Federal Aviation

Administration

E&E Subcommittee 

Recommendations & FAA 

Responses

To: REDAC E&E Subcommittee

By: Dr. Jim Hileman

Chief Scientific & Technical 

Advisor for Environment and Energy

Office of Environment and Energy

Date: August 30, 2016
Federal Aviation

Administration

Outline

• Meeting Dates

• Carry-over Recommendation from August 2015

• Recommendations from April 2016

• Action Item Status

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Federal Aviation

Administration

Meeting Dates

• Feb 28-Mar 1, 2017 – Washington DC metro area

• Please fill out poll for July-August 2017 meeting 

dates

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Federal Aviation

Administration

As the aviation environmental tool suite effort matures from 

development to implementation and use in decision making, 

including standard setting and other policy making efforts, 

there may be opportunities to strengthen the R&D efforts on 

operational improvements within the Environment and 

Energy portfolio. These have been negatively impacted due 

to the F&E funding reductions in the past three years. The 

need to better understand the impact of aviation emissions 

on climate should also be considered in this Environment and 

Energy R&D portfolio planning. The subcommittee 

encourages the FAA to leverage efforts with ACRP studies 

like enhanced data gathering on noise and emissions 

impacts. The regular evaluation of the Environment and 

Energy R&D portfolio should be continued with consideration 

of “what does it take to be where we need to be in 2025 and 

beyond”. To achieve these goals, additional collaborative 

technology development would be required.

The FAA appreciates the REDAC’s positive evaluation of the 

balance of the Environment and Energy R&D Portfolio. Previous 

recommendations from the REDAC have been instrumental in 

adjusting the Environment and Energy R&D Portfolio to 

accommodate F&E funding reductions. The FAA agrees that as 

ongoing efforts are completed, opportunities need to be evaluated 

for both near term R&D needs and those that are a few years 

down the road. As an example, as work on particulate matter 

emissions shifts from measurements to analysis, additional funds 

could be available for other areas such as the examination of 

operational improvements and/or the consideration of the climate 

impacts of aviation emissions. The FAA will continue to examine 

previously completed ACRP studies to see if there are results that 

could be used within the Environment and Energy R&D portfolio, 

monitor ongoing ACRP studies to guide their direction, and to 

work with ACRP to develop new projects that could enhance data 

gathering on noise and emissions impacts. Finally, as a part of its 

next Summer Meeting, the FAA will request the REDAC 

Environment and Energy Subcommittee to consider what it would 

take to be where we need to be in 2025 and beyond. 

Response to 2015-08 REDAC Recommendation - 5

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RECOMMENDATION RESPONSE
Federal Aviation

Administration

The ICAO CAEP/11 work program includes the development 

of an nvPM standard. The Subcommittee recognizes that this 

requires the development of a database based on engine test 

measurements. While some progress has been made 

significant work remains. The Subcommittee recommends 

that the FAA commit the necessary resources to generate 

this database and associated analyses tools. This is needed 

to develop the standard on time and maintain FAA’s global 

leadership in ICAO discussions. 

The FAA concurs with the Committee’s recommendation and 

is undertaking the following actions to address its 

recommendation(s). 

The FAA is focused on developing a global market based 

measure for international aviation CO2 emissions and an engine 

standard for particulate matter emissions. The FAA has done 

considerable work to support the global market based measure 

and has made considerable investments to develop an engine 

particulate matter test database. We will continue to prioritize the 

measurements that are needed to gather particulate matter 

emissions data. We are also updating our Aviation Environment 

Design Tool (AEDT2b) based on these measurement data such 

that the tool is ready to support the CAEP particulate matter 

standard analysis. 

The FAA agrees with the Subcommittee that resources need to 

be allocated to ICAO CAEP activities to ensure continued U.S. 

leadership. Robust funding is critical to ensure U.S. influence on 

the ICAO CAEP process and to develop our modeling capabilities 

and the generation of data to support ICAO CAEP decisionmaking. 

Response to 2016-04 REDAC Recommendation - 1

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RECOMMENDATION RESPONSE
Federal Aviation

Administration

The Subcommittee recommends that the FAA continue to 

explore additional opportunities and, where feasible, develop 

a joint work plan to achieve even greater benefits from the 

collaboration. 

The FAA concurs with the Committee’s recommendation and 

is undertaking the following actions to address its 

recommendation(s). 

The FAA has numerous collaborative efforts in alternative jet 

fuels, noise research, and particulate matter emissions 

measurements. As an example, the FAA has started collaboration 

with NASA to conduct particulate matter emission measurements 

that will help NASA advance the scientific knowledge of 

particulate matter emissions while helping the FAA develop a 

more robust database to assist the work in ICAO CAEP. The FAA 

will continue to keep the REDAC apprised of our progress on this 

front. 

The FAA agrees that continued collaboration is needed to 

leverage activities that are being performed within the FAA, in 

other agencies of the federal government, as well as by foreign 

governments. Collaboration is especially important given reduced 

federal funding for R&D. 

Response to 2016-04 REDAC Recommendation - 2

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RECOMMENDATION RESPONSE
Federal Aviation

Administration

The Subcommittee is highly pleased with the progress here 

and recommends that the FAA continue their commitment to 

this program which produces high value especially with the 

greater than 1:1 cost share by industry. 

The FAA concurs with the Committee’s recommendation. 

During the process of setting up CLEEN II, the FAA carefully 

considered the make-up of the CLEEN II portfolio with a goal to 

achieve such a balance. The FAA appreciates the 

Subcommittee’s view that the CLEEN II portfolio is well balanced 

among noise and emissions reduction technologies and 

alternative jet fuel development. The FAA also appreciates the 

Subcommittee’s support of the CLEEN Program as it remains 

one of our top priorities. 

Response to 2016-04 REDAC Recommendation - 3

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RECOMMENDATION RESPONSE
Federal Aviation

Administration

The Subcommittee recommends that the FAA start plans to 

assess and understand the noise impact of UAS. This would 

include the development of environmental impact 

assessment tools starting with evaluating the applicability of 

AEDT2b. We are also encouraging the FAA to explore 

opportunities to make noise measurement that will provide 

both an indication of the future challenge and a better 

understanding to make assessment models more relevant 

and practical. 

The FAA concurs with the Committee’s recommendation and 

is undertaking the following actions to address its 

recommendation(s). 

The Office of Environment and Energy (AEE) and the Office of 

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (AUS) are working closely within the 

ASSURE Center of Excellence to acquire noise measurement 

data for UAS. We are also leveraging opportunities with NASA 

and DOD to access UAS noise data. In addition to the ASSURE 

measurement campaign, AEE is developing a plan to address the 

potential environmental impacts of UAS to ensure that FAA is 

able to assess environmental impacts considered under the 

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), develop noise 

certification procedures including potential risk‐based noise 

standards for UAS, and develop environmental analysis 

capabilities that are unique to UAS. These efforts could require 

additional noise measurements and analysis to cover a growing 

range of vehicle types and could potentially include the creation 

of noise models. 

The potential noise concerns regarding UAS are not well 

understood at this time. The FAA agrees that there is a need to 

be proactive regarding UAS noise given the increased sensitivity 

to noise produced by civil aircraft. The FAA anticipates that the 

noise levels of individual UAS, along with their mission, will play a 

part in determining the community reaction to this new aircraft 

type. 

Response to 2016-04 REDAC Recommendation - 4

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RECOMMENDATION RESPONSE
Federal Aviation

Administration

• Present historical data on noise exposure – go back at least 10-15 years. 

• Create ASCENT fact sheet for sharing with community. 

• Leverage the road mapping efforts at NASA and FAA to update the White House 

National R&D Plan. 

• Report out on research being done by the FAA to develop technology that enables 

integration of relayed information (e.g., weather, 4D trajectories, etc.) with cockpit 

information. This will enable higher levels of onboard automation and the ability to 

further reduce the environmental impacts from aviation. 

• Carefully consider NARP milestones on noise metrics 

• Add a NARP milestone on supersonic aircraft 

• Ensure verbiage for PM standard is engine exhaust PM standard 

• Revise E&E brochure to capture significant population exposure in 1970s and today 

• Leverage “right-to-left” thinking in developing roadmaps wherein we start by thinking 

about the endpoint (goal) that is desired and decide how to get there. 

• Provide additional details on data hand-offs among tools within the CAEP standard 

setting process. 

Actions Completed/Underway – from Previous Meetings

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Federal Aviation

Administration

• Monetize the air quality and climate benefits of having an alternative jet fuel with 

reduced sulfur and naphthalene content. 

• Share the ASCENT NFO with the REDAC E&E Subcommittee (on an annual bas

• Examine ways to improve usability of AEDT. This could include the introduction of 

“flags” within AEDT that turn on/off functionality. 

• Organize a review of tool development / analysis efforts at the summer meeting 

• Share noise roadmap at next meeting including aspects regarding UAS noise 

Actions Completed/Underway – from Previous Meetings

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