Sec. 902. University unmanned aircraft systems centers
668 words·~3 min read·
/bill/117/hr/9376/ih/section-902·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Administrator shall make grants to 1 or more institutions of higher education to establish and operate 1 regional university unmanned aircraft system center in each of the 10 Federal regions which compromise the Standards Federal Regional Boundary System. The responsibilities of each unmanned aircraft systems center established under this section shall include the conduct of advanced air mobility research and research concerning safely integrating unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system and the interpretation, publication, and dissemination of the results of such research.
The responsibility of one such center may include research on detect and avoid capabilities. Any institution of higher education interested in receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the Administrator an application in such form and containing such information as the Administrator may require. The Administrator shall select recipients of grants under this section on the basis of the following criteria: The regional unmanned aircraft system center shall be located in a State which is representative of the needs of the Federal region for improved unmanned aircraft systems test facilities.
The grant recipient shall have demonstrated research and extension resources available for carrying out this subsection. The grant recipient shall have demonstrated its capability to provide leadership in making national and regional contributions for addressing long-range and immediate unmanned aircraft systems issues. The grant recipient should have an established unmanned aircraft systems or related research program. The grant recipient shall have a demonstrated commitment to supporting ongoing unmanned aircraft systems research programs.
The grant recipient shall have demonstrated ability to disseminate results of unmanned aircraft systems research and educational programs through a statewide or regionwide continuing education program. The Administrator shall consider the projects which the grant recipient proposes to carry out under the grant. The Federal share of a grant under this section shall be 50 percent of the costs of establishing and operating the regional center and related research activities carried out by the grant recipient.
The Administrator shall establish in the Administration a national advisory council to coordinate the research and training to be carried out by the grant recipients, to disseminate the results of such research, to act as a clearing house between such centers and the unmanned aircraft systems industry, and to review and evaluate programs carried out by such centers. The national advisory council established under this subsection shall be composed of the directors of the unmanned aircraft systems centers and 19 other members appointed by the Administrator as follows: 6 officers of the Federal Aviation Administration, one of whom represents the Office of the Administrator, one of whom represents the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office, one of whom represents the Office of NextGen, one of whom represents the Office of Aviation Safety, one of whom represents the Office of Air Traffic Organization, and one of whom represents the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center. 5 representatives of State, local, territorial or Tribal governments. 8 representatives of the unmanned aircraft systems industry, including private industry.
Each of the members appointed by the Administrator shall serve without pay. The chairman of the council shall be designated by the Administrator. The council shall meet at least annually and at such other times as the chairman may designate. Subject to subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code, the council may secure directly from any department or agency of the United States information necessary to enable it to carry out this subsection. Upon request from the chairman of the council, the head of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the council.
Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not apply to the council. Administrative responsibility for carrying out this section shall be in the Office of the Administrator. The Administrator shall allocate funds made available to carry out this section equitably among Federal regions. Not less than 5 percent of the funds made available to carry out this section for any fiscal year shall be available to carry out technology transfer activities.