Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 119.djvu/2942

 119 STAT. 2924

PUBLIC LAW 109–155—DEC. 30, 2005

Aeronautics research and development remains a core mission of NASA. NASA is the lead agency for civil aeronautics research. Further, the government of the United States shall promote aeronautics research and development that will expand the capacity, ensure the safety, and increase the efficiency of the Nation’s air transportation system, promote the security of the Nation, protect the environment, and retain the leadership of the United States in global aviation.

Subtitle B—High Priority Aeronautics Research and Development Programs 42 USC 16721.

SEC. 421. FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH PROGRAM.

(a) OBJECTIVE.—In order to ensure that the Nation maintains needed capabilities in fundamental areas of aeronautics research, the Administrator shall establish a program of long-term fundamental research in aeronautical sciences and technologies that is not tied to specific development projects. (b) OPERATION.—The Administrator shall conduct the program under this section, in part by awarding grants to institutions of higher education. The Administrator shall encourage the participation of institutions of higher education located in States that participate in the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. All grants to institutions of higher education under this section shall be awarded through merit review. (c) ASSESSMENT.—The 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. (d) REPORT.—The Administrator shall transmit the assessment, along with NASA’s response to the assessment, to Congress not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

Grants.

42 USC 16722.

SEC. 422. RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS.

(a) ENVIRONMENTAL AIRCRAFT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.— The Administrator may establish an initiative with the objective of developing, and demonstrating in a relevant environment, 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) ENERGY CONSUMPTION.—Twenty-five percent reduction in the energy required for medium- to long-range flights, compared to aircraft in commercial service as of the date of enactment of this Act. (3) EMISSIONS.—Nitrogen oxides on take-off and landing that are significantly reduced, without adversely affecting hydrocarbons and smoke, relative to aircraft in commercial service as of the date of enactment of this Act.

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