Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Joint Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials and Safety Act”.
Joint Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials and Safety Act
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Authority to continue operation of the Advanced Materials Center of Excellence, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Advanced Materials Center of Excellence
Section 44518 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking “March 1, 2016” and all that follows through the period and inserting “on March 1, 2023, which shall focus on applied research and training on the safe use of composites and advanced materials in airframe structures. The Center shall also conduct research and development into aircraft structure crash worthiness and passenger safety, as well as address safe and accessible air travel of individuals with a disability (as defined in section 382.3 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation)), including materials required to facilitate safe wheelchair restraint systems on commercial aircraft. The Administrator shall award grants to the Center within 90 days from the date the Grants Officer recommends a proposal for award to the Administrator.”;
by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
“(b) Responsibilities—The Center shall—
“(1) promote and facilitate collaboration among member universities, academia, the Federal Aviation Administration, the commercial aircraft industry, including manufacturers, commercial air carriers, and suppliers, and other appropriate stakeholders;
“(2) establish goals set to advance technology, improve engineering practices, and facilitate continuing education in relevant areas of study, which should include all structural materials, such as carbon fiber polymers and thermoplastic composites, and structural technologies, such as additive manufacturing, to be used in applications within the commercial aircraft industry, including traditional fixed-wing aircraft, rotorcraft, and emerging aircraft types such as advanced air mobility aircraft; and
“(3) establish criteria for the safe movement of all passengers, including individuals with a disability (as defined in section 382.3 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation)), and individuals using their personal wheelchairs in flight, that takes into account the modeling, engineering, testing, operating, and training issues significant to all passengers and relevant stakeholders.”
in subsection (c), by inserting “, and not more than $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028,” after “2023”.