[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3198 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3198
To provide for Federal Aviation Administration research and
development, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 12, 2017
Mr. Knight (for himself, Mr. Smith of Texas, and Mr. Babin) 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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,
TITLE I--GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``FAA Leadership in
Groundbreaking High-Tech Research and Development Act'' or the ``FLIGHT
R&D Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
TITLE I--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE II--FAA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION
Sec. 11. Associate Administrator for Research and Development.
Sec. 12. Research advisory committee.
Sec. 13. Plan to determine research and development responsibility.
TITLE III--UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS
Sec. 21. Unmanned aircraft systems research and development roadmap.
Sec. 22. Probabilistic metrics for exemptions.
Sec. 23. Probabilistic assessment of risks.
Sec. 24. Unmanned aerial vehicle-manned aircraft collision research.
Sec. 25. Special rule for research and development.
Sec. 26. Beyond line-of-sight research and development.
TITLE IV--CYBERSECURITY
Sec. 31. Cyber Testbed.
Sec. 32. Cabin communications, entertainment, and information
technology systems cybersecurity
vulnerabilities.
Sec. 33. Cybersecurity threat modeling.
Sec. 34. National Institute of Standards and Technology cybersecurity
standards.
Sec. 35. Cybersecurity research coordination.
Sec. 36. Cybersecurity research and development program.
TITLE V--FAA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
Sec. 41. Research plan for the certification of new technologies into
the national airspace system.
Sec. 42. Aviation fuel research, development, and usage.
Sec. 43. Air traffic surveillance over oceans and other remote
locations.
Sec. 44. Single-piloted commercial cargo aircraft.
Sec. 45. Electromagnetic spectrum research and development.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Act, the following definitions apply:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
(2) FAA.--The term ``FAA'' means the Federal Aviation
Administration.
(3) NASA.--The term ``NASA'' means the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Authorizations.--Section 48102(a) of title 49, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) in the matter before paragraph (1) by striking ``and,
for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2015, under subsection
(g)'';
(2) at the end of paragraph (8), by striking ``and'';
(3) in paragraph (9) by striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(10) for fiscal year 2018, $181,000,000, including--
``(A) $128,500,000 for Safety Research and
Development programs, including--
``(i) Fire Research and Safety;
``(ii) Propulsion and Fuel Systems;
``(iii) Advanced Materials/Structural
Safety;
``(iv) Aircraft Icing/Digital System
Safety;
``(v) Continued Airworthiness;
``(vi) Aircraft Catastrophic Failure
Prevention Research;
``(vii) Flightdeck/Maintenance/System
Integration Human Factors;
``(viii) System Safety Management;
``(ix) Air Traffic Control/Technical
Operations Human Factors;
``(x) Aeromedical Research;
``(xi) Weather Program;
``(xii) Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research;
``(xiii) NextGen-Alternative Fuels for
General Aviation;
``(xiv) Joint Planning and Development
Office;
``(xv) Ocean and Other Remote Locations ATS
Research Program;
``(xvi) Cybersecurity Research Program;
``(xvii) Cybersecurity Threat Modeling
Program;
``(xviii) Single Piloted Commercial Cargo
Aircraft Program; and
``(xix) UAV-Manned Aircraft Collision
Research Program;
``(B) $26,000,000 for Economic Competitiveness
Research and Development programs, including--
``(i) NextGen-Wake Turbulence;
``(ii) NextGen-Air Ground Integration Human
Factors;
``(iii) Next Gen-Weather Technology in the
Cockpit; and
``(iv) Commercial Space Transportation
Safety;
``(C) $20,000,000 for Environmental Sustainability
Research and Development programs, including--
``(i) Environment and Energy; and
``(ii) NextGen-Environmental Research-
Aircraft Technologies, Fuels and Metrics; and
``(D) $6,500,000 for Mission Support programs,
including--
``(i) System Planning and Resource
Management; and
``(ii) William J. Hughes Technical Center
Laboratory Facility;
``(11) for fiscal year 2019, $186,000,000, including--
``(A) $131,000,000 for Safety Research and
Development programs, including--
``(i) Fire Research and Safety;
``(ii) Propulsion and Fuel Systems;
``(iii) Advanced Materials/Structural
Safety;
``(iv) Aircraft Icing/Digital System
Safety;
``(v) Continued Airworthiness;
``(vi) Aircraft Catastrophic Failure
Prevention Research;
``(vii) Flightdeck/Maintenance/System
Integration Human Factors;
``(viii) System Safety Management;
``(ix) Air Traffic Control/Technical
Operations Human Factors;
``(x) Aeromedical Research;
``(xi) Weather Program;
``(xii) Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research;
``(xiii) NextGen-Alternative Fuels for
General Aviation;
``(xiv) Joint Planning and Development
Office;
``(xv) Ocean and Other Remote Locations ATS
Research Program;
``(xvi) Cybersecurity Research Program;
``(xvii) Cybersecurity Threat Modeling
Program;
``(xviii) Single Piloted Commercial Cargo
Aircraft Program; and
``(xix) UAV-Manned Aircraft Collision
Research Program;
``(B) $28,000,000 for Economic Competitiveness
Research and Development programs, including--
``(i) NextGen-Wake Turbulence;
``(ii) NextGen-Air Ground Integration Human
Factors;
``(iii) Next Gen-Weather Technology in the
Cockpit; and
``(iv) Commercial Space Transportation
Safety;
``(C) $20,000,000 for Environmental Sustainability
Research and Development programs, including--
``(i) Environment and Energy; and
``(ii) NextGen-Environmental Research-
Aircraft Technologies, Fuels and Metrics; and
``(D) $7,000,000 for Mission Support programs,
including--
``(i) System Planning and Resource
Management; and
``(ii) William J. Hughes Technical Center
Laboratory Facility;
``(12) for fiscal year 2020, $190,000,000, including--
``(A) $133,500,000 for Safety Research and
Development programs, including--
``(i) Fire Research and Safety;
``(ii) Propulsion and Fuel Systems;
``(iii) Advanced Materials/Structural
Safety;
``(iv) Aircraft Icing/Digital System
Safety;
``(v) Continued Airworthiness;
``(vi) Aircraft Catastrophic Failure
Prevention Research;
``(vii) Flightdeck/Maintenance/System
Integration Human Factors;
``(viii) System Safety Management;
``(ix) Air Traffic Control/Technical
Operations Human Factors;
``(x) Aeromedical Research;
``(xi) Weather Program;
``(xii) Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research;
``(xiii) NextGen-Alternative Fuels for
General Aviation;
``(xiv) Joint Planning and Development
Office;
``(xv) Ocean and Other Remote Locations ATS
Research Program;
``(xvi) Cybersecurity Research Program;
``(xvii) Cybersecurity Threat Modeling
Program;
``(xviii) Single Piloted Commercial Cargo
Aircraft Program; and
``(xix) UAV-Manned Aircraft Collision
Research Program;
``(B) $29,000,000 for Economic Competitiveness
Research and Development programs, including--
``(i) NextGen-Wake Turbulence;
``(ii) NextGen-Air Ground Integration Human
Factors;
``(iii) Next Gen-Weather Technology in the
Cockpit; and
``(iv) Commercial Space Transportation
Safety;
``(C) $20,000,000 for Environmental Sustainability
Research and Development programs, including--
``(i) Environment and Energy; and
``(ii) NextGen-Environmental Research-
Aircraft Technologies, Fuels and Metrics; and
``(D) $7,500,000 for Mission Support programs,
including--
``(i) System Planning and Resource
Management; and
``(ii) William J. Hughes Technical Center
Laboratory Facility;
``(13) for fiscal year 2021, $126,000,000;
``(14) for fiscal year 2022, $130,000,000; and
``(15) for fiscal year 2023, $132,000,000.''.
(b) Contingency Funding.--Section 48102(b) of title 49, United
States, Code, is amended by inserting after paragraph (3) the
following:
``(4) Notwithstanding subsection (a), no funds are authorized for a
fiscal year for Environmental Sustainability Research and Development
programs unless the full amount authorized for that fiscal year under
subsection (a) for the all of the following programs is appropriated
for that fiscal year:
``(A) Safety Research and Development programs.
``(B) Economic Competitiveness Research and Development
programs.
``(C) Mission Support programs.''.
(c) Annual Submission of the National Aviation Research Plan.--
Section 48102(g) of title 49, United States, Code, is amended to read
as follows:
``(g) Annual Submission of the National Aviation Research Plan.--
Notwithstanding subsection (a), no funds are authorized to be
appropriated for the Office of the Administrator for a fiscal year
unless the Secretary has submitted the National Aviation Research Plan
to Congress no later than the date of submission of the President's
budget request to Congress for that fiscal year, as required under
section 44501(c).''.
TITLE II--FAA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION
SEC. 11. ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
(a) Appointment.--Not later than 3 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall appoint an Associate
Administrator for Research and Development.
(b) Senior Executive Service.--The Associate Administrator for
Research and Development shall be a Senior Executive Service position.
(c) Responsibilities.--The Associate Administrator for Research and
Development shall, at a minimum, be responsible for--
(1) management and oversight of all the FAA's research and
development programs and activities; and
(2) production of all congressional reports from the FAA
relevant to research and development, including the National
Aviation Research Plan.
(d) Dual Appointment.--The Associate Administrator for Research and
Development may be a dual appointment, holding the responsibilities of
another Associate Administrator.
SEC. 12. RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) Advice and Recommendations.--Section 44508(a)(1)(A) of title
49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
``(A) provide advice and recommendations to the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and
Congress about needs, objectives, plans, approaches, content,
and accomplishments of all aviation research and development
activities and programs carried out, including those under
sections 40119, 44504, 44505, 44507, 44511-44513, and 44912 of
this title;''.
(b) Written Reply to Research Advisory Committee.--Section 44508 of
title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(f) Written Reply.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after receiving
any recommendation from the research advisory committee, the
Administrator shall provide a written reply to the research
advisory committee that, at a minimum--
``(A) clearly states whether the Administrator
accepts or rejects the recommendations;
``(B) explains the rationale for the
Administrator's decision;
``(C) sets forth the timeframe in which the
Administrator will implement the recommendation; and
``(D) describes the steps the Administrator will
take to implement the recommendation.
``(2) Transparency.--The written reply to the research
advisory committee, when transmitted to the research advisory
committee, shall be--
``(A) made publicly available on the research
advisory committee website; and
``(B) transmitted to the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate.
``(3) National aviation research plan.--The National
Aviation Research Plan shall include a summary of all research
advisory committee recommendations and a description of the
status of their implementation.''.
SEC. 13. PLAN TO DETERMINE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT RESPONSIBILITY.
(a) Plan.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Research,
Engineering, and Development Advisory Committee, NASA, and other
relevant agencies, shall enter into an arrangement with an external
independent systems engineering and technical assistance organization
to develop a plan, in the event that the national air traffic control
system is required to be transferred to a non-Federal entity, for the
transition of FAA research and development activities to such entity.
(b) Plan Contents.--At a minimum, the plan developed pursuant to
subsection (a) shall--
(1) examine all FAA research and development activities,
regardless of the budget account funding such activities;
(2) take into account such required transfer of the
national air traffic control system;
(3) recommend research and development activities that--
(A) should be transferred to such non-Federal
entity;
(B) should not be transferred to such non-Federal
entity; and
(C) should be shared between the FAA and such non-
Federal entity;
(4) identify the necessary authorities that exist or are
required to carry out the recommendations under paragraph (3);
(5) assess the pros and cons of transferring particular
categories of research and development activities from the FAA
to such non-Federal entity; and
(6) take into account the safety of the national airspace
system, national security, foreign policy, and the economic
interests of the United States.
(c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Administrator shall submit the plan required under
subsection (a) to--
(1) the Research, Engineering, and Development Advisory
Committee; and
(2) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
(d) Advisory Committee Assessment.--Not later than 6 months after
receiving the report under subsection (c), the Research, Engineering,
and Development Advisory Committee shall submit an assessment of the
plan required under subsection (a) to the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
TITLE III--UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS
SEC. 21. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP.
(a) Amendments.--Section 332(a)(5) of the FAA Modernization and
Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``, in coordination with NASA and relevant
stakeholders, including those in industry and academia,'' after
``Web site''; and
(2) by inserting after ``annually.'' the following: ``The
roadmap shall include, at a minimum--
``(A) cost estimates, planned schedules, and
performance benchmarks, including specific tasks,
milestones, and timelines for unmanned aircraft systems
integration into the national airspace system,
including--
``(i) the role of the 6 unmanned aircraft
systems test ranges established under
subsection (c) and the Unmanned Aircraft
Systems Center of Excellence;
``(ii) performance and certification
standards for unmanned aircraft systems that
operate in the national airspace system; and
``(iii) an identification of tools needed
to assist air traffic controllers in managing
unmanned aircraft systems in the national
airspace system;
``(B) a description of how the FAA plans to use
research and development, including research and
development conducted through NASA's Unmanned Aircraft
Systems Traffic Management, to accommodate, integrate,
and provide for the evolution of unmanned aircraft
systems into the national airspace system;
``(C) an assessment of critical performance
abilities necessary to integrate unmanned aircraft
systems into the national airspace system, and how
these performance abilities can be demonstrated; and
``(D) an update on the advancement of technologies
needed to integrate unmanned aircraft systems into the
national airspace system, including decisionmaking by
adaptive systems such as sense-and-avoid, availability
of frequency spectrum, and cyber physical security.''.
(b) Limitation.--No funds are authorized to be appropriated for the
Office of the Administrator for a fiscal year unless the Secretary has
submitted the unmanned aircraft systems roadmap to Congress on an
annual basis as required under section 332(a) of the FAA Modernization
and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note).
SEC. 22. PROBABILISTIC METRICS FOR EXEMPTIONS.
(a) Study.--Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Administrator shall commission an independent study to--
(1) develop parameters to conduct research and development
for probabilistic metrics to enable the identification of
hazards and the assessment of risks as necessary to make
determinations under section 333(a) of the FAA Modernization
and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note) that certain
unmanned aircraft systems may operate safely in the national
airspace system;
(2) identify additional research needed to more effectively
develop and use such metrics and make such determinations; and
(3) in developing parameters for probabilistic metrics,
this study shall take into account the utility of performance
standards to make determinations under section 333(a) of the
FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012.
(b) Consideration of Results.--The Administrator shall consider the
results of the study conducted under subsection (a) when making a
determination described in subsection (a)(1).
(c) Report.--Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Administrator shall transmit the results of the study
conducted under subsection (a) to the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
SEC. 23. PROBABILISTIC ASSESSMENT OF RISKS.
The Administrator shall conduct research and development to enable
a probabilistic assessment of risks to inform requirements for
standards for operational certification of public unmanned aircraft
systems in the national airspace.
SEC. 24. UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE-MANNED AIRCRAFT COLLISION RESEARCH.
(a) Research.--The Administrator shall coordinate with NASA to
conduct comprehensive testing of unmanned aerial vehicles colliding
with a manned aircraft, including--
(1) collisions between unmanned aerial vehicles of various
sizes, traveling at various speeds, and commercial jet
airliners of various sizes, traveling at various speeds;
(2) collisions between unmanned aerial vehicles of various
sizes, traveling at various speeds, and propeller planes of
various sizes, traveling at various speeds;
(3) collisions between unmanned aerial vehicles of various
sizes, traveling at various speeds, and blimps of various
sizes, traveling at various speeds;
(4) collisions between unmanned aerial vehicles of various
sizes, traveling at various speeds, and rotorcraft of various
sizes, traveling at various speeds; and
(5) collisions between unmanned aerial vehicles and various
parts of the aforementioned aircraft, including--
(A) windshields;
(B) noses;
(C) engines;
(D) radomes;
(E) propellers; and
(F) wings.
(b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Administrator shall transmit a report summarizing the
costs and results of research under this section to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
SEC. 25. SPECIAL RULE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
Except as necessary to support enforcement action under applicable
provisions of law against persons operating unmanned aircraft in a
manner that endangers the safety of the national airspace system,
notwithstanding any other provision of law relating to the
incorporation of unmanned aircraft systems into FAA plans and policies,
the Administrator may not promulgate any rule or regulation regarding
the operation of an unmanned aircraft system--
(1) that is flown strictly for research and development
use;
(2) that is operated less than 400 feet above the ground
and in Class G airspace;
(3) that is operated in a manner that does not interfere
with and gives way to any manned aircraft; and
(4) when flown within 5 miles of an airport, the operator
of the aircraft provides the airport operator and the airport
air traffic control tower (when an air traffic facility is
located at the airport) with prior notice of the operation
(unmanned aircraft operators flying from a permanent location
within 5 miles of an airport should establish a mutually agreed
upon operating procedure with the airport operator and the
airport air traffic control tower (when an air traffic facility
is located at the airport)).
SEC. 26. BEYOND LINE-OF-SIGHT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
(a) Amendments.--Section 332(c)(2) of the FAA Modernization and
Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note) is amended--
(1) by striking ``Administrator shall'' and inserting
``Administrator'';
(2) at the beginning of each of subparagraphs (A) through
(F), by inserting ``shall'';
(3) at the end of subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'';
(4) at the end of subparagraph (F), by striking the period
and inserting a semicolon; and
(5) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
``(G) shall allow beyond line-of-sight operation of
unmanned aircraft systems to be flown within the
boundaries of a test range established under this
subsection;
``(H) may promulgate regulations governing beyond
line-of-sight operation of unmanned aircraft systems
flown within the boundaries of a test range established
under this subsection for the purposes of public
safety; and
``(I) shall allow NASA to authorize operation of
beyond line-of-sight unmanned aircraft systems within
the boundaries of any NASA center or facility.''.
(b) Statutory Construction.--Nothing in the amendments made by
subsection (a) shall be construed to limit the authority of the
Administrator to pursue enforcement action under applicable provisions
of law against persons operating unmanned aircraft in a manner that
endangers the safety of the national airspace system.
TITLE IV--CYBERSECURITY
SEC. 31. CYBER TESTBED.
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Administrator shall develop an integrated Cyber Testbed for
research, development, evaluation, and validation of air traffic
control modernization programs or technologies, before they enter the
national airspace system, as being compliant with FAA data security
regulations. The Cyber Testbed shall be part of an integrated research
and development test environment capable of creating, identifying,
defending, and solving cybersecurity-related problems for the national
airspace system. This integrated test environment shall incorporate
integrated test capacities within the FAA related to the national
airspace system and NextGen.
SEC. 32. CABIN COMMUNICATIONS, ENTERTAINMENT, AND INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS CYBERSECURITY VULNERABILITIES.
(a) Evaluation.--The Administrator shall evaluate and determine the
research and development needs associated with cybersecurity
vulnerabilities of cabin communications, entertainment, and information
technology systems on civil passenger aircraft. This evaluation shall
include research and development to address--
(1) technical risks and vulnerabilities;
(2) potential impacts on the national airspace and public
safety; and
(3) identification of deficiencies in cabin-based
cybersecurity.
(b) Assessment.--The Administrator shall--
(1) conduct an assessment of opportunities to cooperate
with the private sector in conducting aircraft in-cabin
cybersecurity research and development; and
(2) provide recommendations to improve research and
development on cabin-based cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
(c) Report.--Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Administrator shall transmit a report on the results of
activities under this section to the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. This report may
contain classified annexes.
SEC. 33. CYBERSECURITY THREAT MODELING.
(a) Program.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator shall consult the
National Institute of Standards and Technology to research and
develop an internal FAA cybersecurity threat modeling program
to detect cybersecurity vulnerabilities, track how those
vulnerabilities might be exploited, and assess the magnitude of
harm that could be caused by the exploitation of those
vulnerabilities.
(2) Updates.--This program shall be updated regularly, not
less than once every 5 years.
(b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of enactment of
this Act, and within 7 days of each threat modeling program update
under subsection (a)(2), the Administrator shall transmit a report to
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate detailing the status, results, and
composition of the threat modeling program.
SEC. 34. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY CYBERSECURITY
STANDARDS.
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act,
the FAA shall, in consultation with the National Institute of Standards
and Technology, transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that
includes--
(1) a cybersecurity standards plan to implement National
Institute of Standards and Technology revisions to
cybersecurity guidance documents within timeframes set by the
Office of Management and Budget; and
(2) an explanation of why any such recommendations are not
incorporated in the plan or are not incorporated within such
timeframes.
SEC. 35. CYBERSECURITY RESEARCH COORDINATION.
The Administrator shall, where feasible, cooperate on cybersecurity
research and development with other international air traffic
management organizations, including the European Aviation Safety
Agency, the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority, Nav Canada, and
Airservices Australia.
SEC. 36. CYBERSECURITY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--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 and development program to
improve the cybersecurity of civil aircraft and the national airspace
system.
(b) Plan.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the FAA shall develop a plan for the
research and development program established under subsection
(a) that contains objectives, proposed tasks, milestones, and a
5-year budgetary profile.
(2) National academies' study.--The Administrator shall--
(A) enter into an arrangement with the National
Academies for a study of the plan developed under
paragraph (1); and
(B) provide the results of that study to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later
than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act.
TITLE V--FAA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
SEC. 41. RESEARCH PLAN FOR THE CERTIFICATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES INTO
THE NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Administrator, in consultation with NASA, shall transmit a
comprehensive research plan for the certification of new technologies
into the national airspace system to the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. This plan shall
identify research necessary to support the certification and
implementation of NextGen, including both ground and air elements, and
explain the plan's relationship to other activities and procedures
required for certification and implementation of new technologies into
the national airspace system. This plan shall be informed by and
conform to the recommendations of the National Research Council report
titled ``Transformation in the Air--A Review of the FAA Research
Plan'', issued on June 8, 2015. This report shall include, at a
minimum--
(1) a description of the strategic and prescriptive value
of the research plan;
(2) an explanation of the expected outcomes from executing
the plan;
(3) an assessment of the FAA's plan to use research and
development to improve cybersecurity over the next 5 years,
taking into account the cybersecurity research and development
plan developed under section 36(b);
(4) an assessment of the current software assurance
practices, and the desired level or attributes to target in the
software assurance program;
(5) cost estimates, planned schedules, and performance
benchmarks, including specific tasks, milestones, and timelines
and including an identification of cost and schedule reserves,
for the certification of new technologies into the national
airspace system, including NextGen, Automatic Dependent
Surveillance-Broadcast, Data Communications, National Airspace
System Voice System, Collaborative Air Traffic Management
Technologies, NextGen Weather, and System Wide Information
Management;
(6) methods for integrating emerging technologies
throughout NextGen's development, certification, and
implementation process; and
(7) best practices in research and development used by
other organizations, such as NASA, NavCanada, and Eurocontrol.
SEC. 42. AVIATION FUEL RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND USAGE.
The Administrator may conduct or supervise research, development,
and service testing, currently being conducted under the Piston
Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI) unleaded avgas program, that is
required to allow the use of an unleaded aviation gasoline in existing
aircraft as a replacement for leaded gasoline.
SEC. 43. AIR TRAFFIC SURVEILLANCE OVER OCEANS AND OTHER REMOTE
LOCATIONS.
(a) Establishment of Program.--The Administrator, in consultation
with NASA and other relevant agencies, shall establish a research and
development program on civilian air traffic surveillance over oceans
and other remote locations. Such program shall--
(1) take into account the need for international
interoperability of technologies and air traffic control
systems; and
(2) recognize that Automatic Dependent Surveillance-
Broadcast (ADS-B) is an element of the Next Generation Air
Transportation System.
(b) Pilot Program.--The Administrator shall establish a pilot
program to test, evaluate, and certify for integration into the
national airspace system air traffic surveillance equipment for oceans
and other remote locations.
(c) Partnership With Private Industry.--The Administrator shall
partner with private industry on the research, development, testing,
and evaluation under this section.
(d) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit a report on activities
under this section to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate.
SEC. 44. SINGLE-PILOTED COMMERCIAL CARGO AIRCRAFT.
(a) Program.--The FAA, in consultation with NASA and other relevant
agencies, shall establish a research and development program in support
of single-piloted cargo aircraft assisted with remote piloting and
computer piloting.
(b) Review.--The FAA, in consultation with NASA, shall conduct a
review of FAA research and development activities in support of single-
piloted cargo aircraft assisted with remote piloting and computer
piloting.
(c) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Administrator shall transmit a report to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate that
describes--
(1) the program established under subsection (a); and
(2) the results of the review conducted under subsection
(b).
SEC. 45. ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
The Administrator shall develop a program to research the use of
spectrum in the civil aviation domain, including aircraft and unmanned
aircraft systems. This research shall, at a minimum, address--
(1) how, operating within an Unmanned Aircraft System
Traffic Management system, unmanned aircraft systems can safely
use, for control link, tracking, diagnostics, payload
communication, collaborative-collision avoidance (e.g. vehicle-
to-vehicle communications), and other purposes--
(A) aviation-protected spectrum;
(B) commercial communications networks, such as
mobile communications networks; and
(C) any other licensed or unlicensed spectrum;
(2) how the reallocation of spectrum assigned for use
within frequency bands adjacent to those allocated for
position, navigation, and timing may impact the safety of civil
aviation; and
(3) measures to protect and mitigate against spectrum
interference in frequency bands used by the civil aviation
community to ensure public safety.
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