Provide Logistical Aid to airports via advanced Nuclear Energy Act

H.R. 4678: Provide Logistical Aid to airports via advanced Nuclear Energy Act (PLANE Act)

This bill seeks to improve airport resilience by establishing a framework for using "microreactors"—small, portable nuclear reactors—as emergency backup power sources. If passed, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) would work together to create procedures for deploying these reactors to airports that lose power during natural disasters or other major disruptions.

For the average traveler and local communities, this legislation aims to ensure that critical airport operations, such as air traffic control and emergency communications, remain functional even when the local power grid fails. By updating federal guidance, the bill encourages airports to integrate this advanced nuclear technology into their long-term emergency preparedness plans to prevent the widespread travel shutdowns often caused by prolonged power outages.