Technology Pathways: Assessing the Integrated Plan for a Next Generation Air Transportation System (ASEB)

Released 08/22/05

In 2003, Congress directed the Secretary of Transportation to establish the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NGATS) Joint Planning and Development Office (JDPO) to plan the development of an air transportation system capable of meeting potential air traffic demand for 2025. All federal agencies involved in aviation participate in the JDPO providing the opportunity overcome many of the major barriers to developing an effective NGATS. To assist this process, the NRC was asked to examine the first NGATS Integrated Plan prepared by JPDO and submitted to Congress in 2004. This report provides a review of the vision and goals, the operational concepts, and the R&D roadmap developed by the plan; an analysis of the JDPO integrated product teams created to carry out the planning; and an assessment of the implementation process.

Review of Proposals for NASA’s Low Emissions Alternative Power Program (ASEB)

NASA requested the NRC to review technical proposals received by NASA for the Low Emissions Alternative Power Program. A technical panel was used to evaluate proposed low technology readiness level (TRL) work in foundation technologies and rate them based on the adjectival ratings in the research solicitation announcement. These foundation technologies will address power and propulsion applications for breakthrough applications for aircraft development. This letter report presents a discussion of the NRC process for reviewing the proposals, the members of the reviewing panel, and a summary of the ratings by proposal number.