regulations applicable to larger air services.

Immediate Implementation

The requirements introduced by this bill will take effect automatically 90 days post-enactment, regardless of whether the FAA has issued specific regulations regarding these changes. This ensures that charter operations are quickly brought under the new regulatory framework without waiting for additional rule-making processes by the FAA.

Definition of Scheduled Charter Operation

For the purposes of the bill, a passenger-carrying scheduled charter operation is defined as a common carriage operation that is conducted by an air carrier or commercial operator. The defining characteristics include:

• It is for compensation or hire.
• It operates as a public charter under part 380 of title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
• The departure location, departure time, and arrival location are offered in advance by the certificate holder or its representative.

Overall Intent

The goal of this legislative change is likely to enhance the safety and regulatory oversight of scheduled charter flights, which are often seen as less regulated compared to larger commercial airlines. By categorizing these operations similarly to traditional airlines, the legislation seeks to establish consistent safety standards for passengers and crew on such flights.

Relevant Companies

• ULCC - Frontier Airlines: This carrier may be impacted by changes to regulations affecting charter operations.
• HOLI - Holiday Airlines: A regional airline that could face new restrictions or requirements due to the bill.