S.Amdt. 42

SA 42. Mr. MERKLEY (for himself and Mr. Wyden) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 223, to modernize the air traffic control system, improve the safety, reliability, and availability of transportation by air in the United States, provide modernization of the air traffic control system, reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 146, after line 23, add the following:

SEC. 435. FLIGHT OPERATIONS AT RONALD REAGAN WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT.

(a) Beyond Perimeter Exemptions.--Section 41718(a) is amended by striking “24” and inserting “40”.

(b) Limitations.--Section 41718(c)(2) is amended by striking “3 operations” and inserting “6 operations”.

(c) Allocation of Beyond-perimeter Exemptions.--Section 41718(c) is amended--

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and

(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

“(3) Slots.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall reduce the hourly air carrier slot quota for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in section 93.123(a) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, by a total of 16 slots that are available for allocation. Such reductions shall be taken in the 6:00 a.m., 10:00 p.m., or 11:00 p.m. hours, as determined by the Administrator, in order to grant exemptions under subsection (a).”.

(d) Scheduling Priority.--Section 41718 is amended--

(1) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections (f) and (g), respectively; and

(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:

“(e) Scheduling Priority.--Operations conducted by new entrant air carriers and limited incumbent air carriers shall be afforded a scheduling priority over operations conducted by other air carriers granted exemptions pursuant to this section, with the highest scheduling priority to be afforded to beyond-perimeter operations conducted by new entrant air carriers and limited incumbent air carriers.”.