SAFETY-CRITICAL STAFFING.

SEC. 431. [49 U.S.C. 44701 note] SAFETY-CRITICAL STAFFING. (a) Implementation of Staffing Standards for Safety Inspectors.—Upon completion of the revised staffing model for aviation safety inspectors under section 430, and validation of the model by the Administrator, the Administrator shall take all appropriate actions in response to the number of aviation safety inspectors, aviation safety technicians, and operation support positions that are identified in such model to meet the responsibilities of the Flight Standards Service and Aircraft Certification Service, including potentially increasing the number of safety critical positions in the Flight Standards Service and Aircraft Certification Service each fiscal year, as appropriate, so long as such staffing increases are measured relative to the number of individuals serving in safety-critical positions as of September 30, 2023. (b) Availability of Appropriations.—Any increase in safety critical staffing pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) Safety-critical Positions Defined.—In this section, the term “safety-critical positions” means— (1) aviation safety inspectors, aviation safety specialists (1801 job series), aviation safety technicians, and operations support positions in the Flight Standards Service; and (2) manufacturing safety inspectors, pilots, engineers, Chief Scientist Technical Advisors, aviation safety specialists (1801 job series), safety technical specialists, and operational support positions in the Aircraft Certification Service.