Federal Aviation

Administration

Prepared for: REDAC E&E Subcommittee 

By: Dr. James I. Hileman

Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor for 

Environment and Energy

Office of Environment and Energy

Federal Aviation Administration

Date: March 9, 2021

Environment & 

Energy Research & 

Development 

Portfolio Overview
Federal Aviation

Administration

Presentation Outline

• Office of Environment and Energy –

Background & E&E Strategy Overview

• ASCENT COE Summary

• Highlights of R&D Program

• Discussion on Noise, Climate Change and 

the Direction of the E&E Portfolio 

• Budget Profile for E&E Portfolio

• Summary

• Background - Budget and ASCENT COE

2
Federal Aviation

Administration

FAA Organizational Structure

3

Office of Environment and Energy (AEE)

- Office within APL, responsible for broad range of environmental policies

- Roughly 45 staff members

- Responsible for roughly one-fourth of FAA RE&D Budget
Federal Aviation

Administration

AEE Organizational Structure

4

Executive Director

Kevin Welsh

AEE-1

Deputy Director

Julie Marks

AEE-2

AEE-300

Emissions Division

Ralph Iovinelli

Manager

AEE-400

Environmental Policy

Division

Katherine Andrus 

Manager

AEE-200

Technology & 

Operations Division

Levent Ileri

Manager 2

AEE-100

Noise Division

Don Scata 

Manager

Chief Scientific and 

Technical Advisor for 

Environment and Energy

Jim Hileman (AEE-3) 1

Special Assistant to the 

Chief Scientific and 

Technical Advisor

Fabio Grandi

Senior International 

Advisor

Dan Williams

AEE-5

Senior Policy 

Advisor

Eric Elmore

AEE-6

Effective 3/28/2021

1 ASCENT Program Manager, as a subset of his Chief Scientist duties

2 CLEEN Program Manager, as a subset of his Division Manager duties
Federal Aviation

Administration

Environmental & Energy (E&E) Strategy

5

ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING OF NOISE, 

EMISSIONS, AND THEIR IMPACTS

Pollutant measurement

Societal impacts

Atmospheric propagation

Aircraft and Engine Technology

Sustainable Aviation Fuels

Optimized Operations and Procedures

DEVELOP INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO 

REDUCE NOISE AND EMISSIONS

E&E Mission: To understand, manage, and reduce the environmental impacts of global 

aviation through research, technological innovation, policy, and outreach to benefit the public

E&E Vision: Remove environmental constraints on aviation growth by achieving quiet, clean, 

and efficient air transportation

E&E R&D Portfolio Activities & Programs

ANALYSIS TO INFORM 

DECISION MAKING

Aircraft and Engine Standards

CORSIA

Long Term Climate Goal Development

Domestic Policies

Aviation Environmental 

Tools Suite and 

Communication Tools

Today’s Fleet of Aircraft and Helicopters

Commercial Supersonic Aircraft

Drones and Advanced Air Mobility Vehicles

Commercial Space Vehicles

www.ascent.aero/

www.faa.gov/go/cleen/

www.caafi.org/

Vehicle operation
Federal Aviation

Administration

Report 1 Report 2 Report 3 Report 4 Report 5 Report 6

Time period 9/2013 –

9/2015

10/2015 –

9/2016

10/2016 –

9/2017

10/2017 –

9/2018

10/2018 –

9/2019

10/2019 –

9/2020

Research 

Projects

50 54 43 32 30 60

Publications,

Reports, and 

Presentations

137 119 110 179 166 125

Students

involved

131 112 105 116 236 186

Industry 

partners

63 70 72 72 76 57

ASCENT COE Update

* ASCENT Annual Tech Reports available for download at:

https://ascent.aero/resources

6

ASCENT Research Portfolio

Portfolio covers broad range of topics on Alternative Jet Fuels, 

Emissions, Noise, Operations, and Analytical Tools

Over last few years have stood up many projects to advance 

aircraft technology innovation and supersonic flight

Projects listed by topic: https://ascent.aero/projects-by-topic/

ASCENT Leadership

- Mike Wolcott of WSU - Director

- John Hansman of MIT - Co-Director

- Carol Sim of WSU - Assistant Director

ASCENT Annual Technical Report Summaries*
Federal Aviation

Administration

Step 5: Office of the Secretary 

begins their coordination reviews of 

grant package for approval.

Step 6: Secretary reviews grant 

package for concurrence and final 

signature.

Step 1: Individual grants are 

developed by the Office of 

Environment and Energy (AEE) and 

reviewed by a grant officer. Grants 

are compiled into a package for 

further concurrence.

Step 3: package is reviewed by FAA 

Office of Finance and Management 

(AFN), NextGen Office (ANG), and 

Office of Policy, International Affairs, and

Environment (APL) for concurrence.

Step 4: package is reviewed by FAA 

Administrator for concurrence.

5 6 4

Step 2: FAA Legal (AGC) reviews 

the complete OST grant package for 

concurrence.

1 2 3

AEE / Grants Officer AGC AFN/ANG/APL AOA OOSTST secretary

COE Grant Approval Process

Grant is awarded

7

OST Secretary
Federal Aviation

Administration

Highlights of Ongoing R&D Efforts (E&E Portfolio)

• Research efforts continue to inform decision making

• Developed innovation portfolio within ASCENT

• Sustainable aviation fuels: CORSIA, CAAFI, and ASTM

• Technology maturation in CLEEN continues and we are 

close to making awards for 3rd Phase of CLEEN

• Renewed efforts on impacts evaluation within ASCENT

• Exploring low noise operational procedures and means to 

improve communication among affected communities

• Released AEDT3c - executing long term vision for AEDT

• Have ASCENT projects on drones and advanced air mobility 

• Work on helicopter noise is making good progress

• Have wide-ranging portfolio on supersonic aircraft

8
Federal Aviation

Administration

Environmental Impacts of Aviation

9

Combustion Emissions
Federal Aviation

Administration

Approach: 2,000 m

from threshold

Landing Takeoff Cycle

Sideline: 450 m 

from runway edge

Flyover: 6,500 m 

from brakes off

Landing Gear

Engine Fan & Jet Exhaust

High lift system

Aircraft Noise

Community Exposure

All noise sources contribute to 

acoustic signature – both at takeoff 

and during landing

Community exposure set by aircraft 

types, operational tempo over day 

and night, and where people live.

Community Noise from Aircraft

10
Federal Aviation

Administration

Historical Trends in Noise Exposure and Enplanements

Over a ninety percent decrease in community noise exposure while increasing 

enplanements by nearly a factor of five; however, the noise experience is 

different than it was in decades past

11

Data source: FAA enplanement data and noise analyses using AEDT
Federal Aviation

Administration

Aircraft Noise in the Last Decade (1 of 2)

• Aircraft noise from 1970s is different 

than aircraft noise today. 

• A single aircraft from the 1970s 

produced the same acoustic energy 

as 10 to 30 aircraft operations today.

• A few, but relatively loud, operations 

in the 1970s would result in DNL 65 

dB. Many, relatively quiet operations 

today would also result in DNL 65 dB.

However, the noise experience is 

very different.

12

1,000 Events/Day SEL 84.4 dBA = DNL 65
Federal Aviation

Administration

Aircraft Noise in the Last Decade (2 of 2)

• Recent efforts to modernize the 

national air transportation system 

have required changes in aircraft 

operational patterns

• While modernization is needed to 

increase public safety and system 

efficiency, the changes in operational 

patterns have also led to increased 

concern about aircraft noise

• While air space redesigns have been 

taking place, operations by air 

carriers have also increased

• Airport communities that are outside 

the DNL 65 dB contour are 

expressing concerns about aircraft 

noise

13

0

100000

200000

300000

400000

2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

Annual Air Carrier Operations

65dB

Each marker represents a unique complaint address

Arrivals in Green

Departures in Red

Data Sources: 

Brenner, M., Hansman, R. J., “Comparison of Methods for Evaluating Impacts of Aviation Noise on 

Communities,” 2017

FAA Data on Annual Air Carrier Operations for Boston Logan International Airport
Federal Aviation

Administration

Noise R&D Update

Federal Register Notice

Provides comprehensive overview of FAA R&D 

efforts on noise

- Effects of Aircraft Noise on Individuals and 

Communities

- Noise Modeling, Noise Metrics and Environmental 

Data Visualization

- Reduction, Abatement and Mitigation of Aviation 

Noise

Includes neighborhood environmental survey 

results with a link to the full study

Expanded the aviation noise website to include 

details on the noise survey

Have had extensive outreach on FRN including 

a public webinar on the Neighborhood 

Environmental Survey and Noise Research 

Portfolio on February 22, 2021.

14

www.faa.gov/go/aviationnoise

Webinar link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mku13gL0xGc

https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/policy_guidance/noise/survey/
Federal Aviation

Administration

Biden Administration Commitment on Climate Change

• Day One: Took action to re-join the Paris Agreement (took effect on February 19)

• Executive Order 14008 on Tackling the Climate Crisis

– “put the United States on a path to achieve net-zero emissions, economywide, by no later than 2050”

• Joint Statement of Sec Buttigieg and Minister Alghabra of Transport Canada

– “shared vision toward reducing the (aviation) sector’s emissions in a manner 

consistent with the goal of net zero emissions for our economies by 2050”

– “building on existing partnerships, such as through ASCENT” 

• Leaders Summit & Climate Pledge: President Biden will host a leaders summit 

on April 22 and announce a new climate pledge.

15

Action on Aviation

• The United States will build on a strong track record of 

aviation climate action

• Will develop an aviation climate action plan and vision for 

2050

Joint statement available at https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/jointstatement-us-department-transportation-and-transport-canada-nexus-between
Federal Aviation

Administration

Climate Change - Direction of the R&D Portfolio

Background on Aviation and Climate Change

• Aviation has three primary contributors to climate change: CO2 emissions, NOX emissions, 

and aviation-induced cloudiness

• Need to take a holistic approach to de-carbonizing aviation (SAF, technology, operations, 

policy) and ensure international leadership from the U.S. on aviation climate issues

Climate Research Portfolio Direction

• Technology Development: long term solution to climate challenge (and noise challenge)

• Sustainable Aviation Fuels: most promising near to medium-term means to reduce aviation 

CO2 emissions

• Operational Procedures: seeking opportunities to reduce fuel use and laying ground work to 

develop decision support tools to address aviation induced cloudiness 

• International leadership: R&D program provides the scientific data and analyses that are 

required for the U.S. to lead direction of international aviation climate negotiations

• Advancing Understanding: conducting research to better understand the impacts of nonCO2 combustion emissions from all flight vehicles 

• Analytical Tools: providing the models that are used across the globe to quantify aviation 

fuel burn and emissions 

• Emerging Technologies and Energy Sources: need to give appropriate consideration to 

emerging technologies and concepts, but avoid looking for a “silver bullet”

16
Federal Aviation

Administration

Global Competition and Environmental Pressure Increasing

• Airline industry particularly hard hit by COVID-19**

– U.S. passenger airline traffic fell 60.1% in 2020 (lowest since 1984)

– The nine biggest US carriers lost $46 billion before taxes in 2020 

• Global competition among manufacturers is growing 

– Airbus backlog exceeds Boeing by 2500 aircraft in 200 Pax class*

– New competitors in key Asia-Pacific growth market

• Limited industry funding for needed R&D investments

• Societal pressure growing on climate globally

• Primary contributors to climate change: CO2 emissions, 

NOX emissions, and aviation-induced cloudiness

• Broad community concerns in U.S. about aircraft noise 

• Air quality continues to be a challenge in select areas

• Need to address environmental justice concerns

2020

Airbus 566

Boeing 157

* https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/aircraft-propulsion/opinion-will-boeing-become-next-mcdonnell-douglas

** https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-airlines/us-airline-passenger-traffic-fell-601-in-2020-dot-id

Economic Perspective Environmental Context

Technological innovation will be required to enable sustainable growth & to maintain U.S. global leadership

• Environmental performance provides competitive edge

• National economy-wide carbon neutral goals: 2045 in Sweden; 2050 in Denmark, France, Hungary, Japan, New 

Zealand, South Korea, UK, and United States; 2060 in China

• CO2 goals publicly stated by: American Airlines, Delta Airlines, FedEx, JetBlue, United Airlines

• Environmental challenges must be addressed if U.S. industry is to remain competitive in the global marketplace
Federal Aviation

Administration

Rationale for Investing in Aircraft Technology

• Historically, advances in aircraft 

technology have been the main factor 

in reducing aviation’s environmental 

impact

• Continued improvements come with 

large technological risk

• Manufacturers have limited financial 

incentive to develop technologies to 

reduce noise and emissions

• COVID-19 pandemic has hit the 

aerospace sector particularly hard and 

the industry has considerably reduced 

ability to undertake research to 

advance new technologies

• Government resources help mitigate 

technological risk and incentivize 

aviation manufacturers to invest in and 

develop cleaner, quieter technology

U.S. Commercial Aviation 

Passenger-Miles per Gallon
Federal Aviation

Administration

Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions & Noise (CLEEN) Program

• FAA partnership with industry - 100% industry cost share

• Focus on aircraft and engine technologies (CLEEN Phases I-III) and 

development of high performance fuels (CLEEN Phase III)

• Conducting ground and/or flight test demonstrations to accelerate maturation of 

certifiable aircraft and engine technologies

• Mature technologies from TRL 3-5 to TRL 5-7

• Individual companies use knowledge gained to improve their design methods

ASCENT COE Efforts on Innovation and Technology 

• FAA partnership with academia - 100% in-kind cost share*

• Focus on broad range of innovation solutions (technology, fuels, ops, etc.)

• Conducting ground and/or flight test demonstrations to accelerate maturation of 

certifiable aircraft and engine technologies

• Advance technologies at any TRL, but with understanding 

that FAA has a focus on applied R&D

• Universities use knowledge gained to improve 

knowledge broadly, but there are opportunities

to examine specific technologies under Non 

Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)

Efforts Relating to Aircraft Technology

19

For more information: 

ASCENT: www.ascent.aero/ CLEEN: www.faa.gov/go/cleen/

* Universities can apply for a cost share reduction to a 25/75 split instead of 50/50
Federal Aviation

Administration

ASCENT COE 

Aircraft Technology Innovation Portfolio

https://ascent.aero/topic/Aircraft-Technology/

20

ASCENT’s aircraft technology innovation research advances 

the industry state-of-the-art and expands the technical knowledge base. 

ASCENT Aircraft Technology Innovation Projects

• 010- Aircraft Technology Modeling and Assessment

• 037 - CLEEN II System Level Assessment

• 047 - Clean Sheet Supersonic Aircraft Engine Design and Performance

• 050 (NEW) - Over-Wing Engine Placement Evaluation

• 051 (NEW) - Combustion concepts for next-generation aircraft engines to reduce fuel burn and emissions

• 052 (NEW) - Comparative Assessment of Electrification Strategies for Aviation

• 055 (NEW) - Noise Generation and Propagation from Advanced Combustors

• 056 (NEW) - Turbine Cooling Through Additive Manufacturing

• 059 (NEW) - Jet Noise Modeling to Support Low Noise Supersonic Aircraft Technology Development

• 063 (NEW) - Parametric Noise Modeling For Boundary Layer Ingesting Propulsors

• 064 (NEW) - Alternative Design Configurations to Meet Future Demand

• 066 (NEW) - Evaluation of High Thermal Stability Fuels

• 067 (NEW) - Impact of Fuel Heating on Combustion and Emissions

• 068 (NEW) - Combustor Wall Cooling Concepts for Dirt Mitigation

• 070 (NEW) - Reduction of nvPM emissions via innovation in aero-engine fuel injector design

• 071 (NEW) - Predictive Simulation of Soot Emission in Aircraft combustors

• 074 (NEW) - Low Emissions Pre-Mixed Combustion Technology for Supersonic Civil Transport 

• 075 (NEW) - Improved Engine Fan Broadband Noise Prediction Capabilities

• 076 (NEW) - Improved Open Rotor Noise Prediction Capabilities

• 077 (NEW) - Measurements to Support Noise Certification for UAS/UAM Vehicles and Identify Noise Reduction 

Opportunities
Federal Aviation

Administration

Benefits of CLEEN Technology Introduction

Analytical Evaluation:

• Conducted by Georgia Tech through ASCENT COE

• Evaluating impact on fuel burn and noise out to 2050

• Have completed modeling of CLEEN Phase I technologies and all CLEEN Phase 

II fuel burn reduction technologies

21

Fuel Burn Benefit

• 36.4 billion gallons of fuel saved cumulative by 2050 from CLEEN Phase I and II

• CO2 emissions reduced by 424 million metric tons over this time period – the 

equivalent to removing 3.05 million cars from the road from 2020 to 2050

Noise Benefit

• CLEEN Phase I Contributes 

to 14% decrease

in the land area exposed to 

DNL 65 dB and greater

• CLEEN Phase II noise 

benefits assessment ongoing

Cumulative Fuel Burn 

Savings (Billions of Gallons)
Federal Aviation

Administration

R&D Direction on Sustainable Aviation Fuels

22

Testing

accelerate SAF 

development

•Test fuels

•Improve testing 

methods

• Conduct evaluation

•Streamline approval

Analysis

environmental and 

economic 

sustainability

• Lifecycle emissions

• Cost reduction

•Supply potential

•Supply chain 

opportunities

Coordination

support SAF 

deployment

•Public-private 

partnership – CAAFI

• U.S. interagency 

cooperation

•International 

cooperation – ICAO

Considerable energy going to support efforts at ICAO via FTG and LTAG

Looking to utilize R&D to go beyond 50% to higher SAF blend levels

Want to establish the development of SAF as a key DOT and U.S. climate priority 
Federal Aviation

Administration

Environmental & Energy R&D Portfolio

RE&D Environment & Energy

Budget Line Item* 

• Advance understanding of noise and 

emissions

• Analysis to inform decision making

RE&D NextGen – Environmental Research 

– Aircraft Technology and Fuels

Budget Line Item** 

• Develop innovative solutions to reduce 

noise and emissions

23 *Budget Line Items: A13.a (FY18 & FY19), A12.a (FY20), A.T (FY21)

** Budget Line Items: A13.b (FY18 & FY19), A12.b (FY20), A.U (FY21)
Federal Aviation

Administration

Environment and Energy R&D Portfolio

Broken out by Research Area & Funding Vehicle

24
Federal Aviation

Administration

Recent Successes - Capabilities and Solutions Helping Today

Informing Decision Making to Support U.S. Leadership on International Aviation Climate Issues

• Research team at forefront of informing the development of a long term aspirational goal for international aviation CO2

emissions within International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

• Provided critical support to development of Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).

• Analytical tools and data provided foundation for ICAO CAEP Aircraft CO2 Standard being promulgated domestically.

• Measurement technique and data provided foundation for new ICAO CAEP non-volatile particular matter engine standard 

that will replace the existing smoke number standard in 2023.

Supporting the Development of Sustainable Aviation Fuels

• Certification of eight alternative jet fuel pathways enabling multiple airlines to buy and use sustainable aviation fuels in 

LAX, SFO, and elsewhere. Efforts have also significantly reduced fuel volumes required for new approvals.

• Research efforts were critical for the inclusion of sustainable aviation fuels within CORSIA.

Accelerating Technological Innovation and the Development of Improved Operational Procedures

• CLEEN aircraft and engine technologies appearing in new aircraft with some technologies retrofitted into today’s fleet. 

These technologies and knowledge gained by industry will reduce noise, emissions, and fuel use for decades to come.

• Research efforts are supporting the introduction of unmanned aircraft systems, advanced air mobility vehicles, and 

supersonic aircraft into the air space.

• Developing operational procedure concepts and communication tools at Boston Logan that could help address noise 

concerns nationwide.

Advancing Our Understanding of Noise, Emissions, and their Impacts

• Released Federal Register Notice on noise research portfolio with comprehensive community noise annoyance survey 

quantifying community perceptions on noise. Work is ongoing to understand impacts of noise on sleep and health.

• Researchers are advancing our understanding of the impacts of aviation emissions on human health and welfare via air 

quality, global climate change, and changes to the ozone layer.

• Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) is being used extensively globally to quantify aviation noise and emissions.

25
Federal Aviation

Administration

Backup Slides

• Environment & Energy RE&D Budget Line 

Items 

• ASCENT Center of Excellence

26
Federal Aviation

Administration

Environment & Energy R&D Portfolio – FY21

RE&D A.s: Environment & Energy

Major Activities and Accomplishments Planned in FY 2021 Include: 

• Using advances in scientific understanding, enhance the aviation 

environmental tool suite to improve our ability to calculate environmental 

consequences and impacts of aviation. 

• Develop innovative, cost-effective solutions to reduce noise, fuel use, 

and emissions for both fixed wing and vertical takeoff and landing 

vehicles through technology and operational procedure concepts. 

• Conduct analyses to inform decision making on operational procedure 

concepts, policy measures, and standards that could reduce noise, fuel 

use, and emissions. 

• Develop improved measurement capabilities and airworthiness 

certification methods for both noise and emissions, for both existing air 

vehicles and new entrants. 

• Conduct analyses and gather data to inform the development of noise 

and emissions standards to enable the introduction of new entrants, such 

as Unmanned Aerial Systems, Urban Air Mobility vehicles, and civil 

supersonic aircraft. 

27
Federal Aviation

Administration

Goals for FY 2021 Funding: 

• By 2022, complete analyses to quantify the potential health 

impacts of aircraft noise. 

• By 2023, release AEDT Version 4 with improved characterization 

at lower noise levels where some communities are expressing 

concerns as well as to include supersonic aircraft.* 

• By 2022, release noise screening tool to streamline environmental 

approval process and improve communication on noise matters 

with communities. 

• By 2022, conduct measurements and complete analyses to inform 

the development of noise standards for unmanned aerial systems 

and urban air mobility vehicles. 

• Through 2025, complete analyses to support the development of 

new international standards for supersonic transport aircraft and 

engines in ICAO CAEP. 

28

Environment & Energy R&D Portfolio – FY21

RE&D A.s: Environment & Energy

* Revised date. Listed as 2022 in the FY2021 President’s Budget.
Federal Aviation

Administration

Environment & Energy R&D Portfolio – FY21

RE&D A.t: NextGen – Environmental Research –

Aircraft Technology and Fuels

Major Activities and Accomplishments Planned in FY 2021 Include: 

• Develop aircraft and engine technologies, as well as novel drop-in fuels, 

for both subsonic and supersonic aircraft, that reduce noise and 

emissions while increasing fuel efficiency through the CLEEN Program.

• Evaluate innovative technological solutions to reduce noise, emissions 

and fuel burn from both subsonic and supersonic aircraft through 

ASCENT.

• Support the approval of novel jet fuel pathways within the American 

Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) International certification 

process via testing and coordination to ensure these fuels are safe for 

use.

• Support the inclusion of sustainable aviation fuels, created from waste 

and biomass feedstocks, and lower carbon aviation fuels, created from 

fossil feedstocks, within the International Civil Aviation Organization 

(ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International 

Aviation (CORSIA).

29
Federal Aviation

Administration

Environment & Energy R&D Portfolio – FY21

RE&D A.t: NextGen – Environmental Research –

Aircraft Technology and Fuels

Goals for FY 2021 Funding: 

• By 2022, develop lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions values and 

sustainability criteria for use in CORSIA. 

• By 2022, identify innovative solutions to reduce noise, emissions, 

and fuel burn through the university research of ASCENT. 

• Through 2025, continue activities within the third phase of CLEEN 

to demonstrate technologies that can reduce energy use, 

emissions, and noise for both subsonic and supersonic aircraft. 

• Through 2025, conduct testing to support the approval of at least 

one alternative jet fuel type per year and to streamline the ASTM 

certification process to reduce the time and cost of certification. 

• By 2025, assess the benefits of the technologies matured under 

the third phase of the CLEEN Program. 

30
Federal Aviation

Administration

Recent Trends in E&E R&D Portfolio Budget

31 * Budget Line Items: A13.a (FY18 & FY19), A12.a (FY20), A.T (FY21)

** Budget Line Items: A13.b (FY18 & FY19), A12.b (FY20), A.U (FY21)

*

**
Federal Aviation

Administration

Long Term Trends in E&E R&D Portfolio Budget

32 * Budget Line Items: A13.a (FY18 & FY19), A12.a (FY20), A.T (FY21)

** Budget Line Items: A13.b (FY18 & FY19), A12.b (FY20), A.U (FY21)

* **
Federal Aviation

Administration

Backup Slides

• Environment & Energy RE&D Budget Line 

Items 

• ASCENT Center of Excellence

33
Federal Aviation

Administration

FAA Centers of Excellence (COE)

For 16 years, FAA Office of Environment and Energy has relied on university centers 

of excellence to:

• Provide knowledge to inform decision making on environment and energy 

matters; 

• Enable the introduction of innovative solutions to cost-effectively mitigate the 

environmental impacts of aviation; and

• Support the instruction of hundreds of professionals with knowledge of the 

environmental challenges facing aviation.

Timeline:

• In 2004, FAA established PARTNER Center of Excellence

• In 2013, FAA established Center of Excellence for Alternative Jet Fuels and 

Environment, a.k.a. Aviation Sustainability Center or ASCENT, that continues 

work of PARTNER with expanded efforts on alternative jet fuels R&D

• In 2015, FAA sunsets PARTNER Center of Excellence, which had 48 projects 

(research efforts shifted to ASCENT)

• Have funded 77 ASCENT Projects. Stood up 30 new projects in the last year 

with an emphasis on innovation to reduce environmental impacts

34
Federal Aviation

Administration

Lead Universities:

Washington State University (WSU)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)*

Core Universities:

Boston University (BU)*

Georgia Institute of Technology (Ga Tech)*

Missouri University of Science and 

Technology (MS&T)*

Oregon State University (OSU)

Pennsylvania State University (PSU)*

Purdue University (PU)*

Stanford University (SU)*

University of Dayton (UD)

University of Hawaii (UH)

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)*

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)*

University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)*

University of Tennessee (UT)

University of Washington (UW)

* Indicates university was also a member of PARTNER COE

Advisory Committee - 57 organizations:

5 airports

4 airlines

9 NGO/advocacy

8 aviation manufacturers

10 feedstock/fuel manufacturers

21 R&D, service to aviation sector

ASCENT Center of Excellence (COE)

For more information: https://ascent.aero/

Multiple international partners

University Member

Industry Collaborator

Industry Stakeholder

UW

OSU

SU

UH

GA Tech

UNC

BU

PSU

UPenn

UIUC

PU UD

MS&T

UT

WSU

35
Federal Aviation

Administration

ASCENT / PARTNER Support

Federal Aviation Administration

NASA Transport

Canada

Environmental

Protection 

Agency

Defense Logistics 

Agency - Energy

ASCENT COE:

• In operation: 2013 to present

• $15M+ annual funding level

• $81.6M funding to date

PARTNER COE:

• In operation: 2004 to 2015

• $62.8M over 10 years

36

FAA COE research requires 100% 

cost share. This has led to 

significant collaboration among 

universities, industry, and 

international research programs

Air Force Research 

Laboratory

U.S. Dep’t of 

Agriculture

U.S. Dep’t 

of Energy
Federal Aviation

Administration

Report 1 Report 2 Report 3 Report 4 Report 5 Report 6

Time period 9/2013 –

9/2015

10/2015 –

9/2016

10/2016 –

9/2017

10/2017 –

9/2018

10/2018 –

9/2019

10/2019 –

9/2020

Research 

Projects

50 54 43 32 30 60

Publications,

Reports, and 

Presentations

137 119 110 179 166 125

Students

involved

131 112 105 116 236 186

Industry 

partners

63 70 72 72 76 57

ASCENT COE Details

* ASCENT Annual Tech Reports available for download at: 

https://ascent.aero/resources

37

ASCENT Research Portfolio

Portfolio covers broad range of topics on Alternative Jet Fuels, 

Emissions, Noise, Operations, and Analytical Tools

Over last few years have stood up many projects to advance 

aircraft technology innovation and supersonic flight

Projects listed by topic: https://ascent.aero/projects-by-topic/

ASCENT Leadership

- Mike Wolcott of WSU - Director 

- John Hansman of MIT - Co-Director

- Carol Sim of WSU - Assistant Director

ASCENT Annual Technical Report Summaries*
Federal Aviation

Administration

A Cross-Cutting Example: 

Aircraft Technology Innovation

https://ascent.aero/topic/Aircraft-Technology/

38

ASCENT’s aircraft technology innovation research advances 

the industry state-of-the-art and expands the technical knowledge base. 

ASCENT Aircraft Technology Innovation Projects

• 010- Aircraft Technology Modeling and Assessment

• 037 - CLEEN II System Level Assessment

• 047 - Clean Sheet Supersonic Aircraft Engine Design and Performance

• 050 (NEW) - Over-Wing Engine Placement Evaluation

• 051 (NEW) - Combustion concepts for next-generation aircraft engines to reduce fuel burn and emissions

• 052 (NEW) - Comparative Assessment of Electrification Strategies for Aviation

• 055 (NEW) - Noise Generation and Propagation from Advanced Combustors

• 056 (NEW) - Turbine Cooling Through Additive Manufacturing

• 059 (NEW) - Jet Noise Modeling to Support Low Noise Supersonic Aircraft Technology Development

• 063 (NEW) - Parametric Noise Modeling For Boundary Layer Ingesting Propulsors

• 064 (NEW) - Alternative Design Configurations to Meet Future Demand

• 066 (NEW) - Evaluation of High Thermal Stability Fuels

• 067 (NEW) - Impact of Fuel Heating on Combustion and Emissions

• 068 (NEW) - Combustor Wall Cooling Concepts for Dirt Mitigation

• 070 (NEW) - Reduction of nvPM emissions via innovation in aero-engine fuel injector design

• 071 (NEW) - Predictive Simulation of Soot Emission in Aircraft combustors

• 074 (NEW) - Low Emissions Pre-Mixed Combustion Technology for Supersonic Civil Transport 

• 075 (NEW) - Improved Engine Fan Broadband Noise Prediction Capabilities

• 076 (NEW) - Improved Open Rotor Noise Prediction Capabilities

• 077 (NEW) - Measurements to Support Noise Certification for UAS/UAM Vehicles and Identify Noise Reduction 

Opportunities
Federal Aviation

Administration

ASCENT Alternative Jet Fuels Research Portfolio

https://ascent.aero/topic/alternative-fuels/

Alternative jet fuels have the potential to provide benefits to the aviation 

industry in terms of energy security and reduction in greenhouse gases. 

Their production can support rural economic growth and job creation 

through the development of economically valuable feedstocks and fuel 

processing facilities.

ASCENT Alternative Jet Fuels Projects

• 001 - Alternative Jet Fuel Supply Chain Analysis 

• 025-030 & 034 - National Jet Fuel Combustion Program 

• 031 - Alternative Jet Fuels Test and Evaluation

• 032 (COMPLETE) - Worldwide LCA of GHG Emissions from Petroleum Jet Fuel

• 033 - Alternative Fuels Test Database Library

• 052 (NEW) - Comparative Assessment of Electrification Strategies for Aviation

• 065 (NEW) - Fuel Testing Approaches for Rapid Jet Fuel Prescreening

• 066 (NEW) - Evaluation of High Thermal Stability Fuels

• 067 (NEW) - Impact of Fuel Heating on Combustion and Emissions

• 073 (NEW) - Combustor Durability with Alternative Fuel Use

39
Federal Aviation

Administration

ASCENT Emissions Research Portfolio

https://ascent.aero/topic/emissions/

Demand for air transportation, both for passenger and cargo service, has been increasing and airports are expanding 

to accommodate it. This growth is accompanied by an increase of emissions from aircraft, ground services 

equipment and vehicle traffic on and near airports. All this activity impacts the local air quality around airports and 

human health.

ASCENT Emissions Projects

• 002 - Ambient Conditions Corrections for Non-Volatile PM Emissions Measurements

• 013 (COMPLETE) - Micro-Physical Modeling & Analysis of ACCESS 2 Aviation Exhaust Observations

• 014 (COMPLETE) - Analysis to Support the Development of an Aircraft CO2 Standard

• 018 - Community Measurement of Aviation Emission Contribution of Ambient Air Quality

• 019 - Development of Improved Aviation Emissions Dispersion Capabilities for AEDT

• 020 (COMPLETE) - Development of NAS wide and Global Rapid Aviation Air Quality

• 021 (COMPLETE) - Improving Climate Policy Analysis Tools

• 024 (COMPLETE) - Emissions Data Analysis for CLEEN, ACCESS, and Other Recent Tests

• 022 - Evaluation of FAA Climate Tools

• 039 - Naphthalene Removal Assessment

• 047 - Clean Sheet Supersonic Aircraft Engine Design and Performance

• 048 - Analysis to Support the Development of an Engine nvPM Emissions Standard

• 051 (NEW) - Combustion concepts for next-generation aircraft engines to reduce fuel burn and emissions

• 052 (NEW) - Comparative Assessment of Electrification Strategies for Aviation

• 058 (NEW) - Improving Policy Analysis Tools to Evaluate Aircraft Operations in the Stratosphere

• 064 (NEW) - Alternative Design Configurations to Meet Future Demand

• 067 (NEW) - Impact of Fuel Heating on Combustion and Emissions

• 068 (NEW) - Combustor Wall Cooling Concepts for Dirt Mitigation

• 069 (NEW) - Transitioning a research nvPM mass calibration procedure to operations

• 070 (NEW) - Reduction of nvPM emissions via innovation in aero-engine fuel injector design

• 071 (NEW) - Predictive Simulation of Soot Emission in Aircraft combustors

• 074 (NEW) - Low Emissions Pre-Mixed Combustion Technology for Supersonic Civil Transport 

40
Federal Aviation

Administration

ASCENT Noise Research Portfolio

https://ascent.aero/topic/noise/

The growth in demand for passenger and cargo air transportation has pushed operators to increase the number and frequency of their 

scheduled flights. The expansion in operations and the changes to the airspace aimed at accommodating it have resulted in renewed 

public concern.

ASCENT Noise Projects

• 003 - Cardiovascular Disease and Aircraft Noise Exposure

• 004 (COMPLETE) - Estimate of Noise Level Reduction

• 005 (COMPLETE) - Noise Emission and Propagation Modeling

• 007 (COMPLETE) - Civil, Supersonic Over Flight, Sonic Boom (Noise) Standards Development

• 008 - Noise Outreach

• 009 (NEW) - Geospatially driven noise estimation module

• 017 - Pilot Study on Aircraft Noise and Sleep Disturbance

• 038 – Rotorcraft Noise Abatement Procedures Development

• 040 (COMPLETE) – Quantifying Uncertainties in Predicting Noise in Real-world Situations

• 041 - Identification of Noise Acceptance Onset for Noise Certification Standards of Supersonic Airplanes

• 042 - Acoustical Model of Mach Cut-off

• 043 – Noise Power Distance Re-Evaluation

• 044 - Aircraft Noise Abatement Procedure Modeling and Validation

• 049 (NEW) - Urban Air Mobility Noise Reduction Modeling

• 050 (NEW) - Over-Wing Engine Placement Evaluation

• 053 (NEW) - Validation of Low-Exposure Noise Modeling by Open-Source Data Mgmt and Visualization Systems Integrated w/ AEDT

• 055 (NEW) - Noise Generation and Propagation from Advanced Combustors

• 057 (NEW) - Support for Supersonic Aircraft Noise Efforts in ICAO CAEP

• 059 (NEW) - Jet Noise Modeling to Support Low Noise Supersonic Aircraft Technology Development

• 061 (NEW) - Noise Certification Streamlining

• 062 (NEW) - Noise Model Validation for AEDT

• 063 (NEW) - Parametric Noise Modeling For Boundary Layer Ingesting Propulsors

• 072 (NEW) - Aircraft noise exposure and market outcomes in the US

• 075 (NEW) - Improved Engine Fan Broadband Noise Prediction Capabilities

• 076 (NEW) - Improved Open Rotor Noise Prediction Capabilities

• 077 (NEW) - Measurements to Support Noise Certification for UAS/UAM Vehicles and Identify Noise Reduction Opportunities

41
Federal Aviation

Administration

ASCENT Operations Research Portfolio

https://ascent.aero/topic/operations/

Aviation operations at an airport can affect local communities in ways that are 

dependent on how and where aircraft are flown. Aviation operations can be 

optimized to reduce the amount of noise and emissions generated by these 

operations while still maintaining the efficiency of the airport system.

ASCENT Operations Projects

• 006 (COMPLETE) - Rotorcraft Noise Abatement Operating Conditions Modeling

• 015 (COMPLETE) - Cruise Altitude and Speed Optimization

• 016 (COMPLETE) - Airport Surface Movement Optimization

• 023 - Analytical Approach for Quantifying Noise from Advanced Operational Procedures

• 038 - Rotorcraft Noise Abatement Procedures Development

• 044 - Aircraft Noise Abatement Procedure Modeling and Validation

• 053 (NEW) - Validation of Low-Exposure Noise Modeling by Open-Source Data 

Management and Visualization Systems Integrated with AEDT

42
Federal Aviation

Administration

ASCENT Tools Research Portfolio

https://ascent.aero/topic/tools/

The aviation system operation involves the complex interactions between many different 

components and understanding how to optimize its activities requires advanced modeling tools. 

The FAA suite of tools has been developed to provide the ability to characterize and quantify 

the interdependences of aviation-related noise and emissions, impacts on health and welfare, 

and industry and consumer costs under different policy, technology, operational and market 

scenarios.

ASCENT Tools Projects

• 009 (NEW) - Geospatially driven noise estimation module

• 010 - Aircraft Technology Modeling and Assessment

• 011 (COMPLETE) - Rapid Fleet-wide Environmental Assessment Capability

• 012 (COMPLETE) - Aircraft Design and Performance Assessment Tool Enhancement

• 035 (COMPLETE) - Airline Flight Data Examination to Improve flight Performance Modeling

• 036 (COMPLETE) - Parametric Uncertainty Assessment for AEDT2b

• 037 - CLEEN II System Level Assessment

• 040 (COMPLETE) - Quantifying Uncertainties in Predicting Aircraft Noise in Real-world Situations

• 043 - Noise Power Distance Re-Evaluation (NPD+C) to Include Airframe Noise in AEDT

• 045 - Takeoff/Climb Analysis to Support AEDT APM Development

• 046 - Surface Analysis to support AEDT APM Development

• 049 (NEW) - Urban Air Mobility Noise Reduction Modeling

• 053 (NEW) - Validation of low exposure noise modeling by open source data management and visualization systems integrated with 

AEDT

• 054 (NEW) - AEDT Evaluation and Development Support

• 058 (NEW) - Improving Policy Analysis Tools to Evaluate Aircraft Operations in the Stratosphere

• 060 (NEW) - Analytical Methods for Expanding the AEDT Aircraft Fleet Database

• 062 (NEW) - Noise Model Validation for AEDT

• 064 (NEW) - Alternative Design Configurations to meet Future Demand

43
Federal Aviation

Administration

A Cross-Cutting Research Example:

Supersonic Civil Aircraft 

https://ascent.aero/topic/supersonics/

Multiple ASCENT Projects support technology 

analysis for ICAO/CAEP rulemaking activity 

and development of new technologies for the

next generation of supersonic aircraft.

ASCENT Supersonics Related Projects

• 007 (COMPLETE) - Civil, Supersonic Over Flight, Sonic Boom (Noise) Standards Development

• 010- Aircraft Technology Modeling and Assessment

• 022 - Evaluation of FAA Climate Tools

• 041 - Identification of Noise Acceptance Onset for Noise Certification Standards of Supersonic Airplanes

• 042 - Acoustical Model of Mach Cut-off

• 047 - Clean Sheet Supersonic Aircraft Engine Design and Performance

• 057 (NEW) - Support for Supersonic Aircraft Noise Efforts in ICAO CAEP

• 058 (NEW) - Improving Policy Analysis Tools to Evaluate Aircraft Operations in the Stratosphere

• 059 (NEW) - Jet Noise Modeling to Support Low Noise Supersonic Aircraft Technology Development

• 074 (NEW) - Low Emissions Pre-Mixed Combustion Technology for Supersonic Civil Transport 

44

NASA STCA Concept