PUBLIC LAW 103-272—JULY 5, 1994 108 STAT. 1177 (2) to develop methods of analyzing and improving aircraft maintenance technology and practices, including nondestructive evaluation of aircraft structures; (3) to assess the fire and smoke resistance of aircraft material; (4) to develop improved fire and smoke resistant material for aircraft interiors; (5) to develop and improve fire and smoke containment systems for inflight aircraft fires; (6) to develop advanced aircraft fuels with low flammability and technologies that will contain aircraft fuels to minimize post-crash fire hazards; and (7) to develop technologies and methods to assess the risk of and prevent defects, failures, and malfunctions of products, parts, processes, and articles manufactured for use in aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and appliginces that could result in a catastrophic failure of an aircraft. (c) AUTHORITY TO BUY ITEMS OFFERING SPECIAL ADVAN- TAGES.— In carrying out this section, the Administrator, by negotiation or otherwise, may buy or exchange experimental aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and appliances that the Administrator decides may offer special advantages to aeronautics. § 44505. Systems, procedures, facilities, and devices (a) GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.— (1) The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall— (A) develop, alter, test, and evaluate systems, procedures, facilities, and devices, and define their performance characteristics, to meet the needs for safe and efficient navigation and traffic control of civil and military aviation, except for needs of the armed forces that are peculiar to air warfare and primarily of military concern; and (B) select systems, procedures, facilities, and devices that will best serve those needs and promote maximum coordination of air traffic control and air defense systems. (2) The Administrator may make contracts to carry out this subsection without regard to section 3324(a) and (b) of title 31. (3) When a substantial question exists under paragraph (1) of this subsection about whether a matter is of primary concern to the armed forces, the Administrator shall decide whether the Administrator or the Secretary of the appropriate military department has responsibility. The Administrator shall be given technical information related to each research and development project of the armed forces that potentially applies to, or potentially conflicts with, the common system to ensure that potential application to the common system is considered properly and that potential conflicts with the system are eliminated. (b) RESEARCH ON HUMAN FACTORS AND SIMULATION MODELS.— The Administrator shall conduct or supervise research— (1) to develop a better understanding of the relationship between human factors and aviation accidents and between human factors and air safety; (2) to enhance air traffic controller, mechanic, and flight crew performance; (3) to develop a human-factor analysis of the hazards associated with new technologies to be used by air traffic controllers, mechanics, and flight crews;
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