Updated 2/22/2019

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Federal Aviation Administration

Research & Development Landscapes

2020 - 2030

Research, Engineering and Development 

Advisory Committee (REDAC)

Sub-Committee Workbook for:

______________
Updated 2/22/2019

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Table of Contents

General Instructions

List of Research Drivers

Research Drivers Worksheets

Blank Worksheets for Any Additional Research Drivers
Updated 2/22/2019

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General Instructions

In the context of your REDAC subcommittee:

 Review the list of research drivers on the following page and identify any missing items that 

you feel are relevant. Blank pages are provided in the back of the workbook for the 

Subcommittee to include these additional drivers.

 Using the list of research drivers on the following page, identify the ones that are relevant 

to your Subcommittee.

 Then, using the attached sheets (one for each research driver that you’ve identified), please 

provide feedback on the following:

a. Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the 

timeframe to maturity.

b. Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

c. Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting 

work related to this driver.

Provide any additional context that you believe is relevant.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Drivers

1. Supersonic Flight

2. Urban Air Mobility

3. Growth of Mixed Operations (Piloted, Autonomous, Unmanned)

4. New Mission Types

5. Non-Traditional NAS Access Points 

6. Space Operations

7. Enable Routine Small UAS Operations Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)

8. Autonomous ground service equipment at airports

9. Aircraft Command and Control Using Automation and Remote Sensing Technology

10. New Vehicles or their Components Which Make Use of New Technologies, Software, or 

Materials

11. Certification using New Technologies, Standards, or Processes

12. Remote/Virtual Technologies

13. Advances in Electric or Hybrid Electric Propulsion

14. Future Fuel Technologies

15. New Technologies to Airport Pavement Infrastructure and Design

16. Information Assurance and Security for All Operations (cyber-security)

17. Big Data Analytics and Techniques

18. Human-Machine Teaming and New Technology Interfaces

19. Artificial Intelligence

20. Increased Connectivity by Cyber-Physical Systems (Internet of Things Technologies)

21. Crowd Sourcing Weather Data

22. Advancement in Position, Navigation, & Timing Technology 

23. Risk-Based Decision-Making techniques and analytics

24. Infrastructure Resiliency and Continuity of Operations

25. New Medical Technologies and New Substances (Medications, Drugs, Etc.)
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Research Driver

1 Supersonic Flight

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

2 Urban Air Mobility

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

3 Growth of Mixed Operations (Piloted, Autonomous, Unmanned)

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

4 New Mission Types

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

5 Non-Traditional NAS Access Points

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

6 Space Operations

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

7 Enable Routine Small UAS Operations Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

8 Autonomous ground service equipment at airports

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

9 Aircraft Command and Control Using Automation and Remote Sensing 

Technology

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

10 New Vehicles or their Components Which Make Use of New Technologies, 

Software, or Materials

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

11 Certification using New Technologies, Standards, or Processes

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

12 Remote/Virtual Technologies

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

13 Advances in Electric or Hybrid Electric Propulsion

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

14 Future Fuel Technologies

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

15 New Technologies to Airport Pavement Infrastructure and Design

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

16 Information Assurance and Security for All Operations (cyber-security)

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

17 Big Data Analytics and Techniques

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

18 Human-Machine Teaming and New Technology Interfaces

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

19 Artificial Intelligence

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

20 Increased Connectivity by Cyber-Physical Systems (Internet of Things 

Technologies)

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

21 Crowd Sourcing Weather Data

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

22 Advancement in Position, Navigation, & Timing Technology

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

23 Risk-Based Decision-Making techniques and analytics

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

24 Infrastructure Resiliency and Continuity of Operations

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

25 New Medical Technologies and New Substances (Medications, Drugs, Etc.)

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

26

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

27

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

32

Research Driver

28

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

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Research Driver

29

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.
Updated 2/22/2019

34

Research Driver

30

Identify the characteristics or individual components of each driver and the timeframe to 

maturity.

Characteristics or Individual Components Time Period

Identify if the driver presents challenges that the FAA should pay attention to.

Identify entities (academia, government or industry) that are currently conducting work related 

to this driver.