FAA ordered to study loosening aircraft safety rules for rural routes
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. · Filed by Tracey Mann (R-KS) · 2 cosponsors · Introduced Jun 9, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill requires the FAA to study whether smaller commercial aircraft (10–19 passenger seats) that are certified under less stringent safety rules (Part 23) could be safely used in regular commercial airline service (Part 121), which currently requires stricter certification. The study will examine whether this change could help rural and remote communities maintain scheduled air service and will solicit input from aircraft makers, rural communities, and safety experts.
Why we flagged it
The bill is a straightforward mandate for the FAA to conduct a feasibility and safety study on a specific regulatory question—whether Part 23-certified aircraft can be used in Part 121 commercial service. It is not a deregulation bill itself, but rather a fact-finding exercise that may inform future deregulation.
What the text implies
- If the study concludes that Part 23 aircraft are safe for Part 121 use, it could trigger FAA rulemaking to relax certification standards, potentially reducing safety oversight for commercial aircraft in the 10–19 seat category.
- The study's focus on 'aircraft economics' and rural service suggests the underlying goal is to reduce certification costs for manufacturers and operators, which could lower barriers to entry but also lower safety margins.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
aircraft manufacturers (especially regional/commuter aircraft makers); regional airlines and air service operators; aviation leasing companies