FAA Leadership in Groundbreaking High-Tech Research and Development Act or the FLIGHT R&D Act

This bill reauthorizes Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) research and development (R&D) programs for FY2016-FY2019.

The FAA shall appoint an Associate Administrator for Research and Development.

The FAA shall develop a plan in the event of the transition of FAA R&D activities to a non-federal entity.

The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 is amended to revise requirements with respect to the FAA's five-year roadmap for the introduction of civil unmanned aircraft systems (drones) into the national airspace system.

The roadmap shall include, at a minimum, a description of how the FAA plans to use R&D to integrate drones into the system.

The FAA shall coordinate with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to research the collision of drones with manned aircraft.

The FAA shall establish R&D programs:

• to improve the cybersecurity of civil aircraft and the system,
• on civilian air traffic surveillance over oceans and other remote locations, and
• in support of single-piloted cargo aircraft with remote piloting and computer piloting.

The FAA shall submit to Congress a research plan for certification and implementation of new technologies (including Next Generation) into the system.