259 
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 air-
craft that would endanger other aircraft in the na-
tional airspace system.’’. 
(b) SYSTEMS, PROCEDURES, FACILITIES, AND DE-
VICES.—Section 44505(b) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (4) by striking ‘‘and’’ after the 
semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (5)(C) by striking the period at 
the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) to develop a better understanding of the re-
lationship between human factors and unmanned air-
craft systems safety; and 
‘‘(7) to develop dynamic simulation models for 
integrating all classes of unmanned aircraft systems 
into the national airspace system without any deg-
radation of existing levels of safety for all national 
airspace system users.’’. 
SEC. 909. RESEARCH GRANTS PROGRAM INVOLVING UN-
DERGRADUATE STUDENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall establish 
a program to utilize colleges and universities, including 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic 
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260 
serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and univer-
sities, and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving in-
stitutions in conducting research by undergraduate students 
on subjects of relevance to the FAA. Grants may be awarded 
under this section for— 
(1) research projects to be carried out primarily 
by undergraduate students; 
(2) research projects that combine undergraduate 
research with other research supported by the FAA; 
(3) research on future training requirements re-
lated to projected changes in regulatory requirements 
for aircraft maintenance and power plant licensees; 
and 
(4) research on the impact of new technologies 
and procedures, particularly those related to aircraft 
flight deck and air traffic management functions, and 
on training requirements for pilots and air traffic 
controllers. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 2009 through 2012, for research grants under 
this section. 
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261 
SEC. 910. AVIATION GAS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
PROGRAM. 
(a) CONTINUATION OF PROGRAM.—The Administrator, 
in coordination with the NASA Administrator, shall con-
tinue research and development activities into technologies 
for modification of existing general aviation piston engines 
to enable their safe operation using unleaded aviation fuel. 
(b) ROADMAP.—Not later than 120 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall develop 
a research and development roadmap for the program con-
tinued in subsection (a), containing the specific research 
and development objectives and the anticipated timetable 
for achieving the objectives. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 130 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall provide 
the roadmap specified in subsection (b) to the Committee 
on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $750,000 for each of the fiscal 
years 2009 through 2012 to carry out this section. 
SEC. 911. REVIEW OF FAA’S ENERGY- AND ENVIRONMENT- 
RELATED RESEARCH PROGRAMS. 
(a) STUDY.—The Administrator shall enter into an ar-
rangement with the National Research Council for a review 
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262 
of the FAA’s energy- and environment-related research pro-
grams. The review shall assess whether— 
(1) the programs have well-defined, prioritized, 
and appropriate research objectives; 
(2) the programs are properly coordinated with 
the energy- and environment-related research pro-
grams of NASA, NOAA, and other relevant agencies; 
(3) the programs have allocated appropriate re-
sources to each of the research objectives; and 
(4) 
there 
exist 
suitable 
mechanisms 
for 
transitioning the research results into the FAA’s oper-
ational technologies and procedures and certification 
activities. 
(b) REPORT.—A report containing the results of the 
review shall be provided to the Committee on Science and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate within 18 months of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 912. REVIEW OF FAA’S AVIATION SAFETY-RELATED RE-
SEARCH PROGRAMS. 
(a) REVIEW.—The Administrator shall enter into an 
arrangement with the National Research Council for an 
independent review of the FAA’s aviation safety-related re-
search programs. The review shall assess whether— 
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(1) the programs have well-defined, prioritized, 
and appropriate research objectives; 
(2) the programs are properly coordinated with 
the safety research programs of NASA and other rel-
evant Federal agencies; 
(3) the programs have allocated appropriate re-
sources to each of the research objectives; and 
(4) 
there 
exist 
suitable 
mechanisms 
for 
transitioning the research results from the programs 
into the FAA’s operational technologies and proce-
dures and certification activities in a timely manner. 
(b) AVIATION
SAFETY-RELATED
RESEARCH
PRO-
GRAMS TO BE ASSESSED.—The FAA aviation safety-re-
lated research programs to be assessed under the review 
shall include, at a minimum, the following: 
(1) 
Air 
traffic 
control/technical 
operations 
human factors. 
(2) Runway incursion reduction. 
(3) Flightdeck/maintenance system integration 
human factors. 
(4) Airports technology research—safety. 
(5) Airport cooperative research program—safe-
ty. 
(6) Weather program. 
(7) Atmospheric hazards/digital system safety. 
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