230 
(3) 
MAXIMUM
AMOUNT.—Not 
more 
than 
$5,000,000 in funds made available under section 
47117(e) of title 49, United States Code, may be ex-
pended under this pilot program at any single pub-
lic-use airport. 
(f) SPECIAL RULES
FOR REPAID FUNDS.—The 
amounts repaid to the Administrator with respect to an 
airport under subsection (c)(3)— 
(1) shall be available to the Administrator for 
the following actions giving preference to such ac-
tions in descending order: 
(A) reinvestment in an approved noise 
compatibility project at the airport; 
(B) reinvestment in another project at the 
airport that is available for funding under sec-
tion 47117(e) of title 49, United States Code; 
(C) reinvestment in an approved airport 
development project at the airport that is eligi-
ble for funding under section 47114, 47115, or 
47117 of such title; 
(D) reinvestment in approved noise com-
patibility project at any other public airport; 
and 
(E) deposit in the Airport and Airway 
Trust Fund established under section 9502 of
231 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 
9502); 
(2) shall be in addition to amounts authorized 
under section 48103 of title 49, United States Code; 
and 
(3) shall remain available until expended. 
(g) USE OF PASSENGER FACILITY REVENUE.—An 
operator of an airport participating in the pilot program 
may use passenger facility revenue collected for the airport 
under section 40117 of title 49, United States Code, to 
pay the portion of the total cost of a project carried out 
by the operator under the pilot program that are not al-
lowable under subsection (e)(2). 
(h) SUNSET.—The Administrator may not make a 
grant under the pilot program after September 30, 2011. 
(i) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than the last 
day of the 30th month following the date on which the 
first grant is made under this section, the Administrator 
shall report to Congress on the effectiveness of the pilot 
program on returning real property purchased with noise 
mitigation 
funds 
made 
available 
under 
section 
47117(e)(1)(A) or 47505 or passenger facility revenues to 
productive use. 
(j) NOISE
COMPATIBILITY
MEASURES.—Section 
47504(a)(2) is amended—
232 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (D); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of sub-
paragraph (E) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(F) joint comprehensive land use plan-
ning, including master plans, traffic studies, en-
vironmental evaluation and economic and feasi-
bility studies, with neighboring local jurisdic-
tions undertaking community redevelopment in 
the area where any land or other property in-
terest acquired by the airport operator under 
this subsection is located, to encourage and en-
hance redevelopment opportunities that reflect 
zoning and uses that will prevent the introduc-
tion of additional incompatible uses and en-
hance redevelopment potential.’’. 
SEC. 819. HELICOPTER OPERATIONS OVER LONG ISLAND, 
NEW YORK. 
(a) STUDY.—The Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration shall conduct a study on helicopter op-
erations over Long Island, New York. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study, the Ad-
ministrator shall examine, at a minimum, the following:
233 
(1) The effect of helicopter operations on resi-
dential areas, including— 
(A) safety issues relating to helicopter op-
erations; 
(B) noise levels relating to helicopter oper-
ations and ways to abate the noise levels; and 
(C) any other issue relating to helicopter 
operations on residential areas. 
(2) The feasibility of diverting helicopters from 
residential areas. 
(3) The feasibility of creating specific air lanes 
for helicopter operations. 
(4) The feasibility of establishing altitude limits 
for helicopter operations. 
(c) EXCEPTIONS.—Any determination under this sec-
tion on the feasibility of establishing limitations or restric-
tions for helicopter operations over Long Island, New 
York, shall not apply to helicopters performing operations 
for news organizations, the military, law enforcement, or 
providers of emergency services. 
(d) LIMITATION ON STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.— 
Nothing in this section shall be construed to interfere with 
the Federal Aviation Administration’s authority to ensure 
the safe and efficient use of the national airspace system.
234 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to Congress a report on the results of the study, in-
cluding information and recommendations concerning the 
issues examined under subsection (b). 
SEC. 820. CABIN TEMPERATURE STANDARDS STUDY. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 6 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall conduct a study to deter-
mine whether onboard temperature standards are nec-
essary to protect cabin and cockpit crew members and pas-
sengers on an aircraft of an air carrier used to provide 
air transportation from excessive heat onboard such air-
craft during standard operations or during an excessive 
flight delay. 
(b) TEMPERATURE
REVIEW.—In conducting the 
study under subsection (a), the Administrator shall— 
(1) survey onboard cabin and cockpit tempera-
tures of a representative sampling of different air-
craft types and operations; 
(2) address the appropriate placement of tem-
perature monitoring devices onboard the aircraft to 
determine the most accurate measurement of on-
board temperature and develop a system for the re-
235 
porting of excessive temperature onboard passenger 
aircraft by cockpit and cabin crew members; and 
(3) review the impact of implementing such on-
board temperature standards on the environment, 
fuel economy, and avionics and determine the costs 
associated with such implementation and the feasi-
bility of using ground equipment or other mitigation 
measures to offset any such costs. 
(c) REPORT
TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Ad-
ministrator shall submit to Congress a report on the find-
ings of the study. 
SEC. 821. CIVIL PENALTIES TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS. 
Section 46301 is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(A) by inserting ‘‘chap-
ter 451,’’ before ‘‘section 47107(b)’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)(5)(A)(i)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘or chapter 449’’ and in-
serting ‘‘chapter 449’’; and 
(B) by inserting after ‘‘44909)’’ the fol-
lowing: ‘‘, or chapter 451’’; and 
(3) in subsection (d)(2)— 
(A) by inserting after ‘‘44723)’’ the fol-
lowing: ‘‘, chapter 451 (except section 45107)’’; 
and
236 
(B) by inserting after ‘‘44909),’’ the fol-
lowing: ‘‘section 45107 or’’. 
SEC. 822. REALIGNMENT OF TERMINAL RADAR APPROACH 
CONTROL AT PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL 
AIRPORT. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration may not carry out, or plan for, 
the consolidation, deconsolidation, colocation, execution of 
interfacility reorganization, or facility elimination of the 
terminal radar approach control (TRACON) at Palm 
Beach International Airport. 
(b) REPLACEMENT OF TERMINAL RADAR APPROACH 
CONTROL AT PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.— 
The Administrator shall take such action as may be nec-
essary to ensure that any air traffic control tower or facil-
ity placed into operation at Palm Beach International Air-
port after September 30, 2007, to replace an air traffic 
control tower or facility placed into operation before Sep-
tember 30, 2007, includes an operating terminal radar ap-
proach control. 
SEC. 823. STUDY AND REPORT ON ALLEVIATING CONGES-
TION. 
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall conduct a study 
and submit a report to Congress regarding effective strat-
237 
egies to alleviate congestion in the national airspace at air-
ports during peak travel times, by evaluating the effective-
ness of reducing flight schedules and staggering flights, 
developing incentives for airlines to reduce the number of 
flights offered, and instituting slots and quotas at air-
ports. In addition, the Comptroller General shall compare 
the efficiency of implementing the strategies in the pre-
ceding sentence with redesigning airspace and evaluate 
any legal obstacles to implementing such strategies. 
SEC. 824. AIRLINE PERSONNEL TRAINING ENHANCEMENT. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue 
regulations under chapter 447 of title 49, United States 
Code, that require air carriers to provide initial and an-
nual recurring training for flight attendants and gate at-
tendants regarding serving alcohol, dealing with disruptive 
passengers, and recognizing intoxicated persons. The 
training shall include situational training on methods of 
handling an intoxicated person who is belligerent. 
SEC. 825. STUDY ON FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPMENT OF A 
PUBLIC INTERNET WEB-BASED SEARCH EN-
GINE ON WIND TURBINE INSTALLATION OB-
STRUCTION. 
(a) STUDY.—The Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration shall carry out a study on the feasi-
238 
bility of developing a publicly searchable, Internet Web- 
based resource that provides information regarding the ac-
ceptable height and distance that wind turbines may be 
installed in relation to aviation sites and the level of ob-
struction such turbines may present to such sites. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the study, the 
Administrator shall consult, if appropriate, with the Secre-
taries of the Army, Navy and Air Force, Homeland Secu-
rity, and Energy to coordinate the requirements of each 
agency for future air space needs, determine what the ac-
ceptable risks are to existing infrastructure of each agen-
cy, and define the different levels of risk for such infra-
structure. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a re-
port on the results of the study to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, Committee on Home-
land Security, Committee on Armed Services and Com-
mittee on Science and Technology in the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science 
and Transportation, Committee on Government Affairs 
and Homeland Security, and the Committee on Armed 
Services in the Senate.
239 
TITLE IX—FEDERAL AVIATION 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
SEC. 901. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Aviation Re-
search and Development Reauthorization Act of 2007’’. 
SEC. 902. DEFINITIONS. 
As used in this title, the following definition apply: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration. 
(2) FAA.—The term ‘‘FAA’’ means the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration. 
(3) NASA.—The term ‘‘NASA’’ means the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration. 
(4) NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL.—The term 
‘‘National Research Council’’ means the National 
Research Council of the National Academies of 
Science and Engineering. 
(5) NOAA.—The term ‘‘NOAA’’ means the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
(6) NSF.—The term ‘‘NSF’’ means the Na-
tional Science Foundation. 
(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Transportation.
240 
SEC. 903. 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, if war-
ranted, to evaluate approaches to mitigate that impact. 
(b) RESEARCH PLAN.—Not later than one 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. 
SEC. 904. RESEARCH PROGRAM ON RUNWAYS. 
(a) RESEARCH PROGRAM.—The Administrator shall 
maintain a program of research grants to universities and 
nonprofit research foundations for research and tech-
nology 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.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be nec-
essary for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2011 to 
carry out this section.
241 
SEC. 905. RESEARCH ON DESIGN FOR CERTIFICATION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.—Not later than 
6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
FAA, in consultation with other agencies as appropriate, 
shall establish a research program on methods to improve 
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 shall develop a plan 
for the research program that contains the objectives, pro-
posed tasks, milestones, and five-year budgetary profile. 
(c) REVIEW.—The Administrator shall have the Na-
tional Research Council conduct an independent review of 
the research program plan and provide the results of that 
review to the Committee on Science and Technology and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later 
than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 906. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE. 
(a) GOVERNMENT’S
SHARE
OF
COSTS.—Section 
44513(f) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(f) GOVERNMENT’S SHARE OF COSTS.—The United 
States Government’s share of establishing and operating
242 
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 annually 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 time of the President’s budget request a re-
port 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. 
SEC. 907. AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM. 
Section 44511(f) is amended—
243 
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘establish a 4- 
year pilot’’ 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. 908. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS. 
(a) RESEARCH INITIATIVE.—Section 44504(b) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (6) by striking ‘‘and’’ after 
the semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (7) by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) in conjunction with other Federal agencies, 
as appropriate, to develop technologies and methods 
to assess the risk of and prevent defects, failures, 
and malfunctions of products, parts, and processes, 
for use in all classes of unmanned aircraft systems 
that could result in a catastrophic failure of the un-
244 
manned aircraft that would endanger other aircraft 
in the national 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 
relationship between human factors and unmanned 
aircraft 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 
serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and univer-
sities, and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving in-
stitutions in conducting research by undergraduate stu-
245 
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; 
(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.—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. 910. RESEARCH PROGRAM ON SPACE WEATHER AND 
AVIATION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall, in 
coordination with the National Science Foundation, Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration, National
246 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and other rel-
evant agencies, initiate a research program to— 
(1) conduct or supervise research projects on 
impacts of space weather to aviation, including com-
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. 911. 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
247 
piston engines to enable their safe operation using un-
leaded aviation fuel. 
(b) ROADMAP.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall de-
velop a research and development roadmap for the pro-
gram continued 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 Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $750,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 2008 through 2010 to carry out this section. 
SEC. 912. 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 programs. The review shall assess 
whether—
248 
(A) 
the 
programs 
have 
well-defined, 
prioritized, and appropriate research objectives; 
(B) the programs are properly coordinated 
with the energy- and environment-related re-
search programs of NASA, NOAA, and other 
relevant agencies; 
(C) the programs have allocated appro-
priate resources to each of the research objec-
tives; 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 18 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,
249 
and in particular, to examine the risks for Over-The- 
Pole (OTP) and Ultra-Long-Range (ULR) oper-
ations. The study shall— 
(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.
250 
SEC. 913. 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 
research programs. The review shall assess whether— 
(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 
relevant 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.
251 
(4) Airports technology research—safety. 
(5) Airport cooperative research program—safe-
ty. 
(6) Weather program. 
(7) Atmospheric hazards/digital system safety. 
(8) Fire research and safety. 
(9) Propulsion and fuel systems. 
(10) Advanced materials/structural safety. 
(11) Aging aircraft. 
(12) Aircraft catastrophic failure prevention re-
search. 
(13) Aeromedical research. 
(14) Aviation safety risk analysis. 
(15) Unmanned aircraft systems research. 
(16) Safe Flight 21—Alaska Capstone. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 14 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to Congress a report on the results of the review. 
(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 $700,000 for fiscal year 2008 to carry out 
this section.
252 
SEC. 914. RESEARCH PROGRAM ON ALTERNATIVE JET 
FUEL TECHNOLOGY FOR CIVIL AIRCRAFT. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT
OF RESEARCH PROGRAM.— 
Using amounts made available under section 48102(a) of 
title 49, United States Code, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall establish a research program related to devel-
oping jet fuel from alternative sources (such as coal, nat-
ural gas, biomass, ethanol, butanol, and hydrogen) 
through grants or other measures authorized under sec-
tion 106(l)(6) of such title, including reimbursable agree-
ments with other Federal agencies. 
(b) PARTICIPATION
BY
EDUCATIONAL
AND
RE-
SEARCH INSTITUTIONS.—In conducting the program, the 
Secretary shall provide for participation by educational 
and research institutions that have existing facilities and 
experience in the development and deployment of tech-
nology for alternative jet fuels. 
(c) DESIGNATION OF INSTITUTE AS A CENTER OF 
EXCELLENCE.—Not later than 6 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall designate an institution de-
scribed in subsection (a) as a Center of Excellence for Al-
ternative Jet Fuel Research.
253 
SEC. 915. CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN AVIATION EMPLOY-
MENT. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish a Center for Excellence in Aviation Employment 
(in this section referred 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. 
(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 FAA as that office develops and 
implements a strategic recruitment and marketing 
program to help the FAA compete for the best quali-
fied employees and incorporate an employee value 
proposition process that results in attracting a
254 
broad-based and diverse aviation workforce in mis-
sion critical positions, including air traffic controller, 
aviation safety inspector, airway transportation safe-
ty 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; 
(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
255 
such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. 
Such sums shall remain available until expended. 
TITLE X—AIRPORT AND AIRWAY 
TRUST FUND FINANCING 
SEC. 1001. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Airport and Airway 
Trust Fund Financing Act of 2007’’. 
SEC. 1002. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF TAXES 
FUNDING 
AIRPORT 
AND 
AIRWAY 
TRUST 
FUND. 
(a) RATE OF TAX ON AVIATION-GRADE KEROSENE 
AND AVIATION GASOLINE.— 
(1) 
AVIATION-GRADE
KEROSENE.—Subpara-
graph (A) of section 4081(a)(2) of the Internal Rev-
enue Code of 1986 (relating to rates of tax) is 
amended by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of clause (ii), 
by striking the period at the end of clause (iii) and 
inserting ‘‘, and’’, and by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new clause: 
‘‘(iv) in the case of aviation-grade ker-
osene, 35.9 cents per gallon.’’. 
(2) AVIATION GASOLINE.—Clause (ii) of section 
4081(a)(2)(A) of such Code is amended by striking 
‘‘19.3 cents’’ and inserting ‘‘24.1 cents’’.
256 
(3) FUEL
REMOVED
DIRECTLY
INTO
FUEL 
TANK OF AIRPLANE USED IN NONCOMMERCIAL AVIA-
TION.—Subparagraph (C) of section 4081(a)(2) of 
such Code is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(C) TAXES IMPOSED ON FUEL USED IN 
COMMERCIAL AVIATION.— In the case of avia-
tion-grade kerosene which is removed from any 
refinery or terminal directly into the fuel tank 
of an aircraft for use in commercial aviation by 
a person registered for such use under section 
4101, the rate of tax under subparagraph 
(A)(iv) shall be 4.3 cents per gallon.’’. 
(4) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) Clause (iii) of section 4081(a)(2)(A) of 
such Code is amended by inserting ‘‘other than 
aviation-grade kerosene’’ after ‘‘kerosene’’. 
(B) The following provisions of such Code 
are each amended by striking ‘‘kerosene’’ and 
inserting ‘‘aviation-grade kerosene’’: 
(i) Section 4081(a)(3)(A)(ii). 
(ii) Section 4081(a)(3)(A)(iv). 
(iii) Section 4081(a)(3)(D). 
(C) Section 4081(a)(3)(D) of such Code is 
amended—
257 
(i) by striking ‘‘paragraph (2)(C)(i)’’ 
in clause (i) and inserting ‘‘paragraph 
(2)(C)’’, and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘paragraph (2)(C)(ii)’’ 
in clause (ii) and inserting ‘‘paragraph 
(2)(A)(iv)’’. 
(D) Section 4081(a)(4) of such Code is 
amended in the heading by striking ‘‘KER-
OSENE’’ and inserting ‘‘AVIATION-GRADE KER-
OSENE’’. 
(E) Section 4081(d)(2) of such Code is 
amended by inserting ‘‘, (a)(2)(A)(iv),’’ after 
‘‘subsections (a)(2)(A)(ii)’’. 
(b) EXTENSION.— 
(1) FUELS TAXES.—Paragraph (2) of section 
4081(d) of such Code is amended by striking ‘‘gal-
lon—’’ and all that follows and inserting ‘‘gallon 
after September 30, 2011’’. 
(2) TAXES ON TRANSPORTATION OF PERSONS 
AND PROPERTY.— 
(A) PERSONS.—Clause (ii) of section 
4261(j)(1)(A) of such Code is amended by 
striking ‘‘September 30, 2007’’ and inserting 
‘‘September 30, 2011’’.
258 
(B) PROPERTY.—Clause (ii) of section 
4271(d)(1)(A) of such Code is amended by 
striking ‘‘September 30, 2007’’ and inserting 
‘‘September 30, 2011’’. 
(c) EXEMPTION FOR AVIATION-GRADE KEROSENE 
REMOVED INTO AN AIRCRAFT.—Subsection (e) of section 
4082 of such Code is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘kerosene’’ and inserting ‘‘avia-
tion-grade kerosene’’, 
(2) by striking ‘‘section 4081(a)(2)(A)(iii)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘section 4081(a)(2)(A)(iv)’’, and 
(3) by striking ‘‘KEROSENE’’ in the heading 
and inserting ‘‘AVIATION-GRADE KEROSENE’’. 
(d) RETAIL TAX ON AVIATION FUEL.— 
(1) 
EXEMPTION
FOR
PREVIOUSLY
TAXED 
FUEL.—Paragraph (2) of section 4041(c) of such 
Code is amended by inserting ‘‘at the rate specified 
in subsection (a)(2)(A)(iv) thereof’’ after ‘‘section 
4081’’. 
(2) RATE OF TAX.—Paragraph (3) of section 
4041(c) of such Code is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(3) RATE OF TAX.—The rate of tax imposed 
by this subsection shall be the rate of tax in effect 
under section 4081(a)(2)(A)(iv) (4.3 cents per gallon
259 
with respect to any sale or use for commercial avia-
tion).’’. 
(e) REFUNDS RELATING TO AVIATION-GRADE KER-
OSENE.— 
(1) KEROSENE
USED
IN
COMMERCIAL
AVIA-
TION.—Clause (ii) of section 6427(l)(4)(A) of such 
Code is amended by striking ‘‘specified in section 
4041(c) or 4081(a)(2)(A)(iii), as the case may be,’’ 
and inserting ‘‘so imposed’’. 
(2) KEROSENE USED IN AVIATION.—Paragraph 
(4) of section 6427(l) of such Code is amended— 
(A) by striking subparagraph (B) and re-
designating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph 
(B), and 
(B) by amending subparagraph (B), as re-
designated by subparagraph (A), to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(B) PAYMENTS
TO
ULTIMATE, 
REG-
ISTERED VENDOR.—With respect to any ker-
osene used in aviation (other than kerosene to 
which paragraph (6) applies), if the ultimate 
purchaser of such kerosene waives (at such time 
and in such form and manner as the Secretary 
shall prescribe) the right to payment under 
paragraph (1) and assigns such right to the ul-
260 
timate vendor, then the Secretary shall pay 
(without interest) the amount which would be 
paid under paragraph (1) to such ultimate ven-
dor, but only if such ultimate vendor— 
‘‘(i) is registered under section 4101, 
and 
‘‘(ii) meets the requirements of sub-
paragraph (A), (B), or (D) of section 
6416(a)(1).’’. 
(3) AVIATION-GRADE KEROSENE NOT USED IN 
AVIATION.—Subsection (l) of section 6427 of such 
Code is amended by redesignating paragraph (5) as 
paragraph (6) and by inserting after paragraph (4) 
the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) REFUNDS
FOR
AVIATION-GRADE
KER-
OSENE NOT USED IN AVIATION.—If tax has been im-
posed under section 4081 at the rate specified in 
section 4081(a)(2)(A)(iv) and the fuel is used other 
than in an aircraft, the Secretary shall pay (without 
interest) to the ultimate purchaser of such fuel an 
amount equal to the amount of tax imposed on such 
fuel reduced by the amount of tax that would be im-
posed under section 4041 if no tax under section 
4081 had been imposed.’’. 
(4) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
261 
(A) Section 6427(i)(4) of such Code is 
amended— 
(i) by striking ‘‘(4)(C)’’ the first two 
places it occurs and inserting ‘‘(4)(B)’’, 
and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘, (l)(4)(C)(ii), and’’ 
and inserting ‘‘and’’. 
(B) Section 4082(d)(2)(B) of such Code is 
amended by striking ‘‘6427(l)(5)(B)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘6427(l)(6)(B)’’. 
(f) AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND.— 
(1) EXTENSION
OF
TRUST
FUND
AUTHORI-
TIES.— 
(A) EXPENDITURES FROM TRUST FUND.— 
Paragraph (1) of section 9502(d) of such Code 
is amended— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A) by striking ‘‘October 1, 2007’’ 
and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2011’’, and 
(ii) in subparagraph (A) by inserting 
‘‘or the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007’’ 
before the semicolon at the end. 
(B) LIMITATION ON TRANSFERS TO TRUST 
FUND.—Paragraph (2) of section 9502(f) of
262 
such Code is amended by striking ‘‘October 1, 
2007’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2011’’. 
(2) TRANSFERS
TO
TRUST
FUND.—Subpara-
graph (C) of section 9502(b)(1) of such Code is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(C) section 4081 with respect to aviation 
gasoline and aviation-grade kerosene, and’’. 
(3) TRANSFERS ON ACCOUNT OF CERTAIN RE-
FUNDS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (d) of sec-
tion 9502 of such Code is amended— 
(i) in paragraph (2) by striking 
‘‘(other than subsection (l)(4) thereof)’’, 
and 
(ii) in paragraph (3) by striking 
‘‘(other than payments made by reason of 
paragraph (4) of section 6427(l))’’. 
(B) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(i) Section 9503(b)(4) of such Code is 
amended by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of 
subparagraph (C), by striking the period 
at the end of subparagraph (D) and insert-
ing a comma, and by inserting after sub-
paragraph (D) the following:
263 
‘‘(E) section 4081 to the extent attrib-
utable to the rate specified in clause (ii) or (iv) 
of section 4081(a)(2)(A), or 
‘‘(F) section 4041(c).’’. 
(ii) Section 9503(c) of such Code is 
amended by striking the last paragraph 
(relating to transfers from the Trust Fund 
for certain aviation fuel taxes). 
(iii) Section 9502(a) of such Code is 
amended 
by 
striking 
‘‘, 
section 
9503(c)(7),’’. 
(4) TRANSFERS
ON
ACCOUNT
OF
AVIATION- 
GRADE KEROSENE NOT USED IN AVIATION.—Section 
9502(d) of such Code is amended by adding at the 
end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(7) TRANSFERS FROM AIRPORT AND AIRWAY 
TRUST
FUND
ON
ACCOUNT
OF
AVIATION-GRADE 
KEROSENE NOT USED IN AVIATION.—The Secretary 
of the Treasury shall pay from time to time from the 
Airport and Airway Trust Fund into the Highway 
Trust Fund amounts as determined by the Secretary 
of the Treasury equivalent to amounts transferred to 
the Airport and Airway Trust Fund with respect to 
aviation-grade kerosene not used in aviation.’’.
264 
(5) EXPENDITURES FOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL 
MODERNIZATION.—Section 9502(d) of such Code, as 
amended by this title, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(8) EXPENDITURES
FOR
AIR
TRAFFIC
CON-
TROL
MODERNIZATION.—The following amounts 
may be used only for making expenditures to carry 
out air traffic control modernization: 
‘‘(A) So much of the amounts appropriated 
under subsection (b)(1)(C) as the Secretary es-
timates are attributable to— 
‘‘(i) 14.1 cents per gallon of the tax 
imposed at the rate specified in section 
4081(a)(2)(A)(iv) in the case of aviation- 
grade kerosene used other than in commer-
cial 
aviation 
(as 
defined 
in 
section 
4083(b)), and 
‘‘(ii) 4.8 cents per gallon of the tax 
imposed at the rate specified in section 
4081(a)(2)(A)(ii) in the case of aviation 
gasoline used other than in commercial 
aviation (as so defined). 
‘‘(B) Any amounts credited to the Airport 
and Airway Trust Fund under section 9602(b)
265 
with respect to amounts described in this para-
graph.’’. 
(g) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 
(1) MODIFICATIONS.—Except as provided in 
paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section 
shall apply to fuels removed, entered, or sold after 
December 31, 2007. 
(2) EXTENSIONS.—The amendments made by 
subsections (b) and (f)(1) shall take effect on the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
(h) FLOOR STOCKS TAX.— 
(1) IMPOSITION OF TAX.—In the case of avia-
tion fuel which is held on January 1, 2008, by any 
person, there is hereby imposed a floor stocks tax on 
aviation fuel equal to— 
(A) the tax which would have been imposed 
before such date on such fuel had the amend-
ments made by this section been in effect at all 
times before such date, reduced by 
(B) the sum of— 
(i) the tax imposed before such date 
on such fuel under section 4081 of the In-
ternal Revenue Code of 1986, as in effect 
on such date, and
266 
(ii) in the case of kerosene held exclu-
sively for such person’s own use, the 
amount which such person would (but for 
this clause) reasonably expect (as of such 
date) to be paid as a refund under section 
6427(l) of such Code with respect to such 
kerosene. 
(2) LIABILITY FOR TAX AND METHOD OF PAY-
MENT.— 
(A) LIABILITY FOR TAX.—A person hold-
ing aviation fuel on January 1, 2008, shall be 
liable for such tax. 
(B) TIME AND METHOD OF PAYMENT.— 
The tax imposed by paragraph (1) shall be paid 
on April 30, 2008, and in such manner as the 
Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe. 
(3) TRANSFER
OF
FLOOR
STOCK
TAX
REVE-
NUES TO TRUST FUNDS.—For purposes of deter-
mining the amount transferred to the Airport and 
Airway Trust Fund, the tax imposed by this sub-
section shall be treated as imposed by the provision 
of section 4081 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 which applies with respect to the aviation fuel 
involved.
267 
(4) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this sub-
section— 
(A) AVIATION FUEL.—The term ‘‘aviation 
fuel’’ means aviation-grade kerosene and avia-
tion gasoline, as such terms are used within the 
meaning of section 4081 of the Internal Rev-
enue Code of 1986. 
(B) HELD BY A PERSON.—Aviation fuel 
shall be considered as held by a person if title 
thereto has passed to such person (whether or 
not delivery to the person has been made). 
(C) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ 
means the Secretary of the Treasury or the 
Secretary’s delegate. 
(5) EXCEPTION FOR EXEMPT USES.—The tax 
imposed by paragraph (1) shall not apply to any 
aviation fuel held by any person exclusively for any 
use to the extent a credit or refund of the tax is al-
lowable under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
for such use. 
(6) EXCEPTION
FOR
CERTAIN
AMOUNTS
OF 
FUEL.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—No tax shall be im-
posed by paragraph (1) on any aviation fuel 
held on January 1, 2008, by any person if the
268 
aggregate amount of such aviation fuel held by 
such person on such date does not exceed 2,000 
gallons. The preceding sentence shall apply only 
if such person submits to the Secretary (at the 
time and in the manner required by the Sec-
retary) such information as the Secretary shall 
require for purposes of this subparagraph. 
(B) EXEMPT FUEL.—For purposes of sub-
paragraph (A), there shall not be taken into ac-
count any aviation fuel held by any person 
which is exempt from the tax imposed by para-
graph (1) by reason of paragraph (6). 
(C) CONTROLLED GROUPS.—For purposes 
of this subsection— 
(i) CORPORATIONS.— 
(I) IN
GENERAL.—All persons 
treated as a controlled group shall be 
treated as 1 person. 
(II) CONTROLLED
GROUP.—The 
term ‘‘controlled group’’ has the 
meaning given to such term by sub-
section (a) of section 1563 of such 
Code; except that for such purposes 
the phrase ‘‘more than 50 percent’’ 
shall be substituted for the phrase ‘‘at
269 
least 80 percent’’ each place it ap-
pears in such subsection. 
(ii) 
NONINCORPORATED
PERSONS 
UNDER COMMON CONTROL.—Under regula-
tions prescribed by the Secretary, prin-
ciples similar to the principles of subpara-
graph (A) shall apply to a group of per-
sons under common control if 1 or more of 
such persons is not a corporation. 
(7) OTHER LAWS APPLICABLE.—All provisions 
of law, including penalties, applicable with respect to 
the taxes imposed by section 4081 of such Code on 
the aviation fuel involved shall, insofar as applicable 
and not inconsistent with the provisions of this sub-
section, apply with respect to the floor stock taxes 
imposed by paragraph (1) to the same extent as if 
such taxes were imposed by such section. 
Passed the House of Representatives September 20, 
2007. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 2881 
AN ACT 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to author-
ize appropriations for the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration for fiscal years 2008 through 2011, 
to improve aviation safety and capacity, to pro-
vide stable funding for the national aviation sys-
tem, and for other purposes.