§ 44506. Air traffic controllers
(a)
Research on Effect of Automation on Performance.—
To develop the means necessary to establish appropriate selection criteria and training methodologies for the next generation of air traffic controllers, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall conduct research to study the effect of automation on the performance of the next generation of air traffic controllers and the air traffic control system. The research shall include investigating—
(1)
methods for improving and accelerating future air traffic controller training through the application of advanced training techniques, including the use of simulation technology;
(2)
the role of automation in the air traffic control system and its physical and psychological effects on air traffic controllers;
(3)
the attributes and aptitudes needed to function well in a highly automated air traffic control system and the development of appropriate testing methods for identifying individuals with those attributes and aptitudes;
(b)
Research on Human Factor Aspects of Automation.—
The Administrators of the Federal Aviation Administration and National Aeronautics and Space Administration may make an agreement for the use of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s unique human factor facilities and expertise in conducting research activities to study the human factor aspects of the highly automated environment for the next generation of air traffic controllers. The research activities shall include investigating—
(c)
Collegiate Training Initiative.—
(1)
The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may maintain the Collegiate Training Initiative program by making new agreements and continuing existing agreements with institutions of higher education (as defined by the Administrator) under which the institutions prepare students for the position of air traffic controller with the Department of Transportation (as defined in section
2109 of title
5). The Administrator may establish standards for the entry of institutions into the program and for their continued participation.
(2)
(A)
The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may appoint an individual who has successfully completed a course of training in a program described in paragraph (1) of this subsection to the position of air traffic controller noncompetitively in the excepted service (as defined in section
2103 of title
5). An individual appointed under this paragraph serves at the pleasure of the Administrator, subject to section
7511 of title
5. However, an appointment under this paragraph may be converted from one in the excepted service to a career conditional or career appointment in the competitive civil service (as defined in section
2102 of title
5) when the individual achieves full performance level air traffic controller status, as decided by the Administrator.
(d)
Staffing Report.—
The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall submit annually to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report containing—
(1)
the staffing standards used to determine the number of air traffic controllers needed to operate the air traffic control system of the United States;