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Beyer Introduces Bill To Help Modernize American Air Travel

Washington, July 10, 2026
Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) introduced the Modernizing Aeronautical Standards Act to study our current aeronautical standards to ensure aircraft are designed to meet present day operating conditions.
“The United States Standard Atmosphere is a foundational tool across American aviation, informing everything from aircraft design to runway performance and flight operations,” said Congressman Beyer. “However, this standard has not been comprehensively reevaluated in nearly 50 years. It is past overdue to reevaluate whether we need to update this standard to ensure that our aircrafts are built for today’s airspace conditions.”
The Modernizing Aeronautical Standards Act would direct NASA and related agencies to conduct a study to:
  • Assess our current airspace conditions, those from 50 years ago when the U.S. Standard Atmosphere was last modified, and predictions for conditions in the next 50 years;
  • Assess any impacts on aircraft and airport operations, infrastructure, cost, or performance that resulted from any changes in atmospheric conditions; and 
  • Propose any recommendations for modifications to aircraft design or the standards used to inform aircraft design as a result of any changes in atmospheric conditions, and recommendations for the criteria under which such standards should be updated in the future. 
This study would determine whether the standards for aircraft designs are up to date with modern airspace conditions and would recommend any ensuing modifications to ensure our aircrafts are best suited to today’s airspace.
Text of the Modernizing Aeronautical Standards Act is available here.