Version	Word Count	Changes From Previous Version	Percent Change
Introduced in House	2,820	n/a	n/a
Reported in House	3,146	46 Show Changes Hide Changes	27%

Display Version Introduced in House Reported in House

HR 970 IHRHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

112th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

1st SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

H. R. 970CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To reauthorize the civil aviation research and development projects and activities of the Federal Aviation Administration, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

March 9, 2011CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. HALL (for himself and Mr. PALAZZO) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and TechnologyCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

A BILLCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To reauthorize the civil aviation research and development projects and activities of the Federal Aviation Administration, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the ‘Federal Aviation Research and Development Reauthorization Act of 2011’.

(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Amendments to title 49, United States Code.

Sec. 3. Definitions.

TITLE I--AUTHORIZATIONS

Sec. 101. Authorization of appropriations.

Sec. 102. Unmanned aircraft systems.

Sec. 103. Research program on runways.

Sec. 104. Research on design for certification.

Sec. 105. Airport cooperative research program.

Sec. 106. Centers of excellence.

Sec. 107. Interagency research on aviation and the environment.

Sec. 108. Aviation fuel research and development program.

Sec. 109. Research program on alternative jet fuel technology for civil aircraft.

Sec. 110. Review of FAA’s energy- and environment-related research programs.

Sec. 111. Review of FAA’s aviation safety-related research programs.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 49, UNITED STATES CODE.

Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or a repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of title 49, United States Code. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 31002. DEFINITIONS.

As used in this ActIn this title, the following definitions apply: CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) ADMINISTRATOR- The term ‘Administrator’ means the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) FAA- The term ‘FAA’ means the Federal Aviation Administration. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION- The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the same meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) NASA- The term ‘NASA’ means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL- The term ‘National Research Council’ means the National Research Council of the National Academies of Science and Engineering. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) NOAA- The term ‘NOAA’ means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) SECRETARY- The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Transportation. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE I--AUTHORIZATIONS

SEC. 101SEC. 1003. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) In General- Section 48102(a) is amended-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in the matter before paragraph (1) by striking ‘of this title’ and inserting ‘of this title and, for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2014, under subsection (g)’; CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (11)-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in subparagraph (K) by inserting ‘and’ at the end; and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in subparagraph (L) by striking ‘and’ at the end; CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in paragraph (12)(L3) by striking ‘and’ at the end; CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) in paragraph (14) by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) by adding at the end the following: CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(15) for fiscal year 2011, $165,020,000; and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(16) for each of the fiscal years 2012 through 2014, $146,827,000.’. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Specific Program Limitations- Section 48102 is amended by inserting after subsection (f) the following: CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(g) Specific Authorizations- The following programs described in the research, engineering, and development account of the national aviation research plan required under section 44501(c) are authorized: CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) Fire Research and Safety. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) Propulsion and Fuel Systems. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) Advanced Materials/Structural Safety. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) Atmospheric Hazards--Aircraft Icing/Digital System Safety. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) Continued Airworthiness. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(6) Aircraft Catastrophic Failure Prevention Research. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(7) Flightdeck/Maintenance/System Integration Human Factors. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(8) System Safety Management. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(9) Air Traffic Control/Technical Operations Human Factors. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(10) Aeromedical Research. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(11) Weather Program. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(12) Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(13) NextGen--Alternative Fuels for General Aviation. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(14) Joint Planning and Development Office. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(15) NextGen--Wake Turbulence rResearch. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(16) NextGen--Air Ground Integration Human Factors. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(17) NextGen--Self Separation Human Factors. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(18) NextGen--Weather Technology in the Cockpit. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(19) Environment and Energy Research. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(20) NextGen Environmental Research--Aircraft Technologies, Fuels, and Metrics. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(21) System Planning and Resource Management. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(22) The William J. Hughes Technical Center Laboratory Facility.’. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Program Authorizations- FromIf the other accounts described in the national aviation research plan required undersection 44501(c) of title 49, United States Code, are authorized for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2014, the following research and development activities are authorized: CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Runway Incursion Reduction. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Systems Capacity, Planning, and Improvement. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Operations Concept Validation. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) NAS Weather Requirements. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) Airspace Management Program. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) NextGen--Air Traffic Control/Technical Operations Human Factors. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) NextGen--Environment and Energy--Environmental Management System and Advanced Noise and Emissions reduction. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) NextGen--New Air Traffic Management Requirements. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) NextGen--Operations Concept Validation--Validation Modeling. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) NextGen--System Safety Management Transformation. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) NextGen--Wake Turbulence--Recategorization. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(12) NextGen--Operational Assessments. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(13) NextGen--Staffed NextGen Towers. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(14) Center for Advanced Aviation System Development. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(15) Airports Technology Research Program--Capacity. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(16) Airports Technology Research Program--Safety. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(17) Airports Technology Research Program--Environment. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(18) Airport Cooperative Research--Capacity. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(19) Airport Cooperative Research--Environment. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(20) Airport Cooperative Research--Safety. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 10204. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.

(a) Research Initiative- Section 44504(b) is amended-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (6) by striking ‘and’ after the semicolon; CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (7) by striking the period at the end and inserting ‘; and’; and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by adding at the end the following: CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(8) in conjunction with other Federal agencies, as appropriate, to develop technologies and methods to assess the risk of and prevent defects, failures, and malfunctions of products, parts, and processes, for use in all classes of unmanned aircraft systems that could result in a catastrophic failure of the unmanned aircraft that would endanger other aircraft in the national airspace system.’. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Systems, Procedures, Facilities, and Devices- Section 44505(b) is amended-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (4) by striking ‘and’ after the semicolon; CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (5)(C) by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by adding at the end the following: CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(6) to develop a better understanding of the relationship between human factors and unmanned aircraft system safety; and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(7) to develop dynamic simulation models for integrating all classes of unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system without any degradation of existing levels of safety for all national airspace system users.’. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 10305. RESEARCH PROGRAM ON RUNWAYS.

Section 44505(c) is amended-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (6) as paragraphs (5) through (8); and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) improved runway surfaces; CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) engineered material restraining systems for runways at both general aviation airports and airports with commercial air carrier operations;’. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 10406. RESEARCH ON DESIGN FOR CERTIFICATION.

Section 44505 is amended-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following: CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Research on Design for Certification- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) RESEARCH- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Federal Aviation Research and Development Reauthorization Act of 2011, the Administrator shall conduct research on methods and procedures to improve both confidence in and the timeliness of certification of new technologies for their introduction into the national airspace system. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) RESEARCH PLAN- Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of the Federal Aviation Research and Development Reauthorization Act of 2011, the Administrator shall develop a plan for the research under subsection (a) paragraph (1) that contains the objectives, proposed tasks, milestones, and 5-year budgetary profile. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) REVIEW- The Administrator shall enter into an arrangement with the National Research Council to conduct an independent review of the plan developed under subsection (bparagraph (2) and shall provide the results of that review to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Federal Aviation Research and Development Reauthorization Act of 2011.’. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 10507. AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM.

Section 44511(f) is amended-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘establish a 4-year pilot’ and inserting ‘maintain an’; and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (4)-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘Not later than 6 months after the expiration of the program under this subsection,’ and inserting ‘Not later than September 30, 2012,’; and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking ‘program, including recommendations as to the need for establishing a permanent airport cooperative research program’ and inserting ‘program’. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 10608. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.

(a) Government’s Share of Costs- Section 44513(f) is amended to read as follows: CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) Government’s Share of Costs- The United States Government’s share of establishing and operating thea center and all related research activities that grant recipients carry out shall not exceed 50 percent of the costs, except that the Administrator may increase such share to a maximum of 75 percent of the costs for any fiscal year if the Administrator determines that a center would be unable to carry out the authorized activities described in this section without additional funds.’. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Annual Report- Section 44513 is amended by adding at the end the following: CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(h) Annual Report- The Administrator shall transmit annually to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate at the time of the President’s budget request a report that lists-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) the research projects that have been initiated by each Center of Excellencecenter in the preceding year; CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) the amount of funding for each research project and the funding source; CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) the institutions participating in each project and their shares of the overall funding for each research project; and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) the level of cost-sharing for each research project.’. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 10709. CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR AVIATION HUMAN RESOURCE RESEARCH.

SEC. 1010. INTERAGENCY RESEARCH ON AVIATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

(a) In General- TUsing amounts made available undersection 48102(a) of title 49, United States Code, the Administrator, in coordination with NASA and after consultation with other relevant agencies, may maintain a research program to assess the potential effect of aviation on the environment and, if warranted, to evaluate approaches to address any such effect. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Research Plan- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Administrator, in coordination with NASA and after consultation with other relevant agencies, shall jointly develop a plan to carry out the research under subsection (a). CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONTENTS- Such plan shall contain an inventory of current interagency research being undertaken in this area, future research objectives, proposed tasks, milestones, and a 5-year budgetary profile. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) REQUIREMENTS- Such plan-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) shall be completed not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act; CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) shall be submitted to Congress for review; and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) shall be updated, as appropriate, every 3 years after the initial submission. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 10811. AVIATION FUEL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

(a) In General- Using amounts made available undersection 48102(a) of title 49, United States Code, the Administrator, in coordination with the NASA Administrator, shall continue research and development activities into the qualification of an unleaded aviation fuel and safe transition to this fuel for the fleet of piston engine aircraft. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Requirements- In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Administrator shall, at a minimum-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, develop a research and development plan containing the specific research and development objectives, including consideration of aviation safety, technical feasibility, and other relevant factors, and the anticipated timetable for achieving the objectives; CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) assess the methods and processes by which the FAA and industry may expeditiously certify and approve new aircraft and recertify existing aircraft with respect to unleaded aviation fuel; CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) assess technologies that modify existing piston engine aircraft to enable safe operation of the aircraft using unleaded aviation fuel and determine the resources necessary to certify those technologies; and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) develop recommendations for appropriate policies and guidelines to facilitate a transition to unleaded aviation fuel for piston engine aircraft. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Collaborations- In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Administrator shall collaborate with-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) industry groups representing aviation consumers, manufacturers, and fuel producers and distributors; and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) other appropriate Federal agencies. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Report- Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall provide a report to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the plan, information obtained, and policies and guidelines developed pursuant to subsection (b). CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 10912. RESEARCH PROGRAM ON ALTERNATIVE JET FUEL TECHNOLOGY FOR CIVIL AIRCRAFT.

(a) Research Program- Using amounts made available undersection 48102(a) of title 49, United States Code, the Secretary shall conduct a research program related to developing and certifying jet fuel from alternative sources (such as coal, natural gas, biomass, ethanol, butanol, and hydrogen) through grants or other measures authorized under section 106(l)(6) of such title, including reimbursable agreements with other Federal agencies. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Participation by Stakeholders- In conducting the program, the Secretary shall provide for participation by educational and research institutions and by industry partners that have existing facilities and experience in the research and development of technology for alternative jet fuels. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Collaborations- In conducting the program, the Secretary may collaborate with existing interagency programs-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) to further the research and development of alternative jet fuel technology for civil aircraft, including feasibility studies; and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) to exchange information with the participants in the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 110013. REVIEW OF FAA’S ENERGY- AND ENVIRONMENT-RELATED RESEARCH PROGRAMS.

(a) Review- The Administrator shall enter into an arrangement with the National Research Council forUsing amounts made available undersection 48102(a) of title 49, United States Code, the Administrator shall conduct a review of FAA energy-related and environment-related research programs. The review shall assess whether-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the programs have well-defined, prioritized, and appropriate research objectives; CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the programs are properly coordinated with the energy- and environment-related research programs at NASA, NOAA, and other relevant agencies; CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) the programs have allocated appropriate resources to each of the research objectives; and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) there exist suitable mechanisms for transitioning the research results into FAA’s operational technologies and procedures and certification activities. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Report- A report containing the results of such review shall be provided to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 111014. REVIEW OF FAA’S AVIATION SAFETY-RELATED RESEARCH PROGRAMS.

(a) Review- The Administrator shall enter into an arrangement with the National Research Council for an independentUsing amounts made available undersection 48102(a) of title 49, United States Code, the Administrator shall conduct a review of the FAA’s aviation safety-related research programs. The review shall assess whether-- CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the programs have well-defined, prioritized, and appropriate research objectives; CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the programs are properly coordinated with the safety research programs of NASA and other relevant Federal agencies; CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) the programs have allocated appropriate resources to each of the research objectives; CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





and(4 (4) the programs should include a determination about whether a survey of participants across the air transportation system is an appropriate way to study safety risks within such system; and CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) there exist suitable mechanisms for transitioning the research results from the programs into the FAA’s operational technologies and procedures and certification activities in a timely manner. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Aviation Safety-Related Research Programs To Be Assessed- The FAA aviation safety-related research programs to be assessed under the review shall include, at a minimum, the following: CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Air traffic control/technical operations human factors. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Runway incursion reduction. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Flightdeck/maintenance system integration human factors. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Airports technology research--safety. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) Airport Cooperative Research Program--safety. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) Weather Program. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) Atmospheric hazards/digital system safety. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) Fire research and safety. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) Propulsion and fuel systems. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) Advanced materials/structural safety. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) Aging aircraft. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(12) Aircraft catastrophic failure prevention research. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(13) Aeromedical research. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(14) Aviation safety risk analysis. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(15) Unmanned aircraft systems research. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Report- Not later than 14 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the results of such review. CommentsClose CommentsPermalink