HR 7660 United States House · 118th Congress

Backcountry Aviation Protection Act

HR 7660, the Backcountry Aviation Protection Act, permits pilots to conduct specific low-altitude maneuvers - like go-arounds, inspection passes (evaluating landing sites), practice approaches, and qualified instrument approaches - without violating existing FAA altitude rules. It requires the FAA to revise regulations within 180 days to formally allow these maneuvers below standard minimum altitudes, while allowing aircraft to be in landing configuration during some maneuvers. The bill also prohibits FAA enforcement actions against these maneuvers for one year after enactment and clarifies that the FAA must prove violations in court, not the pilot. This directly affects pilots operating in remote backcountry areas who need to assess landing sites or practice procedures safely.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2024
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Mar 13, 2024 Last action Mar 14, 2024
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Mar 14, 2024
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
lower
Mar 13, 2024
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
lower
Mar 13, 2024
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 5 co-sponsors

Sponsors