§44504. Improved aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and appliances
(a)
(b)
(1) to develop technologies and analyze information to predict the effects of aircraft design, maintenance, testing, wear, and fatigue on the life of aircraft, including nonstructural aircraft systems, and air safety;
(2) to develop methods of analyzing and improving aircraft maintenance technology and practices, including nondestructive evaluation of aircraft structures;
(3) to assess the fire and smoke resistance of aircraft material;
(4) to develop improved fire and smoke resistant material for aircraft interiors;
(5) to develop and improve fire and smoke containment systems for inflight aircraft fires;
(6) to develop advanced aircraft fuels with low flammability and technologies that will contain aircraft fuels to minimize post-crash fire hazards;
(7) to develop technologies and methods to assess the risk of and prevent defects, failures, and malfunctions of products, parts, processes, and articles manufactured for use in aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and appliances that could result in a catastrophic failure of an aircraft; and
(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 unmanned aircraft that would endanger other aircraft in the national airspace system.
(c)
(Pub. L. 103–272, §1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1176; Pub. L. 106–181, title IX, §904, Apr. 5, 2000, 114 Stat. 196; Pub. L. 112–95, title IX, §903(a), Feb. 14, 2012, 126 Stat. 138.)
| Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 44504(a) | 49 App.:1353(b) (1st sentence). | Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, §312(b) (1st, last sentences), 72 Stat. 752. |
| 49 App.:1655(c)(1). | Oct. 15, 1966, Pub. L. 89–670, §6(c)(1), 80 Stat. 938; Jan. 12, 1983, Pub. L. 97–449, §7(b), 96 Stat. 2444. | |
| 44504(b) | 49 App.:1353(b) (2d sentence). | Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, §312(b) (2d sentence); added Nov. 3, 1988, Pub. L. 100–591, §2, 102 Stat. 3011; Nov. 5, 1990, Pub. L. 101–508, §9208(a), 104 Stat. 1388–376. |
| 44504(c) | 49 App.:1353(b) (last sentence) | |
| 49 App.:1655(c)(1). |
In this section, the word "Administrator" in section 312(b) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (Public Law 85–726, 72 Stat. 752) is retained on authority of 49:106(g).
In subsection (a), the words "to improve" are substituted for "such . . . as tends to the creation of improved" to eliminate unnecessary words.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2012—Subsec. (b)(8). Pub. L. 112–95 added par. (8).
2000—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 106–181 inserted ", including nonstructural aircraft systems," after "life of aircraft".
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2000 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 106–181 applicable only to fiscal years beginning after Sept. 30, 1999, see section 3 of Pub. L. 106–181, set out as a note under section 106 of this title.
Alternative Fuel and Low-Emission Aviation Technology Program
Pub. L. 117–169, title IV, §40007, Aug. 16, 2022, 136 Stat. 2030, provided that:
"(a)
"(1) $244,530,000 for projects relating to the production, transportation, blending, or storage of sustainable aviation fuel;
"(2) $46,530,000 for projects relating to low-emission aviation technologies; and
"(3) $5,940,000 to fund the award of grants under this section, and oversight of the program, by the Secretary.
"(b)
"(1) the capacity for the eligible entity to increase the domestic production and deployment of sustainable aviation fuel or the use of low-emission aviation technologies among the United States commercial aviation and aerospace industry;
"(2) the projected greenhouse gas emissions from such project, including emissions resulting from the development of the project, and the potential the project has to reduce or displace, on a lifecycle basis, United States greenhouse gas emissions associated with air travel;
"(3) the capacity to create new jobs and develop supply chain partnerships in the United States;
"(4) for projects related to the production of sustainable aviation fuel, the projected lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions benefits from the proposed project, which shall include feedstock and fuel production and potential direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions (including resulting from changes in land use); and
"(5) the benefits of ensuring a diversity of feedstocks for sustainable aviation fuel, including the use of waste carbon oxides and direct air capture.
"(c)
"(d)
"(e)
"(1)
"(A) a State or local government, including the District of Columbia, other than an airport sponsor;
"(B) an air carrier;
"(C) an airport sponsor;
"(D) an accredited institution of higher education;
"(E) a research institution;
"(F) a person or entity engaged in the production, transportation, blending, or storage of sustainable aviation fuel in the United States or feedstocks in the United States that could be used to produce sustainable aviation fuel;
"(G) a person or entity engaged in the development, demonstration, or application of low-emission aviation technologies; or
"(H) nonprofit entities or nonprofit consortia with experience in sustainable aviation fuels, low-emission aviation technologies, or other clean transportation research programs.
"(2)
"(3)
"(4)
"(5)
"(A) improve aircraft fuel efficiency;
"(B) increase utilization of sustainable aviation fuel; or
"(C) reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced during operation of civil aircraft.
"(6)
"(7)
"(A) consists of synthesized hydrocarbons;
"(B) meets the requirements of—
"(i) ASTM International Standard D7566; or
"(ii) the co-processing provisions of ASTM International Standard D1655, Annex A1 (or such successor standard);
"(C) is derived from biomass (in a similar manner as such term is defined in section 45K(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [26 U.S.C. 45K(c)(3)]), waste streams, renewable energy sources, or gaseous carbon oxides;
"(D) is not derived from palm fatty acid distillates; and
"(E) achieves at least a 50 percent lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reduction in comparison with petroleum-based jet fuel, as determined by a test that shows—
"(i) the fuel production pathway achieves at least a 50 percent reduction of the aggregate attributional core lifecycle emissions and the induced land-use change values under a lifecycle methodology for sustainable aviation fuels similar to that adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization with the agreement of the United States; or
"(ii) the fuel production pathway achieves at least a 50 percent reduction of the aggregate attributional core lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions values and the induced land-use change values under another methodology that the Secretary determines is—
"(I) reflective of the latest scientific understanding of lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions; and
"(II) as stringent as the requirement under clause (i)."
Crash-Resistant Fuel Systems
Pub. L. 114–190, title II, §2105, July 15, 2016, 130 Stat. 620, provided that: "Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [July 15, 2016], the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall evaluate and update, as necessary, standards for crash-resistant fuel systems for civilian rotorcraft."
Aviation Fuel Research and Development Program
Pub. L. 112–95, title IX, §910, Feb. 14, 2012, 126 Stat. 141, provided that:
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Feb. 14, 2012], develop a research and development plan containing the specific research and development objectives, including consideration of aviation safety, technical feasibility, and other relevant factors, and the anticipated timetable for achieving the objectives;
"(2) assess the methods and processes by which the FAA and industry may expeditiously certify and approve new aircraft and recertify existing aircraft with respect to unleaded aviation fuel;
"(3) assess technologies that modify existing piston engine aircraft to enable safe operation of the aircraft using unleaded aviation fuel and determine the resources necessary to certify those technologies; and
"(4) develop recommendations for appropriate policies and guidelines to facilitate a transition to unleaded aviation fuel for piston engine aircraft.
"(c)
"(1) industry groups representing aviation consumers, manufacturers, and fuel producers and distributors; and
"(2) other appropriate Federal agencies.
"(d)
Research Program on Alternative Jet Fuel Technology for Civil Aircraft
Pub. L. 112–95, title IX, §911, Feb. 14, 2012, 126 Stat. 142, provided that:
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
"(1)
"(A) educational and research institutions that have existing facilities and leverage private sector partnerships; and
"(B) consortia with experience across the supply chain, including with research, feedstock development and production, small-scale development, testing, and technology evaluation related to the creation, processing, production, and transportation of alternative aviation fuel.
"(2)
"(d)
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) a member of the Consortium for Continuous Low Energy, Emissions, and Noise of the FAA; and
"(B) part of a Joint Center of Excellence with the Partnership for Air Transportation Noise and Emission Reduction FAA Center of Excellence."
Production of Clean Coal Fuel Technology for Civilian Aircraft
Pub. L. 112–95, title IX, §914, Feb. 14, 2012, 126 Stat. 144, provided that:
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)
Research and Development of Equipment To Clean and Monitor the Engine and APU Bleed Air Supplied on Pressurized Aircraft
Pub. L. 112–95, title IX, §917, Feb. 14, 2012, 126 Stat. 145, provided that:
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) to remove oil-based contaminants from the bleed air supplied to the passenger cabin and flight deck; and
"(2) to detect and record oil-based contaminants in the portion of the total air supplied to the passenger cabin and flight deck from bleed air.
"(c)
FAA Center for Excellence for Applied Research and Training in the Use of Advanced Materials in Transport Aircraft
Pub. L. 108–176, title VII, §708, Dec. 12, 2003, 117 Stat. 2582, as amended by Pub. L. 112–95, title IX, §916, Feb. 14, 2012, 126 Stat. 145, provided that:
"(a)
"(1) promote and facilitate collaboration among academia, the Federal Aviation Administration's Transportation Division, and the commercial aircraft industry, including manufacturers, commercial air carriers, and suppliers; and
"(2) establish goals set to advance technology, improve engineering practices, and facilitate continuing education in relevant areas of study.
"(b)
Rotorcraft Research and Development Initiative
Pub. L. 108–176, title VII, §711, Dec. 12, 2003, 117 Stat. 2585, provided that:
"(a)
"(1) 80 percent reduction in noise levels on takeoff and on approach and landing as perceived by a human observer.
"(2) Factor of 10 reduction in vibration.
"(3) 30 percent reduction in empty weight.
"(4) Predicted accident rate equivalent to that of fixed-wing aircraft in commercial service within 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
"(5) Capability for zero-ceiling, zero-visibility operations.
"(b)
Specialty Metals Consortium
Pub. L. 106–181, title VII, §742, Apr. 5, 2000, 114 Stat. 175, provided that:
"(a)
"(b)