
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document affected by Public Law 106-181 Section 904]
[Document affected by Public Law 106-181 Section 742]
[CITE: 49USC44504]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                     SUBTITLE VII--AVIATION PROGRAMS
 
                     PART A--AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY
 
                           subpart iii--safety
 
            CHAPTER 445--FACILITIES, PERSONNEL, AND RESEARCH
 
Sec. 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 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, Sec. 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1176.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
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---------------------------------
           Revised  Section                    Source (U.S. Code)              
 Source (Statutes at Large)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
44504(a)..............................  49 App.:1353(b) (1st sentence).  Aug. 2
3, 1958, Pub. L. 85-726, Sec.
                                                                          312(b
) (1st, last sentences), 72 Stat.
                                                                          752.
                                        49 App.:1655(c)(1).              Oct. 1
5, 1966, Pub. L. 89-670, Sec.
                                                                          6(c)(
1), 80 Stat. 938; Jan. 12, 1983,
                                                                          Pub. 
L. 97-449, Sec.  7(b), 96 Stat.
                                                                          2444.
44504(b)..............................  49 App.:1353(b) (2d sentence).   Aug. 2
3, 1958, Pub. L. 85-726, 72 Stat.
                                                                          731, 
Sec.  312(b) (2d sentence); added
                                                                          Nov. 
3, 1988, Pub. L. 100-591, Sec.
                                                                          2, 10
2 Stat. 3011; Nov. 5, 1990, Pub.
                                                                          L. 10
1-508, Sec.  9208(a), 104 Stat.
                                                                          1388-
376.
44504(c)..............................  49 App.:1353(b) (last sentence)
                                        49 App.:1655(c)(1).
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---------------------------------

    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.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 106, 40119, 44501, 44508, 
48102 of this title.
