Safe and Quiet Skies Act of 2023
The proposed legislation significantly alters existing statutes regarding air tourism, particularly pertaining to overflight permissions and operational protocols for commercial air tours. Coupled with new altitude restrictions, which set a minimum flying height of 1,500 feet unless safety necessitates lower altitudes, the bill is designed to mitigate noise pollution and enhance overall safety standards in commercial aviation. These modifications could lead to more stringent operational requirements, affecting the cost and accessibility of air tours.
House Bill 1071, titled the 'Safe and Quiet Skies Act of 2023', aims to enhance safety requirements for commercial air tour flights across the United States. The bill introduces regulations that prohibit such flights within a half-mile of military installations, national cemeteries, and units of national parks and wildlife refuges, thereby safeguarding sensitive areas from air traffic disturbances. Additionally, it mandates the use of advanced surveillance technology during flights, promoting safer aerial operations over urban and rural regions alike.
Notably, there are concerns regarding the bill's implications for tribal governance since it permits tribal entities to impose additional restrictions on air tours flying over tribal lands. This is a point of contention, as some stakeholders argue that this could lead to conflicts between federal mandates and local tribal regulations. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the bill in balancing economic interests with environmental and community safety remains a topic of debate among lawmakers and advocacy groups, each presenting differing views on the expectations and realities of commercial air tourism.