2015 US Code
Title 49 - Transportation (Sections 101 - 80504)
Subtitle VII - Aviation Programs (Sections 40101 - 50105)
Part A - Air Commerce and Safety (Sections 40101 - 46507)
Subpart iii - Safety (Sections 44101 - 45305)
Chapter 447 - Safety Regulation (Sections 44701 - 44735)
Sec. 44720 - Meteorological services

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Metadata
Publication TitleUnited States Code, 2012 Edition, Supplement 3, Title 49 - TRANSPORTATION
CategoryBills and Statutes
CollectionUnited States Code
SuDoc Class NumberY 1.2/5:
Contained WithinTitle 49 - TRANSPORTATION
SUBTITLE VII - AVIATION PROGRAMS
PART A - AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY
subpart iii - safety
CHAPTER 447 - SAFETY REGULATION
Sec. 44720 - Meteorological services
Containssection 44720
Date2015
Laws In Effect As Of DateJanuary 3, 2016
Positive LawYes
Dispositionstandard
Source CreditPub. L. 103-272, §1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1201.
Statutes at Large References72 Stat. 751, 783
79 Stat. 1318
80 Stat. 938
96 Stat. 2444
108 Stat. 1201
114 Stat. 168
Public and Private LawsPublic Law 85-726, Public Law 89-670, Public Law 97-449, Public Law 103-272, Public Law 106-181

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49 U.S.C. § 44720 (2015)
§44720. Meteorological services

(a) Recommendations.—The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall make recommendations to the Secretary of Commerce on providing meteorological services necessary for the safe and efficient movement of aircraft in air commerce. In providing the services, the Secretary shall cooperate with the Administrator and give complete consideration to those recommendations.

(b) Promoting Safety and Efficiency.—To promote safety and efficiency in air navigation to the highest possible degree, the Secretary shall—

(1) observe, measure, investigate, and study atmospheric phenomena, and maintain meteorological stations and offices, that are necessary or best suited for finding out in advance information about probable weather conditions;

(2) provide reports to the Administrator to persons engaged in civil aeronautics that are designated by the Administrator and to other persons designated by the Secretary in a way and with a frequency that best will result in safety in, and facilitating, air navigation;

(3) cooperate with persons engaged in air commerce in meteorological services, maintain reciprocal arrangements with those persons in carrying out this clause, and collect and distribute weather reports available from aircraft in flight;

(4) maintain and coordinate international exchanges of meteorological information required for the safety and efficiency of air navigation;

(5) in cooperation with other departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States Government, meteorological services of foreign countries, and persons engaged in air commerce, participate in developing an international basic meteorological reporting network, including the establishment, operation, and maintenance of reporting stations on the high seas, in polar regions, and in foreign countries;

(6) coordinate meteorological requirements in the United States to maintain standard observations, to promote efficient use of facilities, and to avoid duplication of services unless the duplication tends to promote the safety and efficiency of air navigation; and

(7) promote and develop meteorological science and foster and support research projects in meteorology through the use of private and governmental research facilities and provide for publishing the results of the projects unless publication would not be in the public interest.

(Pub. L. 103–272, §1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1201.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised

Section

Source (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large)
44720(a) 49 App.:1351. Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, §§310, 803, 72 Stat. 751, 783.
  49 App.:1655(c)(1). Oct. 15, 1966, Pub. L. 89–670, §6(c)(1), 80 Stat. 938; Jan. 12, 1983, Pub. L. 97–449, §7(b), 96 Stat. 2444.
44720(b) 49 App.:1463.
  49 App.:1655(c)(1).

In subsection (b), the title "Secretary" [of Commerce] is substituted for "Chief of the Weather Bureau" in section 803 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (Public Law 85–726, 72 Stat. 783) because of sections 1 and 2 of Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1965 (eff. July 13, 1965, 79 Stat. 1318). Before clause (1), the words "In order" and "in addition to any other functions or duties pertaining to weather information for other purposes" are omitted as surplus. In clause (2), the words "forecasts, warnings, and advices" are omitted as being included in "reports". In clause (3), the words "or employees thereof" and "establish and" are omitted as surplus. The words "with those persons" are added for clarity. In clause (5), the words "departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States Government" are substituted for "governmental agencies of the United States" for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.

AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVATION SYSTEM STATIONS

Pub. L. 106–181, title VII, §728, Apr. 5, 2000, 114 Stat. 168, provided that: "The Administrator [of the Federal Aviation Administration] shall not terminate human weather observers for Automated Surface Observation System stations until—

"(1) the Administrator determines that the system provides consistent reporting of changing meteorological conditions and notifies Congress in writing of that determination; and

"(2) 60 days have passed since the report was transmitted to Congress."

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