Federal Aviation Administration Research and Development Reauthorization Act

Bill: 108-hr-2734
Sponsor: Rep. Forbes, J. Randy [R-VA-4]
Introduced: 2003-07-15 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aeronautics
Air pollution control
Air traffic
Aircraft pilots
Airports
Authorization
Aviation safety
Avionics
Commerce
Communication satellites
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Transportation
Economics and Public Finance
Employee training
Environmental Protection
Environmental research
Executive reorganization
Federal aid to air pollution control
Federal aid to research
Federal aid to transportation
Federal employees
Flight training
Government Operations and Politics
Health
High technology
Human engineering
Labor and Employment
Medical research
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Navigation (Aeronautics)
Navigation satellites
Navigational aids
New products
Noise
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Research and development
Science, Technology, Communications
Security measures
Space activities
Technological innovations
Telecommunication systems
Transportation planning
Transportation research
Transportation workers
Weather forecasting

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: 
Federal Aviation Administration Research and Development Reauthorization Act - Authorizes appropriations for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Research and Development programs, projects and activities.
 
Requires the FAA and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to establish a Joint Program Office (JPO) to conduct long-term Next Generation Air Traffic Management research and development.
 
Amends Federal transportation law to require future FAA budgets to identify all research and development activities that would be classified as basic research, applied research, or development under the guidelines established by the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-11, regardless of the budget category in which they appear in the budget request. 
 
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish an airport cooperative research grant program to identify problems shared by airport operating agencies that can be solved through applied research, and to fund research addressing those problems. Requires the Secretary to appoint an independent governing board for the program from candidates proposed by national associations representing airport executives, public airport operating agencies, State aviation officials, and the scheduled airlines.
 
Directs FAA to conduct research to: (1) promote development of analytical tools to improve existing certification methods (for new aircraft, engines, and aircraft systems); and (2) reduce overall certification costs for new products. 
 
Establishes a program to fund research on the impact of new technologies and procedures, particularly those related to aircraft flight deck and air traffic management functions, on training requirements for pilots and air traffic controllers.

action_date: 2003-12-08
text: 
Federal Aviation Administration Research and Development Reauthorization Act - (Sec. 2) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2006 for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Research and Development programs, projects and activities.
 
(Sec. 3) Requires the FAA and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to establish a Joint Program Office (JPO) to conduct long-term research and development for a Next Generation Air Traffic Management system capable of tripling capacity by 2025.
 
(Sec. 4) Amends Federal transportation law to require future FAA budgets to identify all research and development activities that would be classified as basic research, applied research, or development under the guidelines established by the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-11, regardless of the budget category in which they appear in the budget request. 
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish an airport cooperative research grant program to identify problems shared by airport operating agencies that can be solved through applied research, and to fund research addressing those problems. Requires the Secretary to appoint an independent governing board for the program from candidates proposed by national associations representing airport executives, public airport operating agencies, State aviation officials, and the scheduled airlines.
 
(Sec. 6) Directs FAA to conduct research to: (1) promote development of analytical tools to improve existing certification methods (for new aircraft, engines, and aircraft systems); and (2) reduce overall certification costs for new products. 
 
(Sec. 7) Establishes a program to fund research on the impact of new technologies and procedures, particularly those related to aircraft flight deck and air traffic management functions, on training requirements for pilots and air traffic controllers.
 
(Sec. 8) Directs the FAA Administrator to establish a rotorcraft initiative with the objective of developing and demonstrating technologies, within ten years, to enable specified performance enhancements over state-of-the-art rotorcraft, including: (1) an 80 percent reduction in noise levels on take and on approach and landing; (2) a factor of 10 reduction in vibration; (3) a 30 percent reduction in empty weight; (4) a predicted accident rate to that of fixed-wing aircraft in commercial service; and (5) the capability of operating in instrument meteorological conditions. 
 
Requires the FAA Administrator, in cooperation with NASA, to provide an implementation plan to specified congressional committees.
 
Authorizes FAA to contribute up to $5 million for the operation of a center for rotorcraft technology. 
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2008.
 
(Sec. 9) Directs the FAA Administrator to study and report to Congress on whether commercial airline pilots between the ages of 60 and 64, who fly for foreign commercial air carriers, pose a significant safety risk to U.S. passengers and airspace.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-12-08
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 231.
action_date: 2003-12-08
text: Committee on Transportation discharged.
action_date: 2003-12-08
text: Committee on Transportation discharged.
action_date: 2003-12-08
text: Referred sequentially to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for a period ending not later than Dec. 8, 2003 for consideration of such provisions of the bill and amendment as fall within the jurisdiction of that committee pursuant to clause 1(q), rule X.
action_date: 2003-12-08
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science. H. Rept. 108-405, Part I.
action_date: 2003-12-08
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science. H. Rept. 108-405, Part I.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Mr. Boehlert asked unanimous consent that the Committee on Science, Space and Technology have until 4:00 p.m. on Aug. 29 to file a report on H.R. 2734. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-07-22
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2003-07-22
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science.
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: Introduced in House