FAA SMS Compliance Review Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill creates a special team of experts to look closely at how the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) handles safety. The group will check if the agency’s current safety rules are actually working and if they are being followed correctly across all parts of the organization, from air traffic control to plane inspections.
• The review panel will include people from NASA, pilot and air traffic controller unions, and safety experts from the private sector. By bringing in outside voices, the goal is to get an honest look at the FAA’s safety culture and find any weak spots that might be missed by people working inside the agency.
• Aviation safety depends on a system that spots risks before they lead to accidents. This bill ensures that the FAA’s own safety system is up to date and that employees feel comfortable reporting concerns without fear of getting in trouble, which is a key part of keeping the skies safe for everyone.
• Once the panel is formed, they have about six months to finish their study and give a report to both the FAA and Congress. If the FAA decides not to follow any of the panel's suggestions, they must publicly explain exactly why they disagree, ensuring the process stays transparent for the public.