Sec. 10831. Experimental aircraft projects
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/bill/117/hr/4346/unknown/section-10831A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
It is the sense of Congress that— developing high-risk, precompetitive aerospace technologies for which there is not yet a profit rationale is a fundamental role of the Administration; large-scale flight test experimentation and validation are necessary for— transitioning new technologies and materials, including associated manufacturing processes, for aviation and aeronautics use; and capturing the full extent of benefits from investments made by the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate; and a level of funding that adequately supports large-scale flight test experimentation and validation, including related infrastructure, should be ensured over a sustained period of time to restore the capacity of the Administration— to see legacy priority programs through to completion; and to achieve national economic and security objectives.
It is the policy of the United States— to maintain world leadership in— civilian aeronautical science and technology; and aerospace industrialization; and to maintain as a fundamental objective of the aeronautics research of the Administration the steady progression and expansion of flight research and capabilities, including the science and technology of critical underlying disciplines and competencies, such as— computational-based analytical and predictive tools and methodologies; aerothermodynamics; propulsion; advanced materials and manufacturing processes; high-temperature structures and materials; and guidance, navigation, and flight controls.
In meeting the objectives described in subsection (b), the Administrator shall carry out experimental aircraft demonstrations, including— a subsonic demonstrator to demonstrate the performance and feasibility of advanced, ultra-efficient, and low emissions subsonic flight demonstrator configurations; a low boom flight demonstrator to validate design tools and technologies that can be applied to low sonic boom commercial supersonic aircraft and support the development of a noise-based standard for supersonic overland flight; and a flight research demonstrator to test the performance and feasibility of advanced, ultra-efficient and net-zero emissions aircraft concepts and configurations.
For each demonstration under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall— include the development of experimental aircraft and all necessary supporting flight test assets; pursue a robust technology maturation and flight test validation effort; improve necessary facilities, flight testing capabilities, and computational tools to support the demonstration; award any primary contracts for design, procurement, and manufacturing to United States persons, consistent with international obligations and commitments; and coordinate research and flight test demonstration activities with other Federal agencies and the United States aviation community, as the Administrator considers appropriate.
In this subsection, the term United States person means— a United States citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the United States; or an entity organized under the laws of the United States or of any jurisdiction within the United States, including a foreign branch of such an entity. The Administration shall seek means to expand collaboration with industry and academia on basic research and technology development related to experimental aircraft, and on the experimental aircraft demonstrations required by subsection (c).
The Administrator may establish an advanced materials and manufacturing technology program— to develop— new materials, including composite and high-temperature materials, from base material formulation through full-scale structural validation and manufacture; advanced materials and manufacturing processes, including additive manufacturing, to reduce the cost of manufacturing scale-up and certification for use in aeronautics; and noninvasive or nondestructive techniques for testing or evaluating aviation and aeronautics structures, including for materials and manufacturing processes; to reduce the time it takes to design, industrialize, and certify advanced materials and manufacturing processes; to provide education and training opportunities for the aerospace workforce; and to address global cost and human capital competitiveness for United States aeronautical industries and technological leadership in advanced materials and manufacturing technology.
In carrying out a program under paragraph (1), the Administrator may— build on work that was carried out by the Advanced Composites Project of the Administration; partner with the private and academic sectors, such as members of the Advanced Composites Consortium of the Administration, the Joint Advanced Materials and Structures Center of Excellence of the Federal Aviation Administration, the Manufacturing USA institutes of the Department of Commerce, and national laboratories, as the Administrator considers appropriate; provide a structure for managing intellectual property generated by the program based on or consistent with the structure established for the Advanced Composites Consortium of the Administration; ensure adequate Federal cost share for applicable research; and coordinate with advanced manufacturing and composites initiatives in other mission directorates of the Administration, as the Administrator considers appropriate.
In carrying out the demonstrations under subsection
(c)and a program under subsection (e), the Administrator may engage in cooperative research programs with— academia; and commercial aviation and aerospace manufacturers.