---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 44813"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "44813"
heading: "Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/44813"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Aviation Programs"
  - "Part A — Air Commerce and Safety"
  - "Subpart iii — safety"
  - "Chapter 448 — Unmanned Aircraft Systems"
---

# §44813. Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems

- (a) **In General.—** The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall continue operation of the Center of Excellence for [Unmanned Aircraft Systems](/usc/49/44801.md?p=12) (referred to in this section as the “Center”).
- (b) **Responsibilities.—** The Center shall carry out the following responsibilities:
  - (1) Conduct applied research and training on the safe and efficient integration of [unmanned aircraft systems](/usc/49/44801.md?p=12) and advanced air mobility into the national airspace system.
  - (2) Promote and facilitate collaboration among academia, the Federal Aviation Administration, Federal [agency](/usc/49/114.md?p=n-2-A-i) partners, and industry stakeholders (including manufacturers, [operators](/usc/49/30501.md?p=6), service providers, standards development organizations, carriers, and suppliers), with respect to the safe and efficient integration of [unmanned aircraft systems](/usc/49/44801.md?p=12) and advanced air mobility into the national airspace system.
  - (3) Establish goals set to advance technology, improve engineering practices, and facilitate continuing education with respect to the safe and efficient integration of [unmanned aircraft systems](/usc/49/44801.md?p=12) and advanced air mobility into the national airspace system.
- (c) **Program Participation.—** The Administrator shall ensure the participation in the Center of institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ([20 U.S.C. 1001](/usc/20/1001.md))) and research institutions that provide accredited bachelor’s degree programs in aeronautical sciences that provide pathways to commercial pilot certifications and that include a focus on pilot training for women aviators.
- (d) **Leveraging of Certain Capacity and Capabilities.—** The Administrator shall, in carrying out research necessary to validate consensus safety standards accepted pursuant to [section 44805](/usc/49/44805.md), to the maximum extent practicable, leverage the research and testing capacity and capabilities of—
  - (1) the Center;
  - (2) the [test ranges](/usc/49/44801.md?p=10) designated under [section 44803](/usc/49/44803.md);
  - (3) existing Federal and non-Federal [test ranges](/usc/49/44801.md?p=10) and testbeds;
  - (4) the National [Aeronautics](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-1) and Space Administration; and
  - (5) the William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 118–63, title X, § 1006(a), May 16, 2024, 138 Stat. 1388.)