I 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2684 

To authorize an independent review of the Federal Aviation Administration’s 

aviation safety-related research programs, and in particular those programs related to air traffic control and runway safety, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 12, 2007 

Mr. CHANDLER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Science and Technology 

A BILL 

To authorize an independent review of the Federal Aviation 

Administration’s aviation safety-related research programs, and in particular those programs related to air 

traffic control and runway safety, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘FAA Aviation Safety 

5 Research Assessment Act of 2007’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act, the following definitions apply: 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS

2 

•HR 2684 IH

1 (1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis2 trator’’ means the Administrator of the Federal 

3 Aviation Administration. 

4 (2) FAA.—The term ‘‘FAA’’ means the Fed5 eral Aviation Administration. 

6 (3) NASA.—The term ‘‘NASA’’ means the Na7 tional Aeronautics and Space Administration. 

8 SEC. 3. REVIEW OF FAA’S AVIATION SAFETY-RELATED RE9 SEARCH PROGRAMS. 

10 (a) STUDY.—The Administrator shall enter into an 

11 arrangement with the National Research Council for an 

12 independent review of the FAA’s aviation safety-related 

13 research programs. The review shall assess whether— 

14 (1) the programs have well-defined, prioritized, 

15 and appropriate research objectives; 

16 (2) the programs are properly coordinated with 

17 the safety research programs of NASA and other 

18 relevant Federal agencies; 

19 (3) the programs have allocated appropriate re20 sources to each of the research objectives; and 

21 (4) there exist suitable mechanisms for 

22 transitioning the research results from the programs 

23 into the FAA’s operational technologies and proce24 dures and certification activities in a timely manner. 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS

3 

•HR 2684 IH

1 (b) AVIATION SAFETY-RELATED RESEARCH PRO2 GRAMS TO BE ASSESSED.—The FAA aviation safety-re3 lated research programs to be assessed under the review 

4 shall include, at a minimum, the following: 

5 (1) Air traffic control/technical operations 

6 human factors. 

7 (2) Runway incursion reduction. 

8 (3) Flightdeck/maintenance system integration 

9 human factors. 

10 (4) Airports technology research—safety. 

11 (5) Airport cooperative research program—safe12 ty. 

13 (6) Weather program. 

14 (7) Atmospheric hazards/digital system safety. 

15 (8) Fire research and safety. 

16 (9) Propulsion and fuel systems. 

17 (10) Advanced materials/structural safety. 

18 (11) Aging aircraft. 

19 (12) Aircraft catastrophic failure prevention re20 search. 

21 (13) Aeromedical research. 

22 (14) Aviation safety risk analysis. 

23 (15) Unmanned aircraft systems research. 

24 (16) Safe flight 21—Alaska Capstone. 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS

4 

•HR 2684 IH

1 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 14 months after the 

2 date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub3 mit to the Committee on Science and Technology of the 

4 House of Representatives and the Committee on Com5 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 

6 on the results of the review. 

7 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

8 There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 

9 this Act $700,000 for fiscal year 2008. 

Æ 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS