(B) REPORT.—Not later than 12 months 
after initiating the study, the National Academy 
shall submit its report to the Administrator, the 
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation, and the House of Representa-
tives Committee on Science and Technology 
containing its finding and recommendations. 
(4) PILOT PROJECTS FOR TRANSITIONING RE-
SEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT RESULTS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator 
shall establish pilot projects in sparsely popu-
lated, low-density Class G air traffic airspace to 
conduct experiments and collect data in order 
to accelerate the safe integration of unmanned 
aircraft systems into the national airspace sys-
tem. 
(B) USE
OF
PUBLIC-PRIVATE
PARTNER-
SHIP.—In conducting the pilot projects, the Ad-
ministrator shall encourage the formation of a 
public-private partnership. 
(C) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days 
after completing the pilot projects, the Adminis-
trator shall transmit a report to the Committee 
on Science and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Com-
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merce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate, setting forth the Administrator’s findings 
and conclusions concerning the projects. 
(D) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—In addition to amounts authorized to 
be appropriated by the amendments made by 
this Act, there is authorized to be appropriated 
to the Administrator for fiscal years 2008 and 
2009 such sums as may be necessary to carry 
out the pilot projects under this paragraph. 
SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY RESEARCH INITIATIVE ON THE IM-
PACT OF AVIATION ON THE CLIMATE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, in coordina-
tion with NASA and the United States Climate Change 
Science Program, shall establish a research initiative to 
assess the impact of aviation on the climate and to evalu-
ate approaches to mitigate that impact. 
(b) RESEARCH PLAN.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the participating Fed-
eral entities shall jointly develop a plan for the research 
program that contains the objectives, proposed tasks, mile-
stones, and 5-year budgetary profile. 
(c) REVIEW.—The Administrator shall have the Na-
tional Research Council conduct an independent review of 
the interagency research program plan and provide the re-
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sults of that review to the Committee on Science and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate not later than 18 months after the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In addi-
tion to amounts authorized to be appropriated by the 
amendments made by this Act, there is authorized to be 
appropriated $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and 
$5,000,000 in each of the fiscal years 2009 through 2011, 
for the interagency research program established under 
this section. 
SEC. 6. RESEARCH PROGRAM ON RUNWAYS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF RESEARCH PROGRAM.—The 
Administrator shall establish a program of research grants 
to universities and non-profit research foundations for re-
search and technology demonstrations related to— 
(1) improved runway surfaces; and 
(2) engineered material restraining systems for 
runways at both general aviation airports and air-
ports with commercial air carrier operations. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In addi-
tion to amounts authorized to be appropriated by the 
amendments made by this Act, there is authorized to be 
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appropriated $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 
through 2011 to carry out this section. 
SEC. 7. RESEARCH ON DESIGN FOR CERTIFICATION. 
(a) JOINT PROGRAM.—Not later than 6 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the FAA and NASA 
shall establish a joint research program on methods to im-
prove both confidence in and the timeliness of certification 
of new technologies for their introduction into the national 
airspace system. 
(b) RESEARCH PLAN.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, as part of the activity 
described in subsection (a), the FAA and NASA shall 
jointly develop a plan for the research program that con-
tains the objectives, proposed tasks, milestones, and five- 
year budgetary profile. 
(c) REVIEW.—The Administrator shall have the Na-
tional Research Council conduct an independent review of 
the joint research program plan and provide the results 
of that review to the Committee on Science and Tech-
nology 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. 
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SEC. 8. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Section 44513(f) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(f) GOVERNMENT’S SHARE OF COSTS.—The United 
States Government’s share of establishing and operating 
the center and all related research activities that grant 
recipients carry out shall not exceed 75 percent of the 
costs. The United States Government’s share of an indi-
vidual grant under this section shall not exceed 90 percent 
of the costs.’’. 
(b) ANNUAL
REPORT.—The Administrator shall 
transmit a report annually to the Committee on Science 
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 
that lists— 
(1) the research projects that have been initi-
ated by each Center of Excellence in the preceding 
year; 
(2) the amount of funding for each research 
project and the funding source; 
(3) the institutions participating in each project 
and their shares of the overall funding for each re-
search project; and 
(4) the level of cost-sharing for each research 
project. 
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SEC. 9. AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM. 
Section 44511(f) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘establish a 4- 
year pilot’’ in paragraph (1) and inserting ‘‘maintain 
an’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (4)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘expiration of the pro-
gram’’ and inserting ‘‘expiration of the pilot 
program’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘program, including rec-
ommendations as to the need for establishing a 
permanent airport cooperative research pro-
gram’’ and inserting ‘‘program’’. 
SEC. 10. RESEARCH GRANTS PROGRAM INVOLVING UNDER-
GRADUATE STUDENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall establish 
a program to utilize colleges and universities, including 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic 
Serving Institutions, tribally controlled colleges and uni-
versities, and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving 
institutions in conducting research by undergraduate stu-
dents 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; 
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(2) research projects that combine under-
graduate research with other research supported by 
the FAA; 
(3) research on future training requirements re-
lated to projected changes in regulatory require-
ments for aircraft maintenance and power plant li-
censees; 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 traf-
fic controllers. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In addi-
tion to amounts authorized to be appropriated by the 
amendments made by this Act, there is authorized to be 
appropriated $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 
through 2011, for research grants under this section. 
SEC. 11. BUDGET FORMULATION. 
Section 48102 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after subsection (f) the following 
new subsection: 
‘‘(g) BUDGET FORMULATION.—(1) The Department 
of Transportation’s annual budget request for the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall identify all of the activities 
carried out by the Administration within the categories of 
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basic research, applied research, and development, as clas-
sified by the Office of Management and Budget Circular 
A–11. Each activity in the categories of basic research, 
applied research, and development shall be identified re-
gardless of the budget category in which it appears in the 
budget request. 
‘‘(2) The budget request specified in paragraph (1) 
shall be submitted to the Committee on Science and Tech-
nology and the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate at the same time as the President’s Budget Re-
quest is submitted to the Congress.’’. 
SEC. 12. RESEARCH PROGRAM ON SPACE WEATHER AND 
AVIATION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—From amounts made avail-
able under section 48102(a) of title 49, United States 
Code, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration shall, in coordination with the National Science 
Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
and other relevant agencies, initiate a research program 
to— 
(1) conduct or supervise research projects on 
impacts of space weather to aviation, including com-
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munication, navigation, avionic systems, and on air-
line passengers and personnel; and 
(2) facilitate the transfer of technology from 
space weather research programs to Federal agen-
cies with operational responsibilities and to the pri-
vate sector. 
(b) USE
OF GRANTS
OR COOPERATIVE AGREE-
MENTS.—The Administrator may use grants or coopera-
tive agreements in carrying out this section. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In addi-
tion to amounts authorized to be appropriated by the 
amendments made by this Act, there is authorized to be 
appropriated $1,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 
through 2011 to carry out this section. 
SEC. 13. AVIATION GAS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
PROGRAM. 
(a) CONTINUATION
OF PROGRAM.—The Adminis-
trator, in coordination with the NASA Administrator, 
shall continue research and development activities into 
technologies for modification of existing general aviation 
piston engines to enable their safe operation using un-
leaded aviation fuel. 
(b) ROADMAP.—Not later than 120 days of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Administrator shall develop a re-
search and development roadmap for the program contin-
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ued in subsection (a), containing the specific research and 
development objectives and anticipated timetable for 
achieving the objectives. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 130 days of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Administrator shall provide the road-
map 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.—In addi-
tion to amounts authorized to be appropriated by the 
amendments made by this Act, there is authorized to be 
appropriated $750,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 
through 2010, to carry out this section. 
SEC. 14. RESEARCH REVIEWS AND ASSESSMENTS. 
(a) REVIEW OF FAA’S ENERGY- AND ENVIRONMENT- 
RELATED RESEARCH PROGRAMS.— 
(1) STUDY.—The Administrator shall enter into 
an arrangement with the National Research Council 
for a review of the FAA’s energy- and environment- 
related research program. The review shall assess 
whether— 
(A) 
the 
programs 
have 
well-defined, 
prioritized, and appropriate research objectives; 
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(B) the program are properly coordinated 
with the energy- and environment-related re-
search programs of NASA, NOAA, and other 
relevant agencies; 
(C) the program have allocated appropriate 
resources to each of the research objectives; and 
(D) there exist suitable mechanisms for 
transitioning the research results into the 
FAA’s operational technologies and procedures 
and certification activities. 
(2) REPORT.—A report containing the results 
of the review shall be provided to the Committee on 
Science and Technology of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate within eighteen months 
of the enactment of this Act. 
(b) ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF SPACE WEATH-
ER ON AVIATION.— 
(1) STUDY.—The Administrator shall enter into 
an arrangement with the National Research Council 
for a study of the impacts of space weather on the 
current and future United States aviation industry, 
and in particular, to examine the risks for Over-The- 
Pole (OTP) and Ultra-Long-Range (ULR) oper-
ations. The study shall— 
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(A) examine space weather impacts on at 
least the following areas: communications, navi-
gation, avionics, and human health in flight; 
(B) assess the benefits of space weather in-
formation and services to reduce aviation costs 
and maintain safety; 
(C) provide recommendations on how 
NASA, NOAA, and the NSF can most effec-
tively carry out research and monitoring activi-
ties related to space weather and aviation; and 
(D) provide recommendations on how to 
integrate space weather information into the 
Next Generation Air Transportation System. 
(2) REPORT.—A report containing the results 
of the study shall be provided to the Committee on 
Science and Technology of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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