Bill Provides Annual Gains In Research To $515M
The American Institute of
Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has endorsed HR 2698, the
Federal Aviation R&D Act of 2007. After approval by the House
Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics June
14, the full committee approved the measure, sponsored by Rep. Mark
Udall (D-CO), Friday June 22 by voice vote.
The bill provides $335 million for the FAA's research and
development programs in FY 2008, with steady annual gains until
reaching $515 million in FY 2011, according to the AIAA. The bill
is aimed at improving the safety, capacity and efficiency of the
nation's air transportation system to meet expected air traffic
demands of the future.
"The bill is generally positive for the continued development
and productivity of our nation's aerospace efforts," said AIAA
President Paul Nielsen in his endorsement of HR 2698. "Apart from
support for a range of important R&D activities, particularly
noteworthy are the legislation's reinforcement of the Next
Generation Air Transportation System Joint Planning and Development
Office's ability to move efficiently toward implementing NextGen;
its streamlining of the approval process by the FAA and NASA for
certifying new aerospace technology; and its increased support of
research on space weather."
Nielsen continued, "AIAA also applauds the provisions in HR 2698
that provide for an enhancement of research grants available to
undergraduate students and for the development of a roadmap for
technology R&D programs seeking to modify existing
propulsion systems. For these reasons, as well as other merits of
this critical bill, AIAA endorses HR 2698 and supports its passage
as quickly as prudence allows."
A key feature of H.R. 2698 is a set of provisions to strengthen
the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO), which is charged
with planning and developing the Next Generation Air Transportation
System. NextGen is envisioned as a major redesign of the current
air transportation system, which is increasingly inefficient and
near capacity.
NextGen would entail precision
satellite navigation; digital, networked communications; an
integrated aviation weather system; layered, adaptive security and
more, according to the House.
"This bill provides significant resources and direction to the
FAA, but it is clear that FAA can not do it alone," committee
chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN), a bill sponsor. said.
"NASA, in particular, has an important R&D role to play and
that is something that the Committee will devote more attention to
as we start work on reauthorizing NASA later in this Congress."
"The nation's air transportation system is critical to our
economic well-being, our international competitiveness, and our
quality of life," Udall said. "I believe that this bill will keep
the FAA's R&D enterprise healthy and productive."
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