NASA Aeronautics Research: An Assessment (ASEB)

Released 04.07.08 

In 2006, the NRC published a Decadal Survey of Civil Aeronautics: Foundation for the Future, which set out six strategic objectives for the next decade of civil aeronautics research and technology. To determine how NASA is implementing the decadal survey, Congress mandated in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Act of 2005 that the NRC carry out a review of those efforts. Among other things, this report presents an assessment of how well NASA's research portfolio is addressing the recommendations and high priority R&T challenges identified in the Decadal Survey; how well NASA's aeronautic research portfolio is addressing the aeronautics research requirements; and whether the nation will have the skilled workforce and research facilities to meet the first two items.

Wake Turbulence, An Obstacle to Increased Air Traffic Capacity (ASEB)

Released 01.10.08

Without major changes, the current air transportation system will be unable to accommodate the expected increase in demand by 2025.  One proposal to address this problem is to use the Global Positioning System to enable aircraft to fly more closely spaced.  This approach, however, might be limited by the wake turbulence problem, which can be a safety hazard when smaller aircraft follow relatively larger aircraft too closely.  To examine how this potential hazard might be reduced, Congress in 2005 directed NASA to request a study from the NRC to assess the federal wake turbulence R&D program.  This report provides a description of the problem, an assessment of the organizational challenges to addressing wake turbulence, an analysis of the technical challenges in wake turbulence, and a proposal for a wake turbulence program plan.  A series of recommendations for addressing the wake turbulence challenge are also given.