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Title 51, National and Commercial Space ProgramsRelease 119-110

§40702 Additional Research and Development Initiative

Title 51 › Subtitle IV — Aeronautics and Space Research and Education › CHAPTER 407 — ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AIRCRAFT › § 40702

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Administrator must run a research and testing program with universities, industry, and other research groups to develop aviation technologies. The program must make takeoff and landing noise no louder than the normal background noise near the airports the planes normally use, without raising energy use or nitrogen oxide emissions compared with aircraft in commercial service on October 15, 2008. It must also aim for significant cuts in greenhouse‑gas emissions compared with aircraft in commercial service on October 15, 2008.

Full Legal Text

Title 51, §40702

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

The Administrator shall establish an initiative involving the Administration, universities, industry, and other research organizations as appropriate, of research, development, and demonstration, in a relevant environment, of 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, without increasing energy consumption or nitrogen oxide emissions compared to aircraft in commercial service as of October 15, 2008.
(2)Greenhouse gas emissions.—
Significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions compared to aircraft in commercial services as of October 15, 2008.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 4070242 U.S.C. 17721.Pub. L. 110–422, title III, § 302, Oct. 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 4786. In paragraphs (1) and (2), the date “October 15, 2008” 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 2008 (Public Law 110–422, 122 Stat. 4779).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

51 U.S.C. § 40702

Title 51, National and Commercial Space Programs

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110