Union Calendar No. 110
118th CONGRESS 1st Session |
[Report No. 118–139, Part I]
To provide for Federal Aviation Administration research and development, and for other purposes.
May 22, 2023
Mr. Lucas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
July 11, 2023
Reported from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
July 11, 2023
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 22, 2023]
To provide for Federal Aviation Administration research and development, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
(b) Table of contents.—The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 101. Report on implementation; funding for safety research and development.
Sec. 201. Aviation fuel research, development, and usage.
Sec. 202. Continuous lower energy, emission, and noise (CLEEN).
Sec. 203. Strategy on hydrogen aviation research and development.
Sec. 204. Report on future electric grid resiliency.
Sec. 205. Air traffic surveillance over oceans and other remote locations.
Sec. 206. Utilization of space-based assets to improve air traffic control and aviation safety.
Sec. 207. Aviation weather technology review.
Sec. 208. Air traffic surface operations safety.
Sec. 209. Airport and airfield pavement technology research program.
Sec. 210. Technology review of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies.
Sec. 211. Research plan for commercial supersonic research.
Sec. 212. Electromagnetic spectrum research and development.
Sec. 213. Aviation structures, materials, and advanced manufacturing research and development.
Sec. 214. Research plan on the remote tower program.
Sec. 215. Air traffic control training.
Sec. 216. Report on aviation cybersecurity directives.
Sec. 217. Rule of construction regarding collaborations.
Sec. 218. Turbulence research and development.
Sec. 219. Research, development, and demonstration programs.
Sec. 220. Limitation.
In this Act:
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
Subsection (a) of section 48102 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the allocation of funding pursuant to section 48102 of title 49, United States Code, to the Secretary of Transportation to conduct civil aviation research and development and to assess the implementation of section 48102(b)(2) of such title.
(a) Roadmap.—Not later than nine months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall coordinate with the Administrator of NASA, the Secretary of Energy, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and consult relevant stakeholders, including those in industry and academia, to prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a coordinated research and development roadmap to safely eliminate the use of leaded aviation fuel in existing and future certified piston-engine aircraft. Such roadmap shall—
(b) Partnership with private industry.—The Administrator shall coordinate with industry and pilot operators regarding research programs for mass production and distribution of unleaded aviation gasoline for market viability engine safety, and define criteria to explore incentive programs to reduce lead emissions for communities in need.
The Administrator shall consider expanding the CLEEN program under section 47511 of title 49, United States Code, and broadening eligibility for the CLEEN program to new entrants to the aviation system.
(a) In general.—The Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of NASA and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall lead the development of a research and development strategy on the safe use of hydrogen as part of a sustainable future for aviation. Such strategy shall consider the following:
(b) Transmittal.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the Act, the Administrator shall transmit to the appropriate committees of Congress the research and development strategy required under subsection (a).
Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the model use of the electrical grid to support future electric advanced air mobility, including cost, challenges, and opportunities for clean generation of electricity relating to such support.
(a) Air traffic surveillance over oceans.—Subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, the Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of NASA and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall carry out research, development, demonstration, and testing on civilian air traffic surveillance over oceans and other remote locations.
(b) Requirements.—In carrying out the research, development, demonstration, and testing under subsection (a), the Administrator shall—
(1) consider the need for international interoperability of technologies, data, operations, and air traffic control systems;
(2) examine the status of using air traffic surveillance technologies, including space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, to facilitate the implementation of minimal separation standards over United States-controlled oceanic airspace;
(a) In general.—Subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, the Administrator, in coordination with the Administrator of NASA, and in consultation with industry stakeholders, shall carry out research, development, and testing of the use of air traffic Space-Based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data.
(b) Research activities.—In carrying out the research, development, and testing under subsection (a) the Administrator shall focus on the following:
(a) Review.—The Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall conduct a review of current and planned research, modeling, and technology capabilities that have the potential to more accurately detect and predict weather impacts to aviation, including for unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility operations, inform how advanced predictive models can enhance aviation operations, and increase national airspace system safety and efficiency.
(a) Research.—Subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, the Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of NASA and the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall continue to carry out research on technologies and operations to enhance air traffic surface operations safety.
Section 744 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–254; 49 U.S.C. 44505 note) is amended—
(a) Review.—The Administrator shall conduct a review of current and planned artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to improve airport efficiency and safety.
(b) Summaries.—The review conducted under subsection (a) shall include examination of the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to the following:
(c) Report.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report containing the results of the review conducted under subsection (a). The report shall also include an examination of China’s domestic application of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies identified under subsection (b).
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of NASA and industry, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a comprehensive research plan to build on existing research and development activities and identify any further research and development needed to inform the development of Federal and international policies, regulations, standards, and recommended practices relating to the certification and safe and efficient operation of civil supersonic aircraft and supersonic overland flight.
(a) In general.—The Administrator shall conduct research, engineering, and development related to the effective and efficient use and management of radio frequency spectrum in the civil aviation domain, including for aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems, and advanced air mobility. Such research, engineering, and development shall, at a minimum, address the following:
(1) How reallocation or repurposing of radio frequency spectrum adjacent to spectrum allocated for communication, navigation, and surveillance may impact the safety of civil aviation.
(2) The effectiveness of measures to identify risks, protect, and mitigate against spectrum interference in frequency bands used in civil and commercial aviation operations to ensure public safety.
(a) In general.—Using the amounts available under section 48102(a) of title 49, United States Code, the Administrator, in coordination with the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, shall carry out a research and development program for advancing aviation structures, materials, and manufacturing for the safe use in and on aircraft.
(b) Inclusion.—The program under subsection (a) shall, to the extent practicable, include research and development relating to the following:
(1) Metallic and non-metallic based additive materials and processes, composites, and other advanced materials.
(2) Process development for the development of design and manufacturing standards for aviation structures, materials, and additive manufacturing.
(3) Improving certification efficiency of aviation structures, materials, and additively manufactured aviation products and components.
(4) Evaluating long-term material and structural behavior and associated maintenance, including support for fatigue life determination, structural changes related to fatigue, thermal, corrosive environments, and expected maintenance of such materials, including recommended repair techniques.
(a) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a comprehensive plan for research, development, testing, and evaluation needed to mature remote tower technology and provide a strategic roadmap to support standards development, validation, and operational certification of such technology.
(a) Research.—Subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, the Administrator shall carry out a research program to evaluate opportunities to modernize, enhance, and streamline training time to become a Certified Professional Controller.
(b) Requirements.—The research under subsection (a) shall—
(1) assess the use of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, adaptive computer-based simulation, virtual reality, or augmented reality, to enhance controller knowledge retention, improve performance, and improve the effectiveness of training time;
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the status of the FAA’s implementation of section 2111 of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–190; 49 U.S.C. 44903 note; relating to the development of a comprehensive and strategic aviation cybersecurity framework and establishment of a research and development plan to mitigate cybersecurity risks in the National Airspace System). The report, at minimum, shall include the following:
Nothing in this Act may be construed as modifying or limiting existing collaborations, or limiting potential engagement on future collaborations, between the Administrator, stakeholders, and labor organizations, including the exclusive bargaining representative of air traffic controllers certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code, pertaining to Federal Aviation Administration research, development, demonstration, and testing activities.
(a) In general.—Subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, the Administrator, in collaboration with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and in consultation with the Administrator of NASA, shall carry out applied research and development to—
(b) Research and development activities.—In conducting the research and development on severe turbulence in accordance with subsection (a), the Administrator shall—
(1) establish processes and procedures for comprehensive and systematic data collection through both instrumentation and pilot reporting, of severe turbulence, including clear-air turbulence;
(4) consider relevant existing research and development from other entities, including Federal departments and agencies, academia, and the private sector; and
(5) carry out research and development—
(A) to understand the impacts of climate change and other factors on the nature of turbulence, including severe turbulence and clear-air turbulence;
(c) No duplication.—The Administrator shall ensure that research and development activities under this section do not duplicate other Federal programs relating to turbulence.
(d) Turbulence data.—
(1) COMMERCIAL PROVIDERS.—In conducting research and development activities under subsection (b), the Administrator may enter into agreements with commercial providers for the following:
(2) DATA ACCESS.—The Administrator shall make the data collected pursuant to subsection (b) widely available and accessible to the scientific research, user, and stakeholder communities, including the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to the greatest extent practicable and in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration data management policies.
(e) Report on turbulence research.—Not later than 15 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in collaboration with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that—
(1) details the activities conducted under this section, including how the research and development activities under subsection (b) have contributed to the goals specified in subsection (a);
(2) assesses the current state of scientific understanding of the causes, occurrence rates, and past and projected future trends in occurrence rates of severe turbulence, including clear-air turbulence;
(3) describes the processes and procedures for collecting, storing, and managing, data in pursuant to subsection (b);
(a) In general.—The Administrator shall carry out research, development, testing, evaluation, and demonstration programs for low-carbon alternative aviation fuels, which may include next-generation feedstocks, biofuels, and bioderived chemicals.
(b) Collaboration.—The Administrator shall collaborate with Federal agencies, industry stakeholders, research institutions, and other relevant stakeholders, to accelerate the research, development, testing, evaluation, and demonstrations programs described in subsection (a) and facilitate United States sustainability and competitiveness in aviation.
None of the funds authorized in this Act may be used to conduct research, develop, design, plan, promulgate, implement, or execute a policy, program, order, or contract of any kind with the Chinese Communist Party or any Chinese-owned entity unless such activities are specifically authorized by a law enacted after the date of enactment of this Act.
Union Calendar No. 110 | |||||
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[Report No. 118–139, Part I] | |||||
A BILL | |||||
To provide for Federal Aviation Administration research and development, and for other purposes. | |||||
July 11, 2023 | |||||
Reported from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with an amendment | |||||
July 11, 2023 | |||||
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed |