Stauber offers bipartisan bill to improve airplane pilot safety protocols

U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) on Feb. 23 sponsored a bipartisan bill that would establish a task force to improve aviation safety by requiring clearer safety notifications to pilots.

“Aviation safety has been a large topic of discussion as of late, so I believe it’s critical for Congress to quickly pass this bipartisan legislation that will help improve upon safety protocols,” said Rep. Stauber.

The congressman introduced the Notice to Airmen Improvement Act, H.R. 1262, with cosponsor U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), in response to pilot concerns about the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) system, which alerts pilots of potential hazards along a flight route or at a location that could affect the safety of the flight. 

“NOTAMs contain critical safety information, but they are often lengthy and difficult for pilots to quickly understand,” Rep. Stauber said. “These inefficiencies have the potential to create life-threatening situations.”

If enacted, H.R. 1262 would establish a Federal Aviation Administration task force to determine what improvements should be made to the NOTAM system. The bill has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.