Title 33, Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-110

§3008 Cooperative Aviation Centers

Title 33 › CHAPTER 43 — NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION COMMISSIONED OFFICER CORPS › SUBCHAPTER I — GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 3008

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Administrator must pick one or more schools to be Cooperative Aviation Centers for the Administration’s commissioned officer corps. These Centers must help train and recruit pilots. To qualify, a school must ask to make an agreement with the Administrator, offer a four-year baccalaureate program in professional flight and piloting accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International, and be located in an area with a wide range of weather conditions—like frequent high winds, convective activity (including tornadoes), low visibility, heat, and snow and ice—so pilots can gain experience in many climates. Administrator means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Administrator must assign an officer or employee from the commissioned officer corps to be the Cooperative Aviation Centers Advisor. That Advisor will coordinate all Administration engagement with the Centers, help with curriculum development, and serve as the chief aviation recruiter for the commissioned officer corps.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §3008

Navigation and Navigable Waters, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Definitions
In this section: (1) Administrator (2) Cooperative Aviation Center
(b)Cooperative Aviation Centers
(1)Designation required
The Administrator shall designate one or more Cooperative Aviation Centers for the commissioned officer corps of the Administration at institutions described in paragraph (3).
(2)Purpose
The purpose of Cooperative Aviation Centers is to facilitate the development and recruitment of aviators for the commissioned officer corps of the Administration.
(3)Institutions described
An institution described in this paragraph is an educational institution that—
(A)applies to enter into an agreement with the Administrator providing for the establishment of the program at the institution;
(B)has, as a part of its curriculum, a four-year baccalaureate program of professional flight and piloting instruction that is accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International; and
(C)is located in a geographic area that experiences a wide variation in climate-related activity, including frequent high winds, convective activity (including tornadoes), periods of low visibility, heat, and snow and ice episodes, to provide opportunities for pilots to demonstrate skill in all weather conditions compatible with future encounters during their service in the commissioned officer corps of the Administration.
(c)Cooperative Aviation Centers Advisor
(1)Assignment
The Administrator shall assign an officer or employee of the commissioned officer corps of the Administration to serve as the Cooperative Aviation Centers Advisor.
(2)Duties
The Cooperative Aviation Centers Advisor shall—
(A)coordinate all engagement of the Administration with Cooperative Aviation Centers, including assistance with curriculum development; and
(B)serve as the chief aviation recruiting officer for the commissioned officer corps of the Administration.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2025—Pub. L. 119–60, § 8403(a)(1), substituted “Cooperative aviation centers” for “Aviation accession training programs” in section catchline. Subsec. (a)(2), (3). Pub. L. 119–60, § 8403(a)(2), added par. (2) and struck out former pars. (2) and (3), which defined, respectively, “member of the program” and “program”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 119–60, § 8403(a)(3)(A), substituted “Cooperative aviation centers” for “Aviation accession training programs” in heading. Subsec. (b)(1) to (3). Pub. L. 119–60, § 8403(a)(3)(B)–(D), added pars. (1) and (2), struck out former par. (1), which authorized aviation accession training programs, redesignated par. (2) as (3), and struck out former par. (3), which placed limitations on particular institutions. Subsec. (b)(3)(A). Pub. L. 119–60, § 8403(a)(3)(E)(ii), substituted “applies” for “that requests”. Subsec. (b)(3)(B). Pub. L. 119–60, § 8403(a)(3)(E)(iii), substituted “has” for “that has” and “; and” for semicolon. Subsec. (b)(3)(C). Pub. L. 119–60, § 8403(a)(3)(E)(iv), substituted “is located” for “that is located” and struck out “that—” after “geographic area” in introductory provisions; in cl. (i), struck out cl. (i) designation and substituted “that experiences” for “experiences” and a period for “; and”; and struck out cl. (ii), which read as follows: “has a climate that can accommodate both primary and advanced flight training activity at least 75 percent of the year; and”. Subsec. (b)(3)(D). Pub. L. 119–60, § 8403(a)(3)(E)(v), struck out subpar. (D) which read as follows: “at which the Administrator determines that— “(i) there will be at least one student enrolled in the program; and “(ii) the provisions of this section are otherwise satisfied.” Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 119–60, § 8403(a)(4), added subsec. (c) and struck out former subsecs. (c) to (e), which related, respectively, to program membership, financial assistance for qualified members, and repayment of unearned portion of financial assistance when conditions of payment are not met.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 3008

Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110