SAFETY RULEMAKING PROCEEDINGS.

SEC. 303. SAFETY RULEMAKING PROCEEDINGS. (a) Floatation Equipment.— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding to consider requiring (1) adequate, uniform life preservers, life rafts, and floatation devices for passengers, including small children and infants, on any flight of an air carrier which the Secretary determines a part of which flight will occur over water, and (2) adequate information and instructions as to the use of such preservers, rafts, and floatation devices. (b) Improved Crashworthiness Standards for Aircraft Seats.— Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding to consider requiring all seats on board all air carrier aircraft to meet improved crashworthiness standards based upon the best available testing standards for crashworthiness. (c) Cockpit Voice Recorders and Flight Data Recorders.— Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding to consider the use of cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders on commuter aircraft and other aircraft, commensurate with the recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board. (d) Monthly Status Reports.— The Secretary shall transmit to Congress monthly status reports on the rulemaking proceedings being conducted under subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section. (e) Aircraft Design and Equipment.— (1) Study.— The Secretary shall conduct a study pertaining to aircraft design and equipment which minimize the incidence of fire or explosion, including fuel tanks (including crash resistant inner fuel tanks and breakaway, self-closing fittings throughout the fuel system). (2) Report.— Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a report on the results of the study conducted under this subsection, together with recommendations. (f) Report on Modernization Recommendations.— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall report to Congress on specific regulations the Secretary has adopted or intends to adopt to modernize and improve the oversight and inspection of air carrier maintenance and safety-related procedures.