141 
prove the Administration’s management control of 
the designee programs, and increase assurance that 
designees meet the Administration’s performance 
standards. 
SEC. 604. STAFFING MODEL FOR AVIATION SAFETY INSPEC-
TORS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than October 31, 2009, 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall develop a staffing model for aviation safety inspec-
tors. In developing the model, the Administrator shall fol-
low the recommendations outlined in the 2007 study re-
leased by the National Academy of Sciences entitled 
‘‘Staffing Standards for Aviation Safety Inspectors’’ and 
consult with interested persons, including the exclusive 
collective bargaining representative of the aviation safety 
inspectors. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this section. 
SEC. 605. SAFETY CRITICAL STAFFING. 
(a) AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTORS.—The Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall in-
crease the number of aviation safety inspectors in the 
Flight Standards Service to not less than— 
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(1) ll full-time equivalent positions in fiscal 
year 2008; 
(2) ll full-time equivalent positions in fiscal 
year 2009; 
(3) ll full-time equivalent positions in fiscal 
year 2010; and 
(4) ll full-time equivalent positions in fiscal 
year 2011. 
(b) OPERATIONAL
SUPPORT.—The Administrator 
shall increase the number of safety technical specialists 
and operational support positions in the Flight Standards 
Service to the levels necessary, as determined by the Ad-
ministrator, to ensure the most efficient and cost-effective 
use of the aviation safety inspectors authorized by sub-
section (a). 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In addi-
tion to amounts authorized by section 106(k) of title 49, 
United States Code, there is authorized to be appropriated 
to carry out subsections (a) and (b)— 
(1) $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 
(2) $134,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 
(3) $170,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and 
(4) $208,000,000 for fiscal year 2011. 
Such sums shall remain available until expended. 
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143 
(d) IMPLEMENTATION OF STAFFING STANDARDS.— 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, upon 
completion of the flight standards service staffing model 
pursuant to section 604 of this Act, and validation of the 
model by the Administrator, there are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to support 
the number of aviation safety inspectors, safety technical 
specialists, and operation support positions that such 
model determines are required to meet the responsibilities 
of the Flight Standards Service. 
SEC. 606. CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN AVIATION EMPLOY-
MENT. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall establish a Center 
for Excellence in Aviation Employment (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Center’’). 
(b) APPLIED RESEARCH AND TRAINING.—The Cen-
ter shall conduct applied research and training on— 
(1) human performance in the air transpor-
tation environment; 
(2) air transportation personnel, including air 
traffic controllers, pilots, and technicians; and 
(3) any other aviation human resource issues 
pertinent to developing and maintaining a safe and 
efficient air transportation system. 
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144 
(c) DUTIES.—The Center shall— 
(1) in conjunction with the Collegiate Training 
Initiative and other air traffic controller training 
programs, develop, implement, and evaluate a com-
prehensive, best-practices based training program 
for air traffic controllers; 
(2) work with the Office of Human Resource 
Management of the Administration as that office de-
velops and implements a strategic recruitment and 
marketing program to help the Administration com-
pete for the best qualified employees and incorporate 
an employee value proposition process that results in 
attracting a broad-based and diverse aviation work-
force in mission critical positions, including air traf-
fic controller, aviation safety inspector, airway trans-
portation safety specialist, and engineer; 
(3) through industry surveys and other research 
methodologies 
and 
in 
partnership 
with 
the 
‘‘Taskforce on the Future of the Aerospace Work-
force’’ and the Secretary of Labor, establish a base-
line of general aviation employment statistics for 
purposes of projecting and anticipating future work-
force needs and demonstrating the economic impact 
of general aviation employment; 
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145 
(4) conduct a comprehensive analysis of the air-
frame and powerplant technician certification proc-
ess and employment trends for maintenance repair 
organization facilities, certificated repair stations, 
and general aviation maintenance organizations; 
(5) establish a best practices model in aviation 
maintenance technician school environments; and 
(6) establish a workforce retraining program to 
allow for transition of recently unemployed and high-
ly skilled mechanics into aviation employment. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator 
such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. 
Such sums shall remain available until expended. 
SEC. 607. FAA AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER STAFFING. 
(a) STUDY BY NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.— 
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration shall enter into appropriate arrangements with the 
National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study of the 
assumptions and methods used by the Federal Aviation 
Administration (in this section referred to as the ‘‘FAA’’) 
to estimate staffing needs for FAA air traffic controllers 
to ensure the safe operation of the national airspace sys-
tem. 
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