
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 49USC44513]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                     SUBTITLE VII--AVIATION PROGRAMS
 
                     PART A--AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY
 
                           subpart iii--safety
 
            CHAPTER 445--FACILITIES, PERSONNEL, AND RESEARCH
 
Sec. 44513. Regional centers of air transportation excellence

    (a) General Authority.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration may make grants to institutions of higher education to 
establish and operate regional centers of air transportation excellence. 
The locations shall be distributed in a geographically fair way.
    (b) Responsibilities.--(1) The responsibilities of each center 
established under this section shall include--
        (A) conducting research on--
            (i) airspace and airport planning and design;
            (ii) airport capacity enhancement techniques;
            (iii) human performance in the air transportation 
        environment;
            (iv) aviation safety and security;
            (v) the supply of trained air transportation personnel, 
        including pilots and mechanics; and
            (vi) other aviation issues related to developing and 
        maintaining a safe and efficient air transportation system; and

        (B) interpreting, publishing, and disseminating the results of 
    the research.

    (2) In conducting research described in paragraph (1)(A) of this 
subsection, each center may make contracts with nonprofit research 
organizations and other appropriate persons.
    (c) Applications.--An institution of higher education interested in 
receiving a grant under this section may submit an application to the 
Administrator. The application must be in the form and contain the 
information that the Administrator requires by regulation.
    (d) Selection Criteria.--The Administrator shall select recipients 
of grants under this section on the basis of the following criteria:
        (1) the extent to which the needs of the State in which the 
    applicant is located are representative of the needs of the region 
    for improved air transportation services and facilities.
        (2) the demonstrated research and extension resources available 
    to the applicant to carry out this section.
        (3) the ability of the applicant to provide leadership in making 
    national and regional contributions to the solution of both long-
    range and immediate air transportation problems.
        (4) the extent to which the applicant has an established air 
    transportation program.
        (5) the demonstrated ability of the applicant to disseminate 
    results of air transportation research and educational programs 
    through a statewide or regionwide continuing education program.
        (6) the projects the applicant proposes to carry out under the 
    grant.

    (e) Expenditure Agreements.--A grant may be made under this section 
in a fiscal year only if the recipient makes an agreement with the 
Administrator that the Administrator requires to ensure that the 
recipient will maintain its total expenditures from all other sources 
for establishing and operating the center and related research 
activities at a level at least equal to the average level of those 
expenditures in the 2 fiscal years of the recipient occurring 
immediately before November 5, 1990.
    (f) Government's Share of Costs.--The United States Government's 
share of a grant under this section is 50 percent of the costs of 
establishing and operating the center and related research activities 
that the grant recipient carries out.
    (g) Allocating Amounts.--The Administrator shall allocate amounts 
made available to carry out this section in a geographically fair way.

(Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1182.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
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           Revised  Section                    Source (U.S. Code)              
 Source (Statutes at Large)
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---------------------------------
44513.................................  49 App.:1353(i).                 Aug. 2
3, 1958, Pub. L. 85-726, 72 Stat.
                                                                          731, 
Sec.  312(i); added Nov. 5, 1990,
                                                                          Pub. 
L. 101-508, Sec.  9209(a), 104
                                                                          Stat.
 1388-376.
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---------------------------------

    In this section, the words ``institutions of higher education'' and 
``institution of higher education'' are substituted for ``colleges or 
universities'' and ``college or university'' for consistency in the 
revised title.
    In subsection (a), the words ``one or more'' are omitted as surplus.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 106, 40119, 44501, 44508, 
48102, 50103 of this title.
