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Title 51, National and Commercial Space ProgramsRelease 119-110

§40701 Research and Development Initiative

Title 51 › Subtitle IV — Aeronautics and Space Research and Education › CHAPTER 407 — ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AIRCRAFT › § 40701

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Administrator may start a program to develop and test technologies for commercial airplanes. The goals are to keep noise during takeoff and on approach and landing at or below airport background levels; cut energy use for medium- to long-range flights by 25% versus aircraft in commercial service on December 30, 2005; and significantly reduce nitrogen-oxide emissions on takeoff and landing without increasing hydrocarbons or smoke, compared to aircraft in commercial service on December 30, 2005.

Full Legal Text

Title 51, §40701

National and Commercial Space Programs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Administrator may establish an initiative with the objective of developing, and demonstrating in a relevant environment, technologies to enable the following commercial aircraft performance characteristics:
(1)Noise levels.—
Noise levels on takeoff and on airport approach and landing that do not exceed ambient noise levels in the absence of flight operations in the vicinity of airports from which such commercial aircraft would normally operate.
(2)Energy consumption.—
Twenty-five percent reduction in the energy required for medium- to long-range flights, compared to aircraft in commercial service as of December 30, 2005.
(3)Emissions.—
Nitrogen oxides on take-off and landing that are significantly reduced, without adversely affecting hydrocarbons and smoke, relative to aircraft in commercial service as of December 30, 2005.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 4070142 U.S.C. 16722(a).Pub. L. 109–155, title IV, § 422(a), Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2924. In paragraphs (2) and (3), the date “December 30, 2005” is substituted for “the date of enactment of this Act” to reflect the date of enactment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–155, 119 Stat. 2895).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

51 U.S.C. § 40701

Title 51, National and Commercial Space Programs

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110