US senators on Tuesday introduced legislation that would reform the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) aircraft certification process. The bill, titled the Aircraft Safety and Reform Act of 2020, seeks to give the FAA more authority over the aircraft certification process. 

The proposed legislation is the first attempt at reform after the Boeing 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019, and it allows the FAA to hire and dismiss safety inspectors, engineers, and other employees of aircraft manufacturing companies engaged in FAA certification tasks. It also includes provisions that ensure that human factors, such as pilot recognition of and response to cockpit alerts, are included in safety assessments for new aircraft.

There are also new whistleblower protections, as well as fortified channels for reporting safety issues during certification. The legislation would create a new Center for Excellence to advance flight technology and understanding of how humans interface with it, require continuing education and training for inspectors and engineers, and increase funding for scientific and technical advisors.

Senator Maria Cantwell and Chairman Roger Wicker introduced the legislation. On the need for the bill, Cantwell said, “Safety is paramount. A primary goal of this legislation is to make sure the FAA remains in the driver’s seat when it comes to certification.”