Federal Aviation Research and Development Reauthorization Act of 2011

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Federal Aviation Research and Development Reauthorization Act of 2011 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2011-FY2014 for specified aviation research, engineering, and development projects. Directs the FAA Administrator to conduct research on: (1) the development of technologies and methods to assess the risk of and prevent defects, failures, and malfunctions in all classes of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS, or drones); (2) improved runway surfaces as well as engineered material restraining systems for such runways at both general aviation and commercial airports; and (3) methods and procedures to improve certification of new technologies for introduction into the national airspace system. Directs the FAA Administrator to establish a permanent airport cooperative research program. Allows an increase in the federal share of fiscal year costs of operating a regional center of air transportation excellence that would otherwise be unable to carry out its programs. Authorizes the FAA Administrator to maintain a research program to assess the potential effect of aviation on the environment and to evaluate approaches to address such effect. Directs the FAA Administrator, in coordination wit…