facilities, equipment, techniques, and procedures in order to insure that the system will safely and efficiently handle the volume of aircraft traffic expected to materialize in the future. The bill includes $173,000,000 for research, engineering, and development. This level is $8,000,000 above the budget request and $12,000,000 below the House allowance. The Committee suggests the following allocation: The Committee recommends $93,725,000 for the air traffic control activity. This is an increase of $4,473,000 over the fiscal year 1989 level. This activity focuses on the adaptation and application of existing technology to the air traffic control system to enhance its operational safety, productivity, and capacity. Among the development projects funded are: an airborne traffic alert and collision avoidance system which will operate independently of the ATC system; improved switching systems for controller voice communications; automated en route air traffic control [AERA], which is a key function of the planned AAS system; and air/ground data link capability. The Committee has not provided the $14,000,000 associated with a three dimensional radar system as earmarked by the House. The reason for deleting the funds was included under the "Facilities and equipment" account. Airport capacity research The Committee concurs with the House in including $25,120,000 for airport capacity research. This is the same as the budget request. It is clear that airport capacity limitations are emerging as a more and more serious constraint on the national aviation system. And no one doubts that there are implications for the margin of safety as terminal congestion rises. This additional funding is intended for research on possible capacity improvements identified by industry representatives. Specifically, it is expected that this additional funding will be used to expedite the development, demonstration, and implementation of such concepts as: reducing minimum separation standards for parallel and converging approaches; establishing special capacity task forces at the busiest airports; applications of computer modeling techniques to capacity projects; terminal area automation including automated planning, coordination, and traffic control aids; airspace procedures for triple and quadruple IFR approaches, including simulation and field tests; simulation and field demonstration of new airport pavement, lighting and marking designs to improve runway usage; and wake vortex surveillance and forecasting to enhance airport acceptance rates. The Committee concurs with the House in the directive that the airport capacity category should include only those research and development projects whose objectives and anticipated benefits are preponderantly in the area of capacity enhancement. The Committee also joins the House in requiring a report, to be submitted by the end of this calendar year, on FAA's plan for carrying out these projects, including completion dates and estimated funding requirements for implementation. ADVANCED COMPUTER The bill includes the full budget estimate, $18,683,000, for this activity which supports the development and deployment of NAS plan advanced automation systems for en route and terminal air traffic control. The higher levels of automation envisioned are intended to provide more reliable and safer operations in the context of expanding demand for air traffic services beyond the mid-1990's. NAVIGATION The Committee concurs in the House allowance of $2,920,000 for this activity which provides for the expansion and modernization of common aeronautical navigation system facilities. Projects funded in this activity include application of the global positioning system [GPS] to the national airspace system, evaluation of methods to enhance the performance of the existing system, and examination of advanced ATC procedures with MLS curved approach and departure capabilities. AVIATION WEATHER The Committee recommends $13,287,000 for this activity. The goal of the aviation weather program is to improve the timeliness and accuracy of weather information provided to the national airspace system. Elements of this activity are conducted in close cooperation with the National Weather Service, the Departments of Commerce and Defense, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Among the areas emphasized are: weather radar development (NEXRAD and terminal doppler); the central weather processor; airborne windshear detection; expanded low-level windshear coverage; and automated weather observation systems. AVIATION MEDICINE The bill includes $6,513,000 for aviation health and safety research. Projects funded under this activity focus on: the role of the human operator in the ATC system; the performance and work environment of airmen; the safety and health of pilots and aircrew; and the safety of passengers and certain ground personnel. The Committee commends the FAA upon completion of part I of the human factors aircrew effectiveness research project, and be lieves it will have a significant impact on future aircrew standards and training. The Committee directs the FAA to proceed with part II of the project, which will involve the University Aviation Association [UAA] and a consortia of UAA institutions, and to provide part II projects funding directly to the same management organization that coordinated part I of the project, subject to final proposal approval by the FAA. AIRCRAFT SAFETY The Committee recommends $35,872,000 for this activity which supports efforts to foster the design of safer aircraft and to increase the security of air travel. Principal program elements include research on: aircraft cabin safety; crashworthiness; preserving airworthiness in event of system failures; and explosive/sabotage detection. The amount provided includes $14,000,000 to support continued development of automated explosive and sabotage detection systems. This is $5,000,000 above the budget request. The Committee urges the Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] to establish a protocol for benchmark testing of all airport security technologies. Such a protocol should become a normal part of the FAA's process for determining the best airport security technology. Benchmark testing means that the FAA should develop a methodology for the testing of airport security technologies and apply this methodology in the actual testing of new technologies. Tests shall include real world explosives most often used by terrorists, in a wide range of types, sizes, and weights, concealed in different ways to determine the strengths and weaknesses of each detection system. Testing must be conducted by those who have substantial expertise concerning terrorist bombings and activities. A comprehensive cost benefits analysis of each technology shall be a key aspect of every evaluation. The Committee recommends that the FAA develop an independent advisory group to oversee the conduct of these activities. In order to focus all available resources on the problem of international terrorism directed at civil aviation, the Secretary is directed to undertake a study to determine what programs of the Department of Defense have application to and could be adapted quickly to enhance civil aviation security. The study should include relevant defense research and development programs in areas of explosives detection, terrorist identification and antiterrorist operations. In addition, the study shall include recommendations that are forwarded to the President's Commission on Aviation Security regarding how relevant Department of Defense programs can be utilized to enhance civil aviation. These recommendations shall also be forwarded to the relevant authorizing and appropriation committees of the House and Senate. Within the amounts provided, the Committee has provided $3,000,000 above the budget request for an aircraft crash worthiness and structural air worthiness program. These funds are intended to initiate a university/industry/Government cooperative research and training center for aviation craft reliability with an emphasis on nondestructive evaluation technology. The initial funding should be concentrated on research and training projects. It is expected that proposals will be reviewed by the FAA, industry, and the National Research Council. ENVIRONMENT The Committee recommends $2,000,000, the full budget estimate, for research on aircraft noise control and pollution problems. This is the same as the House allowance. Among the major program emphases within this activity are studies supporting the development of procedures and equipment for reducing and controlling aircraft noise and engine emissions. Research is also conducted on land use compatibility planning and use restrictions. National Aviation Institute In the report accompanying the fiscal year 1989 bill, the Committee supported the establishment of the National Aviation Institute [NAI], a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing aviation research, development, training, and education. Since then, the NAI has been formally endorsed by the Federal Aviation Administration and by private organizations representing a broad cross section of the aviation industry. They and FAA also have identified areas where the NAI could provide needed support for specific Government and industry objectives related to advancing the goals of U.S. aviation research and education. In view of the recognized need and support for the NAI and its goals and objectives, the bill provides $1,000,000 for FAA to enter into a grant with the NAI. The funds will be used to conduct research projects identified by FAA and the industry as being relevant to the advancement of aviation research. Airway science curriculum Within the $173,000,000 provided, the Committee directs that $3,000,000 be available for grants to institutions of higher learning for research, training, and course work in the airway science disciplines. It is expected that these grants will be in the areas of air traffic control, navigation, weather, medicine, safety, and environment. These funds are in addition to those expressly provided for the National Aviation Institute. The Committee directs the FAA to honor its contract with the University of North Dakota to continue research on aircraft icing and wind shear, and the Committee directive on aircraft crash worthiness and structural worthiness. The Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982, as amended, authorizes a program of grants of funds for airport planning and development, and noise compatibility planning and projects for public use airports in all States and territories. The Committee recommends $1,190,000,000 in liquidating cash for grants-in-aid for airports. This increase over the budget is consistent with the Committee's obligation limitation on airport grants. LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS The bill also includes a limitation on obligations for airport development and planning grants which are financed under contract authority. The limitation recommended for fiscal year 1990 is $1,500,000,000. This is $150,000,000 more than the budget request and the same as the House allowance. The Committee has included bill language which would make $100,000,000 of the $150,000,000 increase available specifically for airport capacity projects. The bill language would insure that the $100,000,000 is set aside for discretionary grants, separate from formula grants and in addition to discretionary grants available under current law. The recommended increase over the budget is intended to support a more rapid expansion of airport capacity. Airport facilities are obviously a major factor in overall system capacity and safety and will become an increasingly important constraint as the volume of air traffic continues to rise. Accordingly, the Committee expects that FAA will concentrate the resources provided, on projects that directly enhance the capacity and safety of the aviation system. Within the obligation level recommended, the Committee directs that priority be given to grant applications involving the further development of the following airports: Albany County Airport, NY Athens-Ben Epps Airport, GA Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton Airport, PA Atlantic City International Airport, NJ Aurora Municipal Airport, IL Austin Airport, TX Baer Field Airport, IN Baltimore-Washington International Airport, MD Bartlesville Airport, OK Bay Bridge Airport, MD Bellingham Airport, WA Birmingham Airport, AL Bloomington-Normal Airport, IL Bradley International Airport, CT Caldwell Airport, NJ Cape May Airport, NJ Carroll Airport, IA Cheyenne Airport, WY Chicago Meigs Airport, IL Chicago Midway Airport, IL Chicago O'Hare International Airport, IL Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, CO Denver Airport, CO Douglas County, NV Dutchess County Airport, NY Fountainhead Parks Airport, OK Fulton County Airport/Brown Field, GA Garrett County Airport, MD Gary Regional Airport, IN |