II
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3554
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 19, 2012
Mr. Toomey introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services
A BILL
To require an independent study and report on simulated tactical flight training in a sustained gravity environment.
Short title
This Act may be cited as
the Simulated Tactical Flight Training
Study Act of 2012
.
Report on simulated tactical flight training in a sustained gravity environment
Independent study required
The Secretary of Defense shall provide for the conduct by an appropriate federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) of a study on the effectiveness of simulated tactical flight training in a sustained gravity environment.
Elements
The study conducted pursuant to subsection (a) shall include the following:
An assessment of the effectiveness of simulated tactical flight training in a sustained gravity environment generally, and, in particular, the effectiveness of such training in preparing pilots to withstand and tolerate the high-gravity forces associated with the operation of high-performance combat aircraft (commonly referred to as G readiness and G tolerance).
An assessment of the cost savings to be achieved through the use of simulated tactical flight training in a sustained gravity environment, including cost savings associated with operation and maintenance and life cycle savings associated with aircraft and airframe usage.
An assessment of the safety benefits to be achieved through the use of simulated tactical flight training in a sustained gravity environment.
An identification and assessment of other benefits to be achieved through the use of simulated tactical flight training in a sustained gravity environment, including benefits relating to physiological research and benefits relating to reductions in carbon emissions.
Such other matters relating to the use of simulated tactical flight training in a sustained gravity environment as the Secretary shall specify for purposes of the study.
Report
In providing for study pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary shall require the federally funded research and development center conducting the study to submit to the Secretary a report on the results of the study, including the matters specified in subsection (b), by not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Transmittal to Congress
Not later than 90 days after the submittal to the Secretary of the report required by subsection (c), the Secretary shall transmit the report to the congressional defense committees, together with any comments of the Secretary in light of the report and such recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the Secretary considers appropriate regarding the use of simulated tactical flight training in a sustained gravity environment in light of the report.
Congressional defense committees defined
In this section, the term congressional defense committees has the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code.