FAA SMS Compliance Review Act of 2026

This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish an independent expert panel within 60 days to review the agency’s Safety Management System (SMS) implementation. The panel will assess how well the FAA complies with its own safety policies, evaluates safety culture, and integrates SMS across all departments (like Air Traffic Organization and Aviation Safety Office), with a focus on four core components: safety policy, risk management, assurance, and promotion. The panel must submit findings and recommendations within 180 days, and the FAA must publish the report publicly, including any dissenting views from panel members. This is a procedural review of the FAA’s existing SMS, not a new safety rule, directly affecting the FAA and aviation stakeholders represented on the panel (e.g., airline pilots, controllers, and industry safety managers).