Aviation Safety Research Act of 1988
PL 100-591 (H.R.4686), enacted 11/03/1988

PUBLIC LAW 100-591—NOV. 3, 1988 
102 STAT. 3011 
Public Law 100-591 
100th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 relating to aviation 
research. 
——'-
[H.R. 4686] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled. 
Aviation Safety 
Research Act of 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
1988. 
This Act may be cited as the "Aviation Safety Research Act of 1301 note^^ 
1988". 
SEC. 2. AVIATION MAINTENANCE AND FIRE SAFETY RESEARCH. 
Section 312(b) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (49 U.S.C. App. 
1353(b)) is amended by inserting after the first sentence the follow-
ing: "The Administrator shall undertake or supervise research to 
develop technol<^es and to conduct data analyses for predicting the 
effects of aircraft design, maintenance, testing, wear, and fatigue on 
the life of aircraft and on air safety, to develop methods of anal5rzing 
and improving aircraft maintenance technology and practices 
(including nondestructive evaluation of aircraft structures), to assess 
the fire and smoke resistance of aircraft materials, to develop 
improved fire and smoke resistant materials for aircraft interiors, to 
develop and improve fire and smoke containment systems for in-
flight aircraft fires, and to develop advanced aircraft fuels with low 
fiammability and technol<^es for containment of aircraft fuels for 
the purpose of minimizing post-crash fire hazards.". 
SEC. 3. RESEARCH ON RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUMAN FACTORS AND 
AIR SAFETY AND ON DYNAMIC SIMULATION MODELING. 
Section 312(c) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (49 U.S.C. App. 
1353(c)) is amended by inserting after the first sentence the follow-
ing: "The Administrator shall undertake or supervise research to 
develop a better understanding of the relationship between human 
factors and aviation accidents and between human factors and air 
safety, to enhance air traffic controller and mechanic and flight 
crew performance, to develop a human-factor analysis of the haz-
ards associated with new technologies to be used by air traffic 
controllers, mechanics, and flight crews, and to identify innovative 
and effective corrective measures for human errors which adversely 
affect air safety. The Administrator shall undertake or supervise a 
research program to develop dynamic simulation models of the air 
traffic control system and airport design and operating procedures 
which will provide anal3rtical technology for predicting airport and 
air traffic control safety and capacity problems, for evaluating 
planned research projects, and for testing proposed revisions in 
airport and air traffic control operations programs." 
SEC. 
4
. 
RESEARCH 
PLAN 
AND 
REPORTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 312 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 
(49 U.S.C. App. 1353) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new subsection: 
102 STAT. 3012 
PUBLIC LAW 100-591—NOV. 3, 1988 
"RESEARCH PLAN AND REPORTS 
"(d)(1) The Administrator shall prepare, review, revise, publish, 
and transmit a national aviation research plan to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives not later than the date of the submission to Con-
gress of the President's budget for fiscal year 1990, and for each 
fiscal year thereafter. The plan shall describe, for a 15-year period, 
the research, engineering, and development considered by the 
Administrator necessary to ensure the continued capacity, safety, 
and efficiency of aviation in the United States, considering emerging 
technologies and forecasted needs of civil aeronautics, and provide 
the highest degree of safety in air travel. The plan shall cover all 
research conducted under this section and section 316 of this Act 
and shall identify complementary and coordinated research efforts 
conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
with funds specifically appropriated to such Administration. In 
addition, for projects for which the Administrator anticipates 
requesting funding, such plan shall set forth— 
"(A) for the first 2 years the plan, detailed annual estimates 
of the schedule, cost, and manpower levels for each research 
project, including a description of the scope and content of each 
major contract, grant, or interagency agreement; 
"(B) for the 3d, 4th, and 5th years of the plan, estimates of the 
total cost of each major project for such years and any addi-
tional major research projects which may be required to meet 
long-term objectives and which may have significant impact on 
future funding requirements; 
"(C) for the 6th and subsequent years of the plan, the long-
term objectives which the Administrator considers to be nec-
essary to ensure that aviation safety will be given the highest 
priority; and 
"(D) details of a program to disseminate to the private sector 
the results of aviation research conducted by the Administrator, 
including any new technologies developed. 
"(2) Subject to section 316(dX2) of this Act and the regulations 
prescribed to carry out such section, the Administrator shall report 
annually, beginning with the date of transmission of the first avia-
tion research plan as required by paragraph (1), to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives on the accomplishments of the research completed 
during the preceding fiscal year. The report shall be transmitted 
together with each plan transmittal required under paragraph (1) 
and shall be organized so as to allow comparison with the plan in 
effect for such year under this subsection.". 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—That portion of the table of con-
tents contained in the first section of such Act which appears under 
the heading: 
"Sec. 312. Development planning." 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
"(d) Research plan and reports. 
"(e) Civil aeromedical research. 
"(f) Research advisory committee.". 
PUBLIC LAW 100-591—NOV. 3, 1988 
102 STAT. 3013 
SEC. 5. CIVIL AEROMEDICAL RESEARCH. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF CIVIL AEROMEDICAL INSTITUTE.—Section 106 
of title 49, United States Code, relating to the Federal Aviation 
Administration, is amended by adding at the end thereof the follow-
ing new subsection: 
"(j) There is established within the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion an institute to conduct civil aeromedical research under section 
312(e) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958. Such institute shall be 
known as the 'Civil Aeromedical Institute'. Research conducted by 
the institute should take appropriate advantage of capabilities of 
other government agencies, universities, or the private sector.". 
0)) CIVIL AEROMEDICAL RESEARCH.—Section 312 of the Federal 
Aviation Act of 1958 (49 U.S.C. App. 1353), as amended by this Act, 
is further amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
"CIVIL AEROMEDICAL RESEARCH 
"(e) The Civil Aeromedical Institute established by section 106(j) of 
title 49, United States Code, is authorized— 
"(1) to conduct civil aeromedical research, including, but not 
limited to, research related to— 
"(A) protection and survival of aircraft occupants; 
"(B) medical accident investigation and airman medical 
certification; 
"(C) toxicology and the effects of drugs on human 
performance; 
"(D) the impact of disease and disability on human 
performance; 
"(E) vision and its relationship to human performance 
and equipment design; 
"(F) human factors of flight crews, air traffic controllers, 
mechanics, inspectors, airway facility technicians, and 
other persons involved in the operation and maintenance of 
aircraft and air traffic control equipment; and 
"(G) agency work force optimization, including training, 
equipment design, reduction of errors, and identification of 
candidate tasks for automation; 
"(2) to make comments to the Administrator on human fac-
tors aspects of proposed air safety rules; 
"(3) to make comments to the Administrator on human fac-
tors aspects of proposed training programs, equipment require-
ments, standards, and procedures for aviation personnel; 
"(4) to advise, assist, and represent the Federal Aviation 
Administration in the human factors aspects of joint projects 
between such Administration and the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration, other Government agencies, industry, 
and foreign governments; and 
"(5) to provide medical consultation services to the Adminis-
trator with respect to medical certification of airmen.". 
SEC. 6. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
Section 312 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (49 U.S.C. App. 
1353), as amended by this Act, is further amended by adding at the 
end the following new subsection: 
102 STAT. 3014 
PUBLIC LAW 100-591—NOV. 3, 1988 
"RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE 
"(f)(1) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
this subsection, the Administrator shall establish in the Federal 
Aviation Administration a research advisory committee. 
"(2) The advisory committee shall provide advice and rec-
ommendations to the Administrator regarding needs, objectives, 
plans, approaches, content, and accomplishments with respect to the 
aviation research program carried out under this section and section 
316. The committee shall also assist in assuring that such research 
is coordinated with similar research being conducted outside of the 
Federal Aviation Administration. 
"(3) The advisory committee shall be composed of not more than 
20 members appointed by the Administrator from among persons 
who are not employees of the Federal Aviation Administration and 
who are specially qualified to serve on the committee by virtue of 
their education, training, or experience. The Administrator in 
appointing the members of the committee shall ensure that univer-
sities, corporations, associations, consumers, and other government 
agencies are represented. 
"(4) The chairman of the advisory committee shall be designated 
by the Administrator. 
"(5) Members of the advisory committee shall serve without pay; 
except that the Administrator may allow any member, while attend-
ing meetings of the advisory committee or a subordinate committee, 
travel or transportation expenses in accordance with section 5703 of 
title 5, United States Code. 
"(6) The Administrator shall provide support staff for the advisory 
committee. The Administrator may establish subordinate com-
mittees to the advisory committee to provide advice on specific areas 
of research conducted under this section and section 316. 
"(7) Upon request of the advisory committee, the Administrator 
shall provide such information, administrative services, and sup-
plies as the Administrator determines are necessary for the advisory 
committee to carry out its functions. 
"(8) Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not 
apply to the advisory committee established under this subsection. 
"(9)(A) Not more than one-tenth of 1 percent of the funds made 
available to carry out research under this section and section 316 for 
fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1988, may be used by the 
Administrator to carry out this subsection. 
"(B) No limitation on the amount of funds available for obligation 
by or for the advisory committee shall be applicable with respect to 
the funds made available to carry out this subsection.". 
SEC. 7. FUNDING. 
(a) FISCAL YEAR 1989.—Section 506(b)(2)(B) of the Airport and 
Airway Improvement Act of 1982 (49 U.S.C. App. 2205(b)(2)(B)) is 
amended— 
(1) in clause (vii), by striking "; and" and inserting in lieu 
thereof a comma; and 
(2) by adding at the end, flush with the margin, the following: 
"except that not less than 15 percent of the amount appropri-
ated pursuant to this subparagraph shall be for long-term 
research projects; and". 
PUBLIC LAW 100-591—NOV. 3, 1988 
102 STAT. 3015 
(b) FISCAL YEAR 1990.—Section 506(bX2XC) of the Airport and 
Airway Improvement Act of 1982 (49 U.S.C. App. 2205(bX2XC)) is 
amended to read as follows: 
"(C) for fiscal year 1990— 
"(i) $25,000,000 solely for human factors research 
projects and activities; and 
"(ii) $221,530,000 for all other research projects and 
activities, 
except that not less than 15 percent of the amount appro-
priated pursuant to this subparagraph shall be for long-
term research projects.". 
(c) DEFINITION.—Section 5060t)X2) of the Airport and Airway 
Improvement Act of 1982 (49 U.S.C. App. 2205a)X2)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
"As used in this paragraph, the term 'long-term research project 
means a research project which is identified as a discrete project 
in the aviation research plan required by section 312(dXl) of the 
Federal Aviation Act of 1958 and which is unlikely to result in a 
final rulemaking action within 5 years, or in initial installation 
of operational equipment within 10 years, after the date of the 
commencement of such project.". 
SEC. 8. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER PERFORMANCE RESEARCH. 
49 USC app. 
_ 
~n 
^ 
,» 1 
/. ,1 
1353 note. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds as follows: 
(1) Research is needed to establish a more scientific approach 
for— 
(A) identifjdng future staffing requirements for the air 
traffic control system; and 
(B) developing tools needed for meeting those require-
ments. 
(2) The Federal Aviation Administration and the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration each have unique exper-
tise and facilities for conducting research into the man-machine 
interface problems associated with a highly automated air traf-
fic control system. 
(b) STUDY ON INCREASED AUTOMATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In order to develop the tools necessary for 
establishing appropriate selection criteria and training meth-
odologies for the next generation of air traffic controllers, the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
conduct research to study the effect of automation on the 
performance of the next generation of air traffic controllers and 
the air traffic control system. 
(2) CONTENT.—Research conducted under paragraph (1) shall 
include investigation of the following: 
(A) Methods for improving and accelerating future air 
traffic controller training through the application of ad-
vanced training techniques, including use of simulation 
technology. 
(B) The role of future automation in the air traffic control 
system and its physical and psychological effects on air 
traffic controllers. 
(C) The attributes and aptitudes needed to function well 
in a highly automated air traffic control system, and devel-
opment of appropriate testing methods for identifying 
individuals possessing those attributes and aptitudes. 
102 STAT. 3016 
PUBLIC LAW 100-591—NOV. 3, 1988 
(D) Innovative methods for training potential air traffic 
controllers to enhance the ben^ts of automation and maxi-
misse the efifeddveness of Ihe air traffic control system. 
(E9 New technologies and procedures for exploiting auto-
mated conmiunication i^ystems, including Mode S Tran-
sponders, to improve information transfers between air 
trafBc controllers and aircraft pilots. 
(3) REPOBT.—Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Ad;, the Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration shall report to the Congress the Adminis-
trator's plans for conducting research under this section. 
(c) AGREEMENT WITH AoMmraiRATOR OF NASA.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration may enter into an agreement with the Adminis-
trator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
for use of their unique human factor facilities and expertise in 
conducting research activities to study the human factor aspects 
of the hi^ily automated environment for the next generation of 
air traffic controllers. 
(2) CONTENT.—^Research under this section shall include inves-
tigation of 
the following: 
(A) Human perceptual capabiUties and the effect of 
computer-aided decisionmaking on the workload and 
performance of air traffic controllers. 
(B) Information management techniques for advanced air 
traffic control display systems. 
(Q Air traffic controller workload and performance meas-
ures, indudmg development of predictive models. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF ApPROPRiAiroira.—For conducting research 
under this section there are authorized to be appropriated, from 
amounts in the Airport and Airway Trust Fund which are available 
for research and development, such sums as may be necessary. 
49 use app. 
SEC 9. CRASHWORTHY FUSELAGE FUEL TANKS AND FUEL LINES. 
(a) ADVANCE Nones OF PROPOSED RuifMAioNG.—^In order to 
ensure greater air safety to passengers of air carriers and reduce the 
incidence of post-crash fires, the Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration shall, within 90 days following the date of 
enactment of this Act, issue an advance notice of proposed rule-
making to determine the feasibility of installing in all air carrier 
aircraft crashworthy fuselage fuel tanks and fuselage fuel lines 
which are rupture resistant and which disconnect and seal in the 
event of an accident. 
(b) RESEARCH.—^Within 60 days following the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall undertake or supervise research to 
PUBLIC LAW 100-591—NOV. 3, 1988 
102 STAT. 3017 
develop technologies which will prevent the spraying or free flow or 
significant quantities of fuel after an air crash or develop fuels and 
fuel additives which can reduce rapid fuel dispersal and combustibil-
ity, or both. 
Approved November 3, 1988. 
LEGISLATIVE 
fflSTORY—H.R. 
4686 (S. 2746): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 100-894 (Ck)mm. on Science, Space, and Technology). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 100-584 accompanying S. 2746 (Comm. on Commerce, 
Science, and Tremsportation). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 134 (1988): 
Sept. 20, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 20, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Oct. 21, House concurred in Senate amendment.