§44504. Improved aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and appliances

(a) Developmental Work and Service Testing.-The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may conduct or supervise developmental work and service testing to improve aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and appliances.

(b) Research.-The Administrator shall conduct or supervise research-

(1) to develop technologies and analyze information to predict the effects of aircraft design, maintenance, testing, wear, and fatigue on the life of aircraft, including nonstructural aircraft systems, and air safety;

(2) to develop methods of analyzing and improving aircraft maintenance technology and practices, including nondestructive evaluation of aircraft structures;

(3) to assess the fire and smoke resistance of aircraft material;

(4) to develop improved fire and smoke resistant material for aircraft interiors;

(5) to develop and improve fire and smoke containment systems for inflight aircraft fires;

(6) to develop advanced aircraft fuels with low flammability and technologies that will contain aircraft fuels to minimize post-crash fire hazards; and

(7) to develop technologies and methods to assess the risk of and prevent defects, failures, and malfunctions of products, parts, processes, and articles manufactured for use in aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and appliances that could result in a catastrophic failure of an aircraft.

(c) Authority To Buy Items Offering Special Advantages.-In carrying out this section, the Administrator, by negotiation or otherwise, may buy or exchange experimental aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and appliances that the Administrator decides may offer special advantages to aeronautics.

( Pub. L. 103–272, §1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1176 ; Pub. L. 106–181, title IX, §904, Apr. 5, 2000, 114 Stat. 196 .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised Section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
44504(a)	49 App.:1353(b) (1st sentence).	Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, §312(b) (1st, last sentences), 72 Stat. 752 .
	49 App.:1655(c)(1).	Oct. 15, 1966, Pub. L. 89–670, §6(c)(1), 80 Stat. 938 ; Jan. 12, 1983, Pub. L. 97–449, §7(b), 96 Stat. 2444 .
44504(b)	49 App.:1353(b) (2d sentence).	Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731 , §312(b) (2d sentence); added Nov. 3, 1988, Pub. L. 100–591, §2, 102 Stat. 3011 ; Nov. 5, 1990, Pub. L. 101–508, §9208(a), 104 Stat. 1388–376 .
44504(c)	49 App.:1353(b) (last sentence)
	49 App.:1655(c)(1).

In this section, the word "Administrator" in section 312(b) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (Public Law 85–726, 72 Stat. 752) is retained on authority of 49:106(g).

In subsection (a), the words "to improve" are substituted for "such . . . as tends to the creation of improved" to eliminate unnecessary words.

Amendments

2000-Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 106–181 inserted ", including nonstructural aircraft systems," after "life of aircraft".

Effective Date of 2000 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 106–181 applicable only to fiscal years beginning after Sept. 30, 1999, see section 3 of Pub. L. 106–181, set out as a note under section 106 of this title.

Specialty Metals Consortium

Pub. L. 106–181, title VII, §742, Apr. 5, 2000, 114 Stat. 175 , provided that:

"(a) In General.-The Administrator [of the Federal Aviation Administration] may work with a consortium of domestic metal producers and aircraft engine manufacturers to improve the quality of turbine engine materials and to address melting technology enhancements.

"(b) Report.-Not later than 6 months after entering into an agreement with a consortium described in subsection (a), the Administrator shall transmit to Congress a report on the goals and efforts of the consortium."

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 40119, 44501, 44508, 48102 of this title.