Current status is Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4012

1. Short title
2. Findings
3. High-speed air travel readiness study

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the "National Airport Supersonic Readiness Act of 2025".

2. Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1) - Supersonic and hypersonic commercial airliners have the potential to transform air travel by reducing long-haul flight times significantly.

(2) - Existing airport infrastructure may not be fully equipped to handle the unique requirements of such aircraft, including runway length, ground equipment, noise regulations, and fuel supply.

(3) - A comprehensive study is necessary to evaluate the ability of major United States airports to accommodate these aircraft safely and efficiently.

3. High-speed air travel readiness study

(a) In general - The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, in consultation with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and any other relevant stakeholders the Administrator determines appropriate, including industry and academia, shall conduct a study to assess the capability of large hub airports, including the largest airports in the United States, to accommodate high-speed aircraft.

(b) Considerations - In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall evaluate—

(1) - runway length and structural integrity;

(2) - ground equipment compatibility, including fueling and maintenance facilities;

(3) - air traffic control systems and procedures;

(4) - environmental regulations that may prevent the use of high-speed aircraft at an airport described in subsection (a), including any such regulation relating to noise pollution or emissions; and

(5) - potential economic benefits and challenges relating to accommodating high-speed aircraft at any such airport.

(c) Report - Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes—

(1) - the results of the study required under subsection (a);

(2) - recommendations for policy changes and infrastructure improvements necessary to facilitate the use of high-speed aircraft at the airports described in subsection (a); and

(3) - estimated costs and a projected timeline for any such improvement.

(d) Definitions - In this Act:

(1) Appropriate committees of Congress - The term "appropriate committees of Congress" means the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives.

(2) High-speed aircraft - The term high-speed aircraft means an aircraft operating at speeds in excess of Mach 1, including supersonic and hypersonic aircraft.

(3) Hypersonic - The term hypersonic means flights operating at speeds that exceed Mach 5.

(4) Large hub airport - The term large hub airport has the meaning given that term in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code.

(5) Supersonic - The term supersonic means flights operating at speeds in excess of Mach 1 but less than Mach 5.