168 
maintenance facility located in the contiguous 48 
States. 
‘‘(5) To deliver the aircraft to an operator leas-
ing the aircraft from the owner or return the air-
craft to the lessor. 
‘‘(6) To prepare, park, or store the aircraft in 
anticipation of any of the activities described in 
paragraphs (1) through (5). 
‘‘(7) To provide transport of persons and goods 
in the relief of emergency situations. 
‘‘(8) To divert the aircraft to an alternative air 
port in the 48 contiguous States on account of 
weather, mechanical, fuel, air traffic control, or 
other safety reasons while conducting a flight in 
order to perform any of the activities described in 
paragraphs (1) through (7). 
‘‘(d) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in the 
section may be construed as interfering with, nullifying, 
or otherwise affecting determinations made by the Federal 
Aviation Administration, or to be made by the Administra-
tion, with respect to applications under part 161 of title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations, that were pending on 
the date of enactment of this section.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 47531 is amended—
169 
(A) in the section heading by striking ‘‘for 
violating sections 47528–47530’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘47529, or 47530’’ and in-
serting ‘‘47529, 47530, or 47534’’. 
(2) Section 47532 is amended by inserting ‘‘or 
47534’’ after ‘‘47528–47531’’. 
(3) The analysis for chapter 475 is amended— 
(A) by striking the item relating to section 
47531 and inserting the following: 
‘‘47531. Penalties.’’; 
and 
(B) by inserting after the item relating to 
section 47533 the following: 
‘‘47534. Prohibition on operating certain aircraft weighing 75,000 pounds or 
less not complying with stage 3 noise levels.’’. 
SEC. 507. ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION PILOT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall establish a pilot program to carry out not 
more than 6 environmental mitigation demonstration 
projects at public-use airports. 
(b) GRANTS.—In implementing the program, the Sec-
retary may make a grant to the sponsor of a public-use 
airport 
from 
funds 
apportioned 
under 
section 
47117(e)(1)(A) of title 49, United States Code, to carry 
out an environmental mitigation demonstration project to
170 
measurably reduce or mitigate aviation impacts on noise, 
air quality, or water quality in the vicinity of the airport. 
(c) ELIGIBILITY FOR PASSENGER FACILITY FEES.— 
An environmental mitigation demonstration project that 
receives funds made available under this section may be 
considered an eligible airport-related project for purposes 
of section 40117 of such title. 
(d) SELECTION CRITERIA.—In selecting among ap-
plicants for participation in the program, the Secretary 
shall give priority consideration to applicants proposing to 
carry out environmental mitigation demonstration projects 
that will— 
(1) achieve the greatest reductions in aircraft 
noise, airport emissions, or airport water quality im-
pacts either on an absolute basis or on a per dollar 
of funds expended basis; and 
(2) be implemented by an eligible consortium. 
(e) FEDERAL SHARE.—Notwithstanding any provi-
sion of subchapter I of chapter 471 of such title, the 
United States Government share of allowable project costs 
of an environmental mitigation demonstration project car-
ried out under this section shall be 50 percent. 
(f) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The Secretary may not 
make grants for a single environmental mitigation dem-
171 
onstration project under this section in a total amount 
that exceeds $2,500,000. 
(g) PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION.—The Secretary 
may develop and publish information on the results of en-
vironmental mitigation demonstration projects carried out 
under this section, including information identifying best 
practices for reducing or mitigating aviation impacts on 
noise, air quality, or water quality in the vicinity of air-
ports. 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
(1) ELIGIBLE CONSORTIUM.—The term ‘‘eligi-
ble consortium’’ means a consortium of 2 or more of 
the following entities: 
(A) A business incorporated in the United 
States. 
(B) A public or private educational or re-
search organization located in the United 
States. 
(C) An entity of a State or local govern-
ment. 
(D) A Federal laboratory. 
(2) ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION DEMONSTRA-
TION PROJECT.—The term ‘‘environmental mitiga-
tion demonstration project’’ means a project that—
172 
(A) demonstrates at a public-use airport 
environmental mitigation techniques or tech-
nologies with associated benefits, which have al-
ready been proven in laboratory demonstra-
tions; 
(B) utilizes methods for efficient adapta-
tion or integration of innovative concepts to air-
port operations; and 
(C) demonstrates whether a technique or 
technology for environmental mitigation identi-
fied in research is— 
(i) practical to implement at or near 
multiple public-use airports; and 
(ii) capable of reducing noise, airport 
emissions, greenhouse gas emissions, or 
water quality impacts in measurably sig-
nificant amounts. 
SEC. 508. AIRCRAFT DEPARTURE QUEUE MANAGEMENT 
PILOT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall carry out a pilot program at not more than 5 public- 
use airports under which the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion shall use funds made available under section 48101(a) 
to test air traffic flow management tools, methodologies, 
and procedures that will allow air traffic controllers of the
173 
Administration to better manage the flow of aircraft on 
the ground and reduce the length of ground holds and 
idling time for aircraft. 
(b) SELECTION CRITERIA.—In selecting from among 
airports at which to conduct the pilot program, the Sec-
retary shall give priority consideration to airports at which 
improvements in ground control efficiencies are likely to 
achieve the greatest fuel savings or air quality or other 
environmental benefits, as measured by the amount of re-
duced fuel, reduced emissions, or other environmental ben-
efits per dollar of funds expended under the pilot program. 
(c) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—Not more than a total of 
$5,000,000 may be expended under the pilot program at 
any single public-use airport. 
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 3 years 
after the date of the enactment of this section, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate a report containing— 
(1) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the 
pilot program, including an assessment of the tools, 
methodologies, and procedures that provided the 
greatest fuel savings and air quality and other envi-
ronmental benefits, and any impacts on safety, ca-
174 
pacity, or efficiency of the air traffic control system 
or the airports at which affected aircraft were oper-
ating; 
(2) an identification of anticipated benefits 
from implementation of the tools, methodologies, 
and procedures developed under the pilot program at 
other airports; 
(3) a plan for implementing the tools, meth-
odologies, and procedures developed under the pilot 
program at other airports or the Secretary’s reasons 
for not implementing such measures at other air-
ports; and 
(4) such other information as the Secretary 
considers appropriate. 
SEC. 509. HIGH PERFORMANCE AND SUSTAINABLE AIR 
TRAFFIC CONTROL FACILITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall implement, to the maximum 
extent practicable, sustainable practices for the incorpora-
tion of energy-efficient design, equipment, systems, and 
other measures in the construction and major renovation 
of air traffic control facilities of the Administration in 
order to reduce energy consumption and improve the envi-
ronmental performance of such facilities.
175 
(b) AUTHORIZATION.—Of amounts appropriated 
under section 48101(a) of title 49, United States Code, 
such sums as may be necessary may be used to carry out 
this section. 
SEC. 510. REGULATORY RESPONSIBILITY FOR AIRCRAFT 
ENGINE NOISE AND EMISSIONS STANDARDS. 
(a) INDEPENDENT REVIEW.—The Administrator of 
the FAA shall make appropriate arrangements for the Na-
tional Academy of Public Administration or another quali-
fied independent entity to review, in consultation with the 
FAA and the EPA, whether it is desirable to locate the 
regulatory responsibility for the establishment of engine 
noise and emissions standards for civil aircraft within one 
of the agencies. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—The review shall be con-
ducted so as to take into account— 
(1) the interrelationships between aircraft en-
gine noise and emissions; 
(2) the need for aircraft engine noise and emis-
sions to be evaluated and addressed in an integrated 
and comprehensive manner; 
(3) the scientific expertise of the FAA and the 
EPA to evaluate aircraft engine emissions and noise 
impacts on the environment;
176 
(4) expertise to interface environmental per-
formance with ensuring the highest safe and reliable 
engine performance of aircraft in flight; 
(5) consistency of the regulatory responsibility 
with other missions of the FAA and the EPA; 
(6) past effectiveness of the FAA and the EPA 
in carrying out the aviation environmental respon-
sibilities assigned to the agency; and 
(7) the international responsibility to represent 
the United States with respect to both engine noise 
and emissions standards for civil aircraft 
(c) REPORT
TO
CONGRESS.—Not later than 6 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Ad-
ministrator of the FAA shall submit to Congress a report 
on the results of the review. The report shall include any 
recommendations developed as a result of the review and, 
if a transfer of responsibilities is recommended, a descrip-
tion of the steps and timeline for implementation of the 
transfer. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
(1) EPA.—The term ‘‘EPA’’ means the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency. 
(2) FAA.—The term ‘‘FAA’’ means the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration.
177 
SEC. 511. CONTINUATION OF AIR QUALITY SAMPLING. 
The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration shall complete the air quality studies and analysis 
started pursuant to section 815 of the Vision 100—Cen-
tury of Aviation Reauthorization Act (49 U.S.C. 40101 
note; 117 Stat. 2592), including the collection of samples 
of the air onboard passenger aircraft by flight attendants 
and the testing and analyzation of such samples for con-
taminants. 
SEC. 512. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the proposed European Union directive ex-
tending the European Union’s emissions trading 
proposal to international civil aviation without work-
ing through the International Civil Aviation Organi-
zation (in this section referred to as the ‘‘ICAO’’) in 
a consensus-based fashion is inconsistent with the 
Convention on International Civil Aviation, done at 
Chicago on December 7, 1944 (TIAS 1591; com-
monly known as ‘‘Chicago Convention’’), and other 
relevant air services agreements and antithetical to 
building international cooperation to address effec-
tively the problem of greenhouse gas emissions by 
aircraft engaged in international civil aviation; and 
(2) the European Union and its member states 
should instead work with other contracting states of
178 
the ICAO to develop a consensual approach to ad-
dressing aircraft greenhouse gas emissions through 
the ICAO. 
SEC. 513. AIRPORT NOISE COMPATIBILITY PLANNING 
STUDY, PORT AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK AND 
NEW JERSEY. 
It is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey should 
undertake an airport noise compatibility planning study 
under part 150 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, 
for the airports that the Port Authority operates as of No-
vember 2, 2007. In undertaking the study, the Port Au-
thority should pay particular attention to the impact of 
noise on affected neighborhoods, including homes, busi-
nesses, and places of worship surrounding LaGuardia Air-
port and JFK Airport. 
TITLE VI—FAA EMPLOYEES AND 
ORGANIZATION 
SEC. 
601. 
FEDERAL 
AVIATION 
ADMINISTRATION 
PER-
SONNEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. 
(a) DISPUTE RESOLUTION.—Section 40122(a) is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as 
paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively; and
179 
(2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(2) DISPUTE RESOLUTION.— 
‘‘(A) MEDIATION.—If the Administrator 
does not reach an agreement under paragraph 
(1) or the provisions referred to in subsection 
(g)(2)(C) with the exclusive bargaining rep-
resentative of the employees, the Administrator 
and the bargaining representative— 
‘‘(i) shall use the services of the Fed-
eral Mediation and Conciliation Service to 
attempt to reach such agreement in ac-
cordance with part 1425 of title 29, Code 
of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the 
date of enactment of the FAA Reauthor-
ization Act of 2007); or 
‘‘(ii) may by mutual agreement adopt 
alternative procedures for the resolution of 
disputes or impasses arising in the negotia-
tion of the collective-bargaining agreement. 
‘‘(B) BINDING ARBITRATION.— 
‘‘(i) 
ASSISTANCE
FROM
FEDERAL 
SERVICE IMPASSES PANEL.—If the services 
of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation 
Service under subparagraph (A)(i) do not
180 
lead to an agreement, the Administrator 
and the exclusive bargaining representative 
of the employees (in this subparagraph re-
ferred to as the ‘parties’) shall submit 
their issues in controversy to the Federal 
Service Impasses Panel. The Panel shall 
assist the parties in resolving the impasse 
by asserting jurisdiction and ordering bind-
ing arbitration by a private arbitration 
board consisting of 3 members. 
‘‘(ii) APPOINTMENT OF ARBITRATION 
BOARD.—The Executive Director of the 
Panel shall provide for the appointment of 
the 3 members of a private arbitration 
board under clause (i) by requesting the 
Director of the Federal Mediation and 
Conciliation Service to prepare a list of not 
less than 15 names of arbitrators with 
Federal sector experience and by providing 
the list to the parties. Within 10 days of 
receiving the list, the parties shall each se-
lect one person from the list. The 2 arbi-
trators selected by the parties shall then 
select a third person from the list within 7 
days. If either of the parties fails to select
181 
a person or if the 2 arbitrators are unable 
to agree on the third person within 7 days, 
the parties shall make the selection by al-
ternately striking names on the list until 
one arbitrator remains. 
‘‘(iii) 
FRAMING
ISSUES
IN
CON-
TROVERSY.—If the parties do not agree on 
the framing of the issues to be submitted 
for arbitration, the arbitration board shall 
frame the issues. 
‘‘(iv) 
HEARINGS.—The 
arbitration 
board shall give the parties a full and fair 
hearing, 
including 
an 
opportunity 
to 
present evidence in support of their claims 
and an opportunity to present their case in 
person, by counsel, or by other representa-
tive as they may elect. 
‘‘(v) 
DECISIONS.—The 
arbitration 
board shall render its decision within 90 
days after the date of its appointment. De-
cisions of the arbitration board shall be 
conclusive and binding upon the parties. 
‘‘(vi) COSTS.—The parties shall share 
costs of the arbitration equally.
182 
‘‘(3) RATIFICATION
OF
AGREEMENTS.—Upon 
reaching a voluntary agreement or at the conclusion 
of the binding arbitration under paragraph (2)(B), 
the final agreement, except for those matters de-
cided by an arbitration board, shall be subject to 
ratification by the exclusive bargaining representa-
tive of the employees, if so requested by the bar-
gaining representative, and approval by the head of 
the agency in accordance with the provisions re-
ferred to in subsection (g)(2)(C). 
‘‘(4) ENFORCEMENT.— 
‘‘(A) ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS IN UNITED 
STATES COURTS.—Each United States district 
court and each United States court of a place 
subject to the jurisdiction of the United States 
shall have jurisdiction of enforcement actions 
brought under this section. Such an action may 
be brought in any judicial district in the State 
in which the violation of this section is alleged 
to have been committed, the judicial district in 
which the Federal Aviation Administration has 
its principal office, or the District of Columbia. 
‘‘(B) ATTORNEY
FEES.—The court may 
assess against the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion reasonable attorney fees and other litiga-
183 
tion costs reasonably incurred in any case 
under this section in which the complainant has 
substantially prevailed.’’. 
(b) APPLICATION.—On and after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, any changes implemented by the Admin-
istrator of the Federal Aviation Administration on and 
after July 10, 2005, under section 40122(a) of title 49, 
United States Code (as in effect on the day before such 
date of enactment), without the agreement of the exclusive 
bargaining representative of the employees of the Adminis-
tration certified under section 7111 of title 5, United 
States Code, shall be null and void and the parties shall 
be governed by their last mutual agreement before the im-
plementation of such changes. The Administrator and the 
bargaining representative shall resume negotiations 
promptly, and, subject to subsection (c), their last mutual 
agreement shall be in effect until a new contract is adopt-
ed by the Administrator and the bargaining representa-
tive. If an agreement is not reached within 45 days after 
the date on which negotiations resume, the Administrator 
and the bargaining representative shall submit their issues 
in controversy to the Federal Service Impasses Panel in 
accordance with section 7119 of title 5, United States 
Code, for binding arbitration in accordance with para-
graphs (2)(B), (3), and (4) of section 40122(a) of title
184 
49, United States Code (as amended by subsection (a) of 
this section). 
(c) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—All cost of living adjustments 
and other pay increases, lump sum payments to employ-
ees, and leave and other benefit accruals implemented as 
part of the changes referred to in subsection (b) may not 
be reversed unless such reversal is part of the calculation 
of back pay under subsection (d). The Administrator shall 
waive any overpayment paid to, and not collect any funds 
for such overpayment, from former employees of the Ad-
ministration who received lump sum payments prior to 
their separation from the Administration. 
(d) BACK PAY.— 
(1) 
IN
GENERAL.—Employees 
subject 
to 
changes referred to in subsection (b) that are deter-
mined to be null and void under subsection (b) shall 
be eligible for pay that the employees would have re-
ceived under the last mutual agreement between the 
Administrator and the exclusive bargaining rep-
resentative of such employees before the date of en-
actment of this Act and any changes were imple-
mented without agreement of the bargaining rep-
resentative. The Administrator shall pay the employ-
ees such pay subject to the availability of amounts 
appropriated to carry out this subsection. If the ap-
185 
propriated funds do not cover all claims of the em-
ployees for such pay, the Administrator and the bar-
gaining representative, pursuant to negotiations con-
ducted in accordance with section 40122(a) of title 
49, United States Code (as amended by subsection 
(a) of this section), shall determine the allocation of 
the appropriated funds among the employees on a 
pro rata basis. 
(2) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 
to carry out this subsection. 
(e) INTERIM AGREEMENT.—If the Administrator and 
the exclusive bargaining representative of the employees 
subject to the changes referred to in subsection (b) reach 
a final and binding agreement with respect to such 
changes before the date of enactment of this Act, such 
agreement shall supersede any changes implemented by 
the Administrator under section 40122(a) of title 49, 
United States Code (as in effect on the day before such 
date of enactment), without the agreement of the bar-
gaining representative, and subsections (b) and (c) shall 
not take effect.
186 
SEC. 602. MSPB REMEDIAL AUTHORITY FOR FAA EMPLOY-
EES. 
Section 40122(g)(3) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, retroactive to April 
1, 1996, the Board shall have the same remedial authority 
over such employee appeals that it had as of March 31, 
1996.’’. 
SEC. 603. FAA TECHNICAL TRAINING AND STAFFING. 
(a) STUDY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Comptroller General 
shall conduct a study on the training of the airway 
transportation systems specialists of the Federal 
Aviation Administration (in this section referred to 
as ‘‘FAA systems specialists’’). 
(2) CONTENTS.—The study shall— 
(A) include an analysis of the type of 
training provided to FAA systems specialists; 
(B) include an analysis of the type of 
training that FAA systems specialists need to 
be proficient on the maintenance of latest tech-
nologies; 
(C) include a description of actions that 
the Administration has undertaken to ensure 
that FAA systems specialists receive up-to-date 
training on the latest technologies;
187 
(D) identify the amount and cost of FAA 
systems specialists training provided by ven-
dors; 
(E) identify the amount and cost of FAA 
systems specialists training provided by the Ad-
ministration after developing courses for the 
training of such specialists; 
(F) identify the amount and cost of travel 
that is required of FAA systems specialists in 
receiving training; and 
(G) include a recommendation regarding 
the most cost-effective approach to providing 
FAA systems specialists training. 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller Gen-
eral shall submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Represent-
atives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate a report on the re-
sults of the study. 
(b) WORKLOAD OF SYSTEMS SPECIALISTS.— 
(1) 
STUDY
BY
NATIONAL
ACADEMY
OF 
SCIENCES.—Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration shall make appropriate
188 
arrangements for the National Academy of Sciences 
to conduct a study of the assumptions and methods 
used by the Federal Aviation Administration to esti-
mate staffing needs for FAA systems specialists to 
ensure proper maintenance and certification of the 
national airspace system. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The study shall be conducted 
so as to provide the following: 
(A) A suggested method of modifying FAA 
systems specialists staffing models for applica-
tion to current local conditions or applying 
some other approach to developing an objective 
staffing standard. 
(B) The approximate cost and length of 
time for developing such models. 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the 
initiation of the arrangements under subsection (a), 
the National Academy of Sciences shall submit to 
Congress a report on the results of the study. 
SEC. 604. DESIGNEE PROGRAM. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
189 
Senate a report on the status of recommendations made 
by the Government Accountability Office in its October 
2004 report, ‘‘Aviation Safety: FAA Needs to Strengthen 
Management of Its Designee Programs’’ (GAO–05–40). 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report shall include— 
(1) an assessment of the extent to which the 
Federal Aviation Administration has responded to 
recommendations of the Government Accountability 
Office referred to in subsection (a); 
(2) an identification of improvements, if any, 
that have been made to the designee programs re-
ferred to in the report of the Office as a result of 
such recommendations; and 
(3) an identification of further action that is 
needed to implement such recommendations, im-
prove the Administration’s management control of 
the designee programs, and increase assurance that 
designees meet the Administration’s performance 
standards. 
SEC. 605. 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-
190 
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. 606. SAFETY CRITICAL STAFFING. 
(a) AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTORS.—The Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall in-
crease the number of aviation safety inspectors, safety 
technical specialists, and operations support positions in 
the Flight Standard Service (as those terms are used in 
the Administration’s fiscal year 2008 congressional budget 
justification) each fiscal year commensurate with the 
funding levels provided in subsection (b) for such fiscal 
year. Such increases shall be measured relative to the 
number of persons serving in positions of aviation safety 
inspectors and safety technical specialists and in oper-
ational support positions as of September 30, 2007. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In addi-
tion to amounts authorized by section 106(k) of title 49,
191 
United States Code, there is authorized to be appropriated 
to carry out subsection (a)— 
(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. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION OF STAFFING STANDARDS.— 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, upon 
completion of the flight standards service staffing model 
under section 605 of this Act, and validation of the model 
by the Administrator, there are authorized to be appro-
priated such sums as may be necessary to support the 
number of aviation safety inspectors, safety technical spe-
cialists, and operation support positions that such model 
determines are required to meet the responsibilities of the 
Flight Standards Service. 
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’’)
192 
to estimate staffing needs for FAA air traffic controllers 
to ensure the safe operation of the national airspace sys-
tem. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the study, the 
National Academy of Sciences shall consult with the exclu-
sive bargaining representative of employees of the FAA 
certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code, 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, 
and representatives of the Civil Aeronautical Medical In-
stitute. 
(c) CONTENTS.—The study shall include an examina-
tion of representative information on human factors, traf-
fic activity, and the technology and equipment used in air 
traffic control. 
(d) RECOMMENDATIONS AND ESTIMATES.—In con-
ducting the study, the National Academy of Sciences shall 
develop— 
(1) recommendations for the development by 
the FAA of objective staffing standards to maintain 
the safety and efficiency of the national airspace sys-
tem with current and future projected air traffic lev-
els; and 
(2) estimates of cost and schedule for the devel-
opment of such standards by the FAA or its con-
tractors.