CIVIL TILTROTOR DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

SEC. 135. CIVIL TILTROTOR DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) Establishment.—The Secretary of Transportation shall establish in the Department of Transportation a Civil Tiltrotor Development Advisory Committee (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “Advisory Committee”) to evaluate the technical feasibility and economic viability of developing civil tiltrotor aircraft and a national system of infrastructure to support the incorporation of tiltrotor aircraft technology into the national transportation system. (b) Membership.— (1) Appointment.—The Advisory Committee shall be composed of members appointed by the Secretary of Transportation, not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, as follows: (A) At least 1 representative of the Department of Transportation. (B) At least 1 representative of the Federal Aviation Administration. (C) At least 1 representative of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (D) Representatives of other Federal departments and agencies. State and local governments, and private industry, as considered appropriate and necessary by the Secretary. (2) Qualification.—Members appointed pursuant to subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1) shall be appointed from among individuals employed under the Federal departments and agencies described in such subparagraphs who receive an annual rate of basic pay which equals or exceeds the rate payable for level VI of the Senior Executive Service. (3) Chairperson.—The Secretary of Transportation shall appoint a Chairperson of the Advisory Committee from among individuals employed under the Department of Transportation who receive an annual rate of basic pay which equals or exceeds the rate payable for level IV of the Executive Schedule. (c) Duties.—The Advisory Committee shall— 106 STAT. 4889 (1) determine the costs, feasibility, and economic viability of developing a civil tiltrotor aircraft and establishing the necessary infrastructure to incorporate such aircraft and other advanced vertical takeoff and landing aircraft into the national transportation system; (2) determine the benefits to the national economy and transportation system, including the potential for improved linkages and connections with other modes of transportation, of incorporating civil tiltrotor aircraft and other advanced vertical takeoff and landing aircraft into the national transportation system; (3) determine further aeronautical research and development requirements needed to incorporate civil tiltrotor aircraft and other advanced vertical takeoff and landing aircraft into the national transportation system; (4) determine changes to regulatory standards governing use of the airspace which would be required to incorporate civil tiltrotor aircraft and other advanced vertical takeoff and landing aircraft into the national transportation system; and (5) recommend which of the costs of developing civil tiltrotor aircraft and establishing the infrastructure necessary to support civil tiltrotor aircraft and other advanced vertical takeoff and landing aircraft should be paid by the Federal Government and which of such costs should be paid by private industry. (d) Report.—Not later than the 365th day following the date of the first meeting of the Advisory Committee, the Advisory Committee shall transmit to Congress a report containing its determinations and recommendations under subsection (c). (e) Termination.—The Advisory Committee shall terminate on the 30th day following the date of submission of its report under subsection (d).