1 AIAA Delta Forum AIAA Public Policy A CRISIS IN AERONAUTICS The NASA Landscape Aerospace Sciences Meeting January 8, 2001 Carol A. Cash, Chair Aeronautics Subcommittee AIAA Public Policy Committee

2 AIAA Delta Forum AIAA Public Policy Overview Our topics today: Historical R&T Trends Historical R&T Trends Competitive Forces Competitive Forces Technological and Societal Impacts Technological and Societal Impacts Cause for Optimism Cause for Optimism What Needs to be Done What Needs to be Done

3 AIAA Delta Forum AIAA Public Policy Historical R&T trends NASAs Aeronautics Budget Trend FY 00 budget has declined 37% since 1994 FY 00 budget has declined 37% since 1994 No FY 01 data: aeronautics has disappeared as a line item No FY 01 data: aeronautics has disappeared as a line item $M in FY 98 Constant Year Dollars

4 AIAA Delta Forum AIAA Public Policy Historical R&T trends Current situation OMB feels $600M right budget historically for OMB feels $600M right budget historically for NASA aeronautics NASA aeronautics DOD aeronautics budgets also declining DOD aeronautics budgets also declining Commercial needs now drive the aviation business Commercial needs now drive the aviation business Perception is that aeronautics is a mature industry Perception is that aeronautics is a mature industry - not revolutionary technology - not revolutionary technology

5 AIAA Delta Forum AIAA Public Policy Historical R&T trends Validation critical for technology insertion Current budget Current budget cannot support demo programs Industry cannot depend on NASA technology for critical path Industry cannot depend on NASA technology for critical path

6 AIAA Delta Forum AIAA Public Policy Historical R&T trends Funding limits Technology Readiness Levels NASA has expertise which Industry needs, but TRLs are too low NASA has expertise which Industry needs, but TRLs are too low NASA and Industry must partner to close the technology gap NASA and Industry must partner to close the technology gap

7 AIAA Delta Forum AIAA Public Policy Competitive forces Foreign competition increasing Aeronautics major positive factor in trade balance, Aeronautics major positive factor in trade balance, but U.S. companies are losing ground but U.S. companies are losing ground EC investing heavily in aeronautics research EC investing heavily in aeronautics research with two full scale engine demonstration with two full scale engine demonstration programs planned programs planned

8 AIAA Delta Forum AIAA Public Policy Technological and societal impacts NASA goals on-target but... Funding constraints push out milestones Funding constraints push out milestones and change scope Technology roadmaps to achieve objectives remain unfunded Technology roadmaps to achieve objectives remain unfunded

9 AIAA Delta Forum AIAA Public Policy Technological and societal impacts Aero-space R&D bears fruit if: There is a strong, stable R&D budget There is a strong, stable R&D budget National core competencies are protected National core competencies are protected Intellectual capital is nurtured Intellectual capital is nurtured

10 AIAA Delta Forum AIAA Public Policy Technological and societal impacts Future challenges require technology Transportation in the 21st Century will be driven by Transportation in the 21st Century will be driven by the desire to travel further, get there faster and the desire to travel further, get there faster and explore new frontiers. explore new frontiers.

11 AIAA Delta Forum AIAA Public Policy Cause for optimism Agencies must work together Declining aeronautics research budgets are Declining aeronautics research budgets are a threat but also an opportunity for leverage a threat but also an opportunity for leverage NASA, DOD and DOE identifying program synergies NASA, DOD and DOE identifying program synergies Requires executive level commitment Requires executive level commitment and stable budgets and stable budgets

12 AIAA Delta Forum AIAA Public Policy Cause for optimism Professional organizations mobilize AIAA PPC Subcommittee on Aeronautics AIAA PPC Subcommittee on Aeronautics Aeronautics Coalition targeting new Administration Aeronautics Coalition targeting new Administration AIA successful in championing Presidential AIA successful in championing Presidential Commission on Aerospace Commission on Aerospace

13 AIAA Delta Forum AIAA Public Policy Cause for optimism Awakening Aeronautics Awareness Aeronautics is an R&T-intensive enterprise…the committee is greatly concerned that ongoing reductions in R&T, which seem to be motivated primarily by the desire to reduce expenditures in the near term, are taking place without an adequate understanding of the long-term consequences…In addition, for the United States to succeed in the globalized world aviation market, the nation requires clearly defined national objectives for aeronautics R&T. ( Committee on Strategic Assessment of U.S. Aeronautics, National Research Council)

14 AIAA Delta Forum AIAA Public Policy Cause for optimism Congress concerned by declining budget Congress remedied deficiencies for noise and Congress remedied deficiencies for noise and emissions research in 00 budget emissions research in 00 budget 01 Conference Bill restored and increased vital 01 Conference Bill restored and increased vital programs programs NASA Authorization Bill provided additional funding NASA Authorization Bill provided additional funding authorization and supportive language for aeronautics authorization and supportive language for aeronautics

15 AIAA Delta Forum AIAA Public Policy What needs to be done? The Federal Government must: Recognize the importance of aeronautics to this Nation Recognize the importance of aeronautics to this Nation Ensure that RT&D is balanced Ensure that RT&D is balanced Foster and encourage partnerships with NASA, DOD, Foster and encourage partnerships with NASA, DOD, DOE, FAA, Industry, and Academia DOE, FAA, Industry, and Academia Provide strong, stable budgets for aeronautics research Provide strong, stable budgets for aeronautics research Make appropriate investments in research facilities Make appropriate investments in research facilities

16 AIAA Delta Forum AIAA Public Policy What needs to be done? AIAA Aeronautics Issues for 01: Develop and implement a National Aviation Research Develop and implement a National Aviation Research and Technology Plan and Technology Plan Provide for the design and development of a safe and Provide for the design and development of a safe and efficient air transportation system efficient air transportation system Maintain a skilled workforce through increased funding Maintain a skilled workforce through increased funding of innovative academic research of innovative academic research

17 AIAA Delta Forum AIAA Public Policy What needs to be done? What can YOU do to help? Contact your legislators to voice your concerns Contact your legislators to voice your concerns Educate Congress on the importance of aeronautics Educate Congress on the importance of aeronautics Create public awareness of the issues Create public awareness of the issues Join us for Congressional Visits Days 3-21 and 3-22 Join us for Congressional Visits Days 3-21 and 3-22 Get involved; become part of the solution Get involved; become part of the solution