To enable the United States to maintain its leadership in aeronautics and aviation by instituting an initiative to develop technologies that will enable future aircraft with significantly lower noise, emissions, and fuel consumption; to reinvigorate basic and applied research in aeronautics and aviation, and for other purposes.

February 5, 2003

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut (for himself, Mr. FORBES, Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. SCHROCK, Mr. HONDA, Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. SIMMONS, and Ms. WOOLSEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science

To enable the United States to maintain its leadership in aeronautics and aviation by instituting an initiative to develop technologies that will enable future aircraft with significantly lower noise, emissions, and fuel consumption; to reinvigorate basic and applied research in aeronautics and aviation, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Aeronautics Research and Development Revitalization Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:

(1) It is in the national interest of the United States to maintain international leadership in aeronautics and aviation.

(2) The United States is in danger of losing its leadership in aeronautics and aviation to international competitors.

(3) Past Federal investments in aeronautics research and development have benefited the economy and national security of the United States, and the quality of life of its citizens.

(4) Future growth in aviation increasingly will be constrained by concerns related to aircraft noise, emissions, fuel consumption, and air transportation system congestion.

(5) Current and projected levels of Federal investment in aeronautics research and development are not sufficient to address concerns related to the growth of aviation.

(6) International competitors have recognized the importance of noise, emissions, fuel consumption, and air transportation system congestion in limiting the future growth of aviation and have established aggressive agendas for addressing each of those concerns.

(7) An aggressive initiative by the Federal Government to develop technologies that would significantly reduce aircraft noise, harmful emissions, and fuel consumption would benefit the United States by--

(A) improving the competitiveness of the United States aviation industry through the development of new markets for aviation services and the development of superior aircraft for existing markets;

(B) improving the quality of life for our citizens by drastically reducing the level of noise due to aircraft operations;

(C) reducing the congestion of the air transportation system by allowing departures and arrivals at currently underutilized airports through the use of environmentally compatible aircraft;

(D) reducing the rate at which fossil fuels are consumed;

(E) reducing the rate at which greenhouse gases and other harmful gases and particulates are added to the atmosphere by aircraft; and

(F) reinvigorating the human capital needed to maintain international leadership in aeronautics and aviation by providing a set of extremely challenging and socially beneficial goals to the next generation of engineers and scientists.

(8) Long-term progress in aeronautics and aviation will require continued Federal investment in fundamental aeronautical research.

(9) The Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry has recommended that `the Federal government significantly increase its investment in basic aerospace research, which enhances U.S. national security, enables breakthrough capabilities, and fosters an efficient, secure, and safe aerospace transportation system'.

(10) Continued research is needed into the flight crew and controller training needed to accommodate new aircraft and air transportation system technologies and procedures.

(11) It is in the interest of the United States to maintain a vigorous capability in basic and applied research and development of technologies related to rotorcraft.

(12) Maintenance of United States leadership in aeronautics and aviation will require the productive collaboration of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, the aviation industry, and the Nation's universities.

(13) Improvements to our understanding of convective weather phenomena and of aircraft wake turbulence would significantly improve the performance of the Nation's air transportation system.

(14) The report entitled `The NASA Aeronautics Blueprint-Toward a Bold New Era of Aviation' provides an excellent statement of the problems facing aviation today, and presents an exciting vision of what can be achieved by investments in aeronautics research and technology. It does not, however, provide a program plan to actually achieve the vision, nor does it address the huge mismatch between current National Aeronautics and Space Administration aeronautics funding and what is required to achieve the vision.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of this Act--

(1) the term `FAA' means the Federal Aviation Administration;

(2) the term `FAA Administrator' means the Administrator of the FAA;

(3) the term `institution of higher education' has the meaning given that term by section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001);

(4) the term `NASA' means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and

(5) the term `NASA Administrator' means the Administrator of NASA.

TITLE I--NASA AERONAUTICS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

SEC. 101. OFFICE OF AERONAUTICS.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT- The NASA Administrator shall establish an Office of Aeronautics, which shall be headed by an Associate Administrator reporting directly to the NASA Administrator.

(b) FUNCTIONS- The Office of Aeronautics shall be responsible for planning, budgeting, and managing all aeronautics research, development, and demonstration activities undertaken by NASA.

SEC. 102. ENVIRONMENTAL AIRCRAFT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.

(a) OBJECTIVE- The NASA Administrator shall establish an initiative with the objective of developing, and demonstrating in a relevant environment, within 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, technologies to enable the following commercial aircraft performance characteristics:

(1) NOISE- Noise levels on takeoff and on airport approach and landing that do not exceed ambient noise levels in the absence of flight operations in the vicinity of airports from which such commercial aircraft would normally operate.

(2) FUEL EFFICIENCY- Ten percent improvement, compared to aircraft in commercial service as of the date of the enactment of this Act, in each of the following:

(A) Specific fuel consumption.

(B) Lift to drag ratio.

(C) Structural weight fraction.

(3) EMISSIONS- Nitrogen oxides at less than five grams per kilogram of fuel burned.

(b) IMPLEMENTATION- Within 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the NASA Administrator shall provide to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a plan for the implementation of the initiative described in subsection (a). Such implementation plan shall include--

(1) technological roadmaps for achieving each of the performance characteristics specified in subsection (a);

(2) an estimate of the ten-year funding profile required to achieve the objective specified in subsection (a);

(3) a plan for carrying out a formal quantification of the estimated costs and benefits of each technological option selected for development beyond the initial concept definition phase; and

(4) a plan for transferring the technologies to industry, including the identification of requirements for prototype demonstrations, as appropriate.

(c) REVIEW- The NASA Administrator shall enter into an arrangement with the National Research Council for the review, within one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, of the adequacy of the implementation plan provided under subsection (b) to achieve the objective described in subsection (a). In addition, the NASA Administrator shall enter into an arrangement with the National Research Council for the review, every three years subsequent to the initial review under this subsection, of NASA's progress in achieving the objective described in subsection (a), including recommendations for changes to NASA's research and development program as needed. The results of each review shall be provided to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate within 30 days after completion of the review.

(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- Except as provided in section 109(b), there are authorized to be appropriated to the NASA Administrator to carry out this section--

(1) $125,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;

(2) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;

(3) $175,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;

(4) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and

(5) $225,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.

Of these amounts, at least fifty percent of the annual funding shall be for research and development conducted at universities, industrial research entities, and not-for-profit research consortia.

SEC. 103. ROTORCRAFT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.

(a) OBJECTIVE- The NASA Administrator shall establish a rotorcraft initiative with the objective of developing, and demonstrating in a relevant environment, within ten years after the date of the enactment of this Act, technologies to enable rotorcraft with the following improvements relative to rotorcraft existing as of the date of the enactment of this Act:

(1) 60 percent reduction in noise levels on takeoff and on approach and landing as perceived by a human observer.

(2) Factor of ten reduction in maximum vibration.

(3) 30 percent reduction in empty weight.

(4) 90 percent reduction in rotorcraft accident rate compared to 2002.

(5) Capability for full all-weather operations, including zero-ceiling, zero-visibility operations and routine flight in icing conditions.

(6) Double the density altitude envelope, relative to 2002 capabilities, for rotorcraft operations.

(b) IMPLEMENTATION- Within 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the NASA Administrator shall provide a plan to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate for the implementation of the initiative described in subsection (a). The implementation plan shall include--

(1) technological roadmaps for achieving each of the improvements specified in subsection (a);

(2) an estimate of the ten-year funding profile required to achieve the objective specified in subsection (a);

(3) a plan for carrying out a formal quantification of the estimated costs and benefits of each technological option selected for development beyond the initial concept definition phase; and

(4) a plan for transferring the technologies to industry, including the identification of requirements for prototype demonstrations, as appropriate.

(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- Except as provided in section 109(b), there are authorized to be appropriated to the NASA Administrator to carry out this section--

(1) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;

(2) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;

(3) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;

(4) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and

(5) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.

SEC. 104. CIVIL SUPERSONIC TRANSPORT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.

(a) OBJECTIVE- The NASA Administrator shall establish an initiative with the objective of developing, and demonstrating in a relevant environment, within twenty years after the date of the enactment of this Act, technologies to enable overland flight of supersonic civil transport aircraft with at least the following performance characteristics:

(1) Mach number of at least 1.6.

(2) Range of at least 4,000 nautical miles.

(3) Payload of at least 150 passengers.

(4) Noise levels on takeoff and on airport approach and landing that meet community noise standards in place at airports from which such commercial supersonic aircraft would normally operate at the time the aircraft would enter commercial service.

(5) Shaped signature sonic boom overpressure sufficiently low enough to permit overland flight over populated areas.

(6) Nitrogen oxide emissions of less than 15 grams per kilogram of fuel burned.

(7) Water vapor emissions for stratospheric flight of no greater than 1400 grams per kilogram of fuel burned.

(b) IMPLEMENTATION- Within 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the NASA Administrator shall provide to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a plan for the implementation of the initiative described in subsection (a). Such implementation plan shall include--

(1) technological roadmaps for achieving each of the performance characteristics specified in subsection (a);

(2) an estimate of the ten-year funding profile required to achieve the objective specified in subsection (a);

(3) a plan for carrying out a formal quantification of the estimated costs and benefits of each technological option selected for development beyond the initial concept definition phase;

(4) a plan for transferring the technologies to industry, including the identification of requirements for prototype demonstrations, as appropriate;

(5) a plan for research to quantify, within 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the limits on sonic boom parameters, such as overpressure and rise time, that would be acceptable to the general public; and

(6) a plan for adjusting the noise reduction research and development activities as needed to accommodate changes in community noise standards that may occur over the lifetime of the initiative.

(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- Except as provided in section 109(b), there are authorized to be appropriated to the NASA Administrator to carry out this section--

(1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;

(2) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;

(3) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;

(4) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and

(5) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.

SEC. 105. UNIVERSITY-BASED CENTERS FOR RESEARCH ON AVIATION TRAINING.

(a) IN GENERAL- The NASA Administrator shall award grants to institutions of higher education (or consortia thereof) to establish one or more Centers for Research on Aviation Training.

(b) PURPOSE- The purpose of the Centers shall be to investigate the impact of new technologies and procedures, particularly those related to the aircraft flight deck and to the air traffic management functions, on training requirements for pilots and air traffic controllers.

(c) APPLICATION- An institution of higher education (or a consortium of such institutions) seeking funding under this section shall submit an application to the NASA Administrator at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the NASA Administrator may require, including, at a minimum, a five-year research plan.

(d) AWARD DURATION- An award made by the NASA Administrator under this section shall be for a period of five years and may be renewed on the basis of--

(1) satisfactory performance in meeting the goals of the research plan proposed by the Center in its application under subsection (c); and

(2) other requirements as specified by the Administrator.

(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- Except as provided in section 109(b), there are authorized to be appropriated to the NASA Administrator to carry out this section--

(1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;

(2) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;

(3) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;

(4) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and

(5) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.

SEC. 106. NASA AERONAUTICS SCHOLARSHIPS.

(a) OBJECTIVE- The NASA Administrator shall establish a program of scholarships for full-time graduate students who are United States citizens and are enrolled

in, or have been accepted by and have indicated their intention to enroll in, accredited Masters degree programs in aeronautical engineering at institutions of higher education. Each such scholarship shall cover the costs of room, board, tuition, and fees, and may be provided for a maximum of two years.

(b) IMPLEMENTATION- Within 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the NASA Administrator shall publish regulations governing the scholarship program.

(c) COOPERATIVE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES- Students who have been awarded a scholarship under this section shall have the opportunity for paid employment at one of the NASA Centers engaged in aeronautics research and development during the summer prior to the first year of the student's Masters program, and between the first and second year, if applicable.

(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- Except as provided in section 109(b), there are authorized to be appropriated to the NASA Administrator to carry out this section--

(1) $500,000 for fiscal year 2004;

(2) $750,000 for fiscal year 2005;

(3) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;

(4) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and

(5) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.

SEC. 107. AVIATION WEATHER RESEARCH.

There are authorized to be appropriated to the NASA Administrator $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2004 through 2008 for collaborative research with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on convective weather events, with the goal of improving the reliability of two to six hour aviation weather forecasts to a level of at least 0.75.

SEC. 108. AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM RESEARCH.

There are authorized to be appropriated to the NASA Administrator $40,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2004 through 2008 to carry out collaborative research with the FAA and with other Federal agencies as appropriate in accordance with the research plan developed under section 301(b).

SEC. 109. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) TOTAL AUTHORIZATION- The total amounts authorized to be appropriated for aeronautics research, development, and demonstration activities at NASA, including the amounts authorized by this Act, are--

(1) $675,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;

(2) $750,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;

(3) $900,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;

(4) $1,050,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and

(5) $1,150,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.

(b) LIMITATION- All amounts authorized to be appropriated by this title are for research and development activities and do not include amounts required to support the labor, travel, research operations support, environmental compliance, and nonprogrammatic construction of facilities activities of the Office of Aeronautics.

TITLE II--FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

SEC. 201. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) AMOUNTS AUTHORIZED- Section 48102(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--

(1) by striking `and' at the end of paragraph (7);

(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (8) and inserting a semicolon; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

`(9) for fiscal year 2004, $366,100,000, including--

`(A) $25,500,000 for weather projects and activities;

`(B) $81,600,000 for aircraft safety technology projects and activities;

`(C) $27,300,000 for human factors and aviation medicine projects and activities;

`(D) $30,000,000 for environment and energy projects and activities; and

`(E) $35,000,000 to carry out collaborative research with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and with other Federal agencies as appropriate in accordance with the research plan developed under section 301(b) of the Aeronautics Research and Development Revitalization Act of 2003;

`(10) for fiscal year 2005, $410,000,000, including--

`(A) $30,600,000 for weather projects and activities;

`(B) $90,100,000 for aircraft safety technology projects and activities;

`(C) $30,200,000 for human factors and aviation medicine projects and activities;

`(D) $37,500,000 for environment and energy projects and activities; and

`(E) $35,000,000 to carry out collaborative research with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and with other Federal agencies as appropriate in accordance with

the research plan developed under section 301(b) of the Aeronautics Research and Development Revitalization Act of 2003;

`(11) for fiscal year 2006, $462,000,000, including--

`(A) $37,000,000 for weather projects and activities;

`(B) $99,800,000 for aircraft safety technology projects and activities;

`(C) $33,500,000 for human factors and aviation medicine projects and activities;

`(D) $47,000,000 for environment and energy projects and activities; and

`(E) $35,000,000 to carry out collaborative research with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and with other Federal agencies as appropriate in accordance with the research plan developed under section 301(b) of the Aeronautics Research and Development Revitalization Act of 2003;

`(12) for fiscal year 2007, $520,000,000, including $35,000,000 to carry out collaborative research with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and with other Federal agencies as appropriate in accordance with the research plan developed under section 301(b) of the Aeronautics Research and Development Revitalization Act of 2003; and

`(13) for fiscal year 2008, $550,000,000, including $35,000,000 to carry out collaborative research with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and with other Federal agencies as appropriate in accordance with the research plan developed under section 301(b) of the Aeronautics Research and Development Revitalization Act of 2003.'.

(b) RESEARCH PRIORITIES- Section 48102(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

`(4) Of the amount authorized under subsection (a)(9)--

`(A) $2,000,000 shall be made available for wake turbulence research; and

`(B) $10,000,000 shall be made available for information security research.

`(5) Of the amount authorized under subsection (a)(10)--

`(A) $3,000,000 shall be made available for wake turbulence research; and

`(B) $12,000,000 shall be made available for information security research.

`(6) Of the amount authorized under subsection (a)(11)--

`(A) $4,000,000 shall be made available for wake turbulence research; and

`(B) $13,200,000 shall be made available for information security research.

`(7) The Administrator is authorized to use amounts authorized under subsection (a), regardless of the appropriations account through which the amounts may be provided, for making grant awards for support of research and development activities.'.

TITLE III--STUDIES

SEC. 301. STUDY OF AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ARCHITECTURES AND RESEARCH PLAN.

(a) STUDY- (1) The NASA Administrator and the FAA Administrator, in consultation with other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall undertake a joint study to identify and assess the most promising national air traffic management system architecture that would result in an automated and integrated air transportation capability that would triple the capacity of the existing air traffic management system by 2025. In identifying and assessing possible national air traffic management system architectures, the study shall take into account the presence of commercial aircraft with the performance characteristics specified in section 102(a).

(2) In carrying out this subsection, the NASA Administrator and FAA Administrator shall seek comments from industry and academia during the study, and shall enter into an arrangement to have the results of the study reviewed by the National Research Council.

(b) RESEARCH PLAN AND REPORT- (1) Based on the study under subsection (a), the NASA Administrator and the FAA Administrator, in consultation with other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall develop a research plan to advance the key technologies that would be required to implement the air traffic management system architecture identified. The plan shall specify the research goals, the responsibilities of the agencies that would be involved in carrying it out, the time period anticipated to achieve the research goals, and the resources required.

(2) A report containing the results of the study under subsection (a), the results of the review conducted by the National Research Council under subsection (a)(2), and the research plan under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be provided to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on

Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate within two years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2004 for carrying out this section--

(1) to the NASA Administrator, $1,500,000; and

(2) to the FAA Administrator, $1,500,000.

SEC. 302. STUDY OF MARKETS ENABLED BY ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR FUTURE AIRCRAFT.

(a) OBJECTIVE- The NASA Administrator shall conduct a study to identify and quantify new markets that would be created, as well as existing markets that would be expanded, by the incorporation of the technologies developed pursuant to section 102 into future commercial aircraft. As part of the study, the NASA Administrator shall identify whether any of the performance characteristics specified in section 102(a) would need to be made more stringent in order to create new markets or expand existing markets. The NASA Administrator shall seek input from at least the aircraft manufacturing industry, academia, and the airlines in carrying out the study.

(b) REPORT- A report containing the results of the study shall be provided to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate within eighteen months after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be appropriated to the NASA Administrator $500,000 for carrying out this section.

SEC. 303. ASSESSMENT OF WAKE TURBULENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

(a) ASSESSMENT- The FAA Administrator shall enter into an arrangement with the National Research Council for an assessment of the FAA's proposed wake turbulence research and development program. The assessment shall address at least the following questions:

(1) Are the research and development goals and objectives well defined?

(2) Are there any research and development objectives that are not part of FAA's proposed program that should be?

(3) Will the proposed research and development program enable the achievement of the goals and objectives of the FAA, and of the National Research Council, on schedule and for the proposed level of resources? If not, what adjustments would need to be made?

(4) What roles should be played by other Federal agencies, such as NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in wake turbulence research and development, and how should those efforts be coordinated with FAA's program?

(b) REPORT- A report containing the results of the assessment shall be provided to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate within one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be appropriated to the FAA Administrator for fiscal year 2004 $500,000 to carry out this section.

SEC. 304. ASSESSMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL AERONAUTICS RESEARCH CAPABILITIES.

(a) ASSESSMENT- In order to ensure that the Nation retains needed capabilities in fundamental aerodynamics and other areas of fundamental aeronautics research, the NASA Administrator shall enter into an arrangement with the National Research Council for an assessment of the Nation's future requirements for fundamental aeronautics research and whether the Nation will have a skilled research workforce and research facilities commensurate with those requirements. The assessment shall include an identification of any projected gaps, and recommendations for what steps should be taken by the Federal Government to eliminate those gaps.

(b) REPORT- The NASA Administrator shall transmit the assessment, along with NASA's response to the assessment, to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate within 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be appropriated to the NASA Administrator $500,000 for fiscal year 2004 to carry out this section.

END