1

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Research, Engineering, and Development Advisory Committee (REDAC) 

Subcommittee on Aircraft Safety (SAS)

William J. Hughes Technical Center

Atlantic City International Airport

Atlantic City, NJ 08405

March 24-25, 2015

Meeting Minutes
Spring 2015 SAS Minutes

2 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

3

4 Research, Engineering, and Development Advisory Committee (REDAC) 

5 Subcommittee on Aircraft Safety (SAS)

6

7 William J. Hughes Technical Center

8 Atlantic City International Airport

9 Atlantic City, NJ 08405

10

11 March 24-25, 2015

12

13 Meeting Minutes

14

15 SAS Chair: Ken Hylander, Chair – Flight Safety Foundation

16

17 Designated Federal Official (DFO): Eric Neiderman, FAA, Manager, Aviation Research 

18 Division

19

20

21 Day 1 – March 24, 2015

A 22 1 Welcome/Opening Comments/Agenda Review

23 Ken Hylander called the meeting to order at 8:44AM and welcomed the SAS members, FAA 

24 participants, and all others in attendance or on the phone. Ken initiated an introduction of those 

25 present in the room and on the phone. Eric Neiderman added his welcome to the group.

26

27 Ken commented that this meeting presented an opportunity to maintain continuity from the last 

28 meeting (Fall 2014) by striking a balance between the emerging issues identified by the SAS and 

29 the individual requirements proposed for FY17.

30

31 Eric distributed a one page document that identified the two key questions for this meeting:

32 • What are the recommendations and impacts for the FY17 aviation safety portfolio?

33 • What are the long-term considerations?

34 o Do we have the right building blocks?

35

36 Dennis Filler, Director, William J. Hughes Technical Center, agreed with the need to maintain 

37 continuity with the last meeting. He addressed the importance of integrating SAS output across 

38 the entire FAA RE&D appropriation portfolio. This is especially important in a system-of39 systems context. 

40

41

1 Letter designations represent location of presentation material in the binders distributed at the meeting. 

2

 
Spring 2015 SAS Minutes

42 B Budget Update

43 Presenter: Mike Gallivan (FAA)

44

45 Mike presented REDAC Aircraft Safety Subcommittee R&D Budget Status. Mike’s presentation 

46 included information about the enacted FY15 RE&D budget and the FY16 RE&D budget 

47 request. He added that sequestration is still the law. The FAA presented the FY16 budget to 

48 Congress on time (2-2-15) and we expect Congressional mark-ups by this summer.

49

50 The out-year budget targets from FY17 through FY21 are set but expected to change. Mike 

51 added that the target is broken into three components: personnel compensation and benefits

52 (PC&B), travel, and contracts. He concluded by mentioned that the FAA has started work on its 

53 proposed reauthorization bill. The current authorization runs through FY15.

54

55 Mark Orr (FAA) explained that the FY17 Aircraft Safety portfolio being presented at this 

56 meeting used the total FY17 Target figures shown as a starting point. The projected PC&B and 

57 travel are deducted from the target yielding an amount available for contracts. The AVS process 

58 programs budget to the prioritized requirements based on the cost estimates submitted by the 

59 performers until the expected contract dollars are used up. This becomes the Mendoza line.

60

61 C Strategic Input from Fall 2014

62 Presenter: Ken Hylander (SAS – Chair)

63

64 Ken presented Subcommittee for Aviation Safety – Going Forward. Ken referred back to the 

65 special tasking from the FAA in the fall of 2014 to focus on emerging issues and future safety 

66 themes. On slide 4 (SAS Meeting Summary), he presented the list of emerging issues and future 

67 issues for consideration. He added that there were no specific Finding & Recommendations.

68

69 On slide 11 (Follow Up Meeting with AVS Leadership), Ken presented his thoughts about the 

70 integration of SAS emerging issues with AVS research portfolio and AVS feedback. Ken stated 

71 that in his discussions with Peggy Gilligan, she acknowledged there is value in considering the 

72 emerging issues while recognizing the real-time horizon needs within AVS.

73

74 The balance of the presentation spoke to methods of connecting the SAS emerging issues to the 

75 AVS research requirements embedded in the Budget Line Items (BLIs) that build the R&D 

76 budget portfolio. Mark Orr’s presentation will expand on this topic.

77

78 D Budget Line Item Mapping

79 Presenter: Eric Neiderman (SAS – DFO)

80

81 Eric presented FY17 Aviation Safety Portfolio Budget Line Item Mapping. The BLI maps on 

82 slides 5 through 8 show the relationship between the Technical Community Representative 

83 Group (TCRGs) that identify AVS research needs, the expression of those needs as research 

84 requirements, and the capability groupings (BLIs) that plan and conduct the research. The BLIs 

85 are made of people, laboratories, partnerships, and fiscal resources.

86

3
Spring 2015 SAS Minutes

87 Eric made reference to the nickname for this mapping, the Rosetta Stone, and the idea that it 

88 could be useful concept when mapping SAS emerging issues to AVS research needs to future 

89 research capabilities. 

90

91 E Improving Aviation Safety FY17 BLI Portfolio

92 Presenter: Mark Orr (FAA).

93

94 Mark presented FY17 Aviation Safety Portfolio – BLI View. Mark’s presentation included two 

95 separate sections: mapping FY17 requirements to SAS emerging issues; and a complete list of 

96 the proposed AVS requirements for FY17. 

97

98 The results of the AVS R&D team effort to map FY17 requirements supporting SAS issues to 

99 BLIs is shown on slide 4. Slides 5 through 15 provide greater detail of this mapping, including 

100 research milestones (shown in red) and implementation milestones (shown in blue). Unfunded 

101 requirements are shown on slides 9 through 11.

102

103 The SAS discussed the best way to review and interpret this information, is it the right tool, or 

104 how best to extract value from this mapping. The SAS reached consensus that the emerging 

105 issues need better definition and that the FAA should consider the use of research roadmaps with 

both strategic and operational features. 2 106

107

108 The second section, the proposed FY17 requirements, was distributed to SAS in advance of the 

109 meeting. SAS members provided commentary on this information via emails prior to the 

110 meeting. Pages 3 and 4 of the Agenda identify SAS member comments and FAA approach for 

111 reviewing these comments and providing a response.

112

113 Kathy Abbott (FAA - on phone) discussed the status of an open Finding and Recommendation:

114 SAS Fall_2013-3 Alignment of Human Factors Research. She explained that there is an on115 going coordination process across other research programs and that the HF TCRG is distributed 

116 across Flight Standards and actually embedded in the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) program. 

The SAS members asked for a list of other distributed HF specialists across AVS.3 117

118

119 At the conclusion of the review of FY17 requirements, SAS members toured the NextGen 

120 Integration and Evaluation Capability (NIEC) and Network Operations Center.

121

122 F Fatigue Structures and Materials

123 Presenter: Mike Gorelik (FAA)

124

125 Mike presented Emerging Technologies and Risk Mitigation – Additive Manufacturing. Mike 

126 discussed the emerging technology considerations of additive manufacturing (AM) related to 

127 aviation safety. This includes business drivers, technology transition, and the evolution of 

128 criticality of AM parts. Slide 19 identified the top five challenges. He also informed the SAS 

2 See Appendix III for associated Finding and Recommendation.

3 This information (FY17 Portfolio HF Connected Requirements) was provided to the SAS during discussions about 

open F&R SAS Spring_2013-24: Flight Deck/Maintenance/System Integration Human Factors and NextGen Human 

Factors.

4

 
Spring 2015 SAS Minutes

129 that the FAA is forming an AM Steering Group with an initial focus on developing an Agency 

AM roadmap.4 130 

131

132 A second section of Mike’s presentation focused on the state-of-the-industry: original equipment 

133 manufacturers (OEMs) and government agencies (Air Force, NASA, NIST).

134

135

136 Ken Hylander assigned homework to individual SAS members on three topics: research

roadmaps, embedded experts for human factors research5 137 , and an additive manufacturing 

138 roadmap. There was also a request from the SAS to provide the proposed research requirements 

and Quad Charts earlier in the process for SAS review.6 139

140

141 Meeting adjourned at 5:25 PM.

142 ______________________________________________________________________________

143 Day 2 – March 25, 2015

144

145 Ken Hylander convened the meeting at 8:30 AM and began with a review of the homework 

146 assignments. The result of these discussions and subsequent dialogue yielded a set of Findings 

147 and Recommendations that the SAS will forward as part of their report to the full REDAC 

148 committee.

149

150 The SAS members received a copy of the AVS Strategic Guidance for Development of the FY 

151 2017 Research, Engineering, and Development (RE&D) Safety Requirements Portfolio. 

152

153 G COE Overview

154 Presenter: Pat Watts (FAA)

155

156 Pat presented FAA Air Transportation Center of Excellence. The presentation covered the 

157 legislative authority, selection criteria, and geographic distribution of Centers of Excellence 

158 (COE). The universities cost match, dollar for dollar, all research grant awards. This long-term 

159 collaborative commitment between the FAA and the COEs provides a valuable benefit to 

160 aviation research. Pat also discussed the status of current COEs and the pending COE for UAS.

161

162 H UAS R&D Overview

163 Presenters: Chris Swider (FAA on phone) and Claude Jones (FAA)

164

165 Chris presented REDAC SAS Spring 2015 Review - Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Research 

166 Planning. Chris framed his presentation around the following elements: a) resource changes, b) 

167 integrated plans, c) research priorities, and d) partnerships. 

168

169 a) The FY15 Appropriation from Congress included $2M to accelerate key research areas and 

170 $4M towards research at the pending UAS COE. 

4 See Appendix III for associated Finding & Recommendation.

5 This is related to an open Finding and Recommendation SAS Fall_2014-3 Alignment of Human Factors Research. 6 See Action Item 5 in Appendix IV.

5

 
Spring 2015 SAS Minutes

171 b) FAA-wide coordinated planning is underway. The goal is a working level integration plan 

172 that supports near- and mid-term needs. 

173 c) Efforts are underway to get useful research results from the UAS test sites. Sensor fusion 

174 research is focused on standards development supporting RTCA SC-228 developments. 

175 Emerging priorities include the impact of the small UAS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. 

176 FAA/ATO developed a multi-year UAS-L2 integration timeline.

177 d) Internal partners include – ATO, ANG, ARP, and AEE. External partners include MITRE, 

178 MIT Lincoln Labs, DoD, NASA, and DHS. Partnerships also extend the six UAS test sites, 

179 academia, industry, and international (through Action Plan 24). Slides 26 through 30 expand 

180 on the nature of these research partnership linkages.

181

182 Claude Jones presented UAS R&D Update. Claude focused on FY15 research activities and the 

183 research requirements for FY16. He provided greater detail on multi-sensor surveillance data 

184 fusion strategies and UAS system safety criteria. 

185

186 This presentation addressed an open REDAC Observation to the Administrator from October 2, 

187 2013, and an open Finding and Recommendation, SAS Spring 2014-2, on the UAS Roadmap 

188 and UAS R&D Strategy, respectively. In subsequent discussions, the SAS closed out the F&R

and elected to establish an Action Item7 189 for the next SAS meeting to provide a UAS presentation 

190 with a focus on Pathfinder implications. REDAC has the action to address the open Observation. 

191

192

193 I Unleaded AvGas

194 Presenter: Dave Atwood (FAA)

195

196 Dave presented NextGen Alternative Fuels for General Aviation - REDAC Subcommittee on 

197 Aviation Safety (SAS) - Spring 2015 Meeting. Dave framed his presentation around a visual on 

198 slide 2 that described a Path to Unleaded Avgas. In 2010, a general aviation coalition asked the 

199 FAA to take a leadership role to form a public-private partnership. The result was the Piston 

200 Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI) with a mission to “facilitate development and deployment of an 

201 unleaded AVGAS with the least impact on the existing piston-engine aircraft fleet.” He 

202 discussed the PAFI process in great detail and the status of testing to date at the William J. 

203 Hughes Technical Center. 

204

205 The tour of the fuels lab was cancelled due to time constraints.

206

207

208 J High Performance Computing, Big Data, ASIAS

209 Presenter: Charles (Cliff) Johnson (FAA)

210

211 Cliff presented: High Performance Computing, Big Data, & ASIAS - An Overview of 

212 NextGen Shared Services (NSS) within the NextGen Prototyping Network (NPN). Cliff 

213 explained the generic nature of big data and its relationship to safety assurance with the aviation 

214 industry. More specifically, he described the role that the William J. Hughes Technical Center 

7 See Appendix IV for list of open and new Action Items.

6

 
Spring 2015 SAS Minutes

215 can fill by providing high performance computing, secure storage and data access mechanisms, 

216 and analytical tools. Slides through 18 through 28 addressed specific resources and activities 

217 now active at the FAA Technical Center.

218

219 The SAS commented on slide 26 Big Data & ASIAS – Rotorcraft Research, as a good example 

220 of solving a current problem with a long-term beneficial approach. The SAS also observed that 

221 this work seems to meet several emerging issues identified previously by the SAS. Though not 

222 yet real-time, this provides a backbone or an essential step-one to addressing emerging issues.

223

224

225 Wrap Up

226

227 The SAS then revisited open F&R SAS Spring_2013-24: Flight Deck/Maintenance/System 

228 Integration Human Factors and NextGen Human Factors. Michele Yeh (FAA) presented 

229 information, FY17 Portfolio HF Connected Requirements, which showed the distribution of 

230 AVS sponsors across numerous TCRGs and requirements. The SAS agreed to close the F&R 

and prepare a new Finding8 231 .

232

233 John Lapointe addressed open Action Item #7. The SAS accepted the new information but 

234 deferred closing this Action Item until Joe Del Balzo, author of the Action Item and previous 

235 SAS Chair, had an opportunity to review the material.

236

237 The SAS also decided to keep Action Item #8 open but asked John Cavolowsky to address this 

238 matter at the next SAS meeting.

239

240 Randy Bass (FAA) addressed open F&R SAS Spring_2014-1: Weather and Decision-making. 

241 He presented REDAC Subcommittee on Aircraft Safety (SAS) Open Recommendation -

242 Understanding Probabilistic Weather Information. This presentation was prepared for the FAA 

243 2014 SAS meeting. The SAS concurred that this presentation successfully closed out the F&R. 

244

245 The SAS briefly discussed significant lessons-learned from the meeting. They agreed that the 

246 ability to review and comment on the requirement Quad charts prior to the meeting is beneficial.

247

248 Next SAS meeting is scheduled for September 9 and 10, 2015, at the William J. Hughes

249 Technical Center.

250

8 See Appendices III and IV for new Findings and Recommendations and status of old and new Action Items.

7

 
Spring 2015 SAS Minutes

251 Appendices

252

253 Appendix I: Agenda

254

255 Appendix II: Attendance

256

257 Appendix III: Findings and Recommendations

258

259 Appendix IV: Action Items

260

8
Spring 2015 SAS Minutes

261 Appendix I: 262

263 AGENDA

264 FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION

265 REDAC Subcommittee on Aircraft Safety (SAS)

266 William J. Hughes Technical Center

267 March 24-25

268 Director’s Conference Room

269 Dial in Access: (609) 916-1975, passcode 257511

270 Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Time Agenda Speaker

8:30 – 8:50 Welcome/Opening comments

• Introductions (all)

• Opening remarks/comments (Chair & DFO)

Kenneth Hylander (Chair)

Eric Neiderman (SAS DFO)

8:50 – 9:00 Welcome Dennis Filler (REDAC DFO & 

WJHTC Director)

9:00 – 9:15 Budget Update Mike Gallivan

9:15 – 9:45 Strategic Input from Fall 2014 Kenneth Hylander

9:45 – 10:15 Budget Line Item (BLI) Mapping Eric Neiderman 

10:15 – 10:30 Break

10:30 – 11:15 Improving Aviation Safety FY17 Budget Line Item 

(BLI) Portfolio

Mark Orr

11:15 – 12:15 Review of FY17 Quad Charts – Session 1

See Page 2 for Review Topics

All

12:15 – 1:15 Lunch Cafeteria

1:15 – 2:15 Review of FY17 Quad Charts – Session 2

See Page 3 for Review Topics

All

2:15 – 3:15 NextGen Integration and Evaluation Capability 

(NIEC) & Network Operations Center Tour

Hilda DiMeo

3:15 – 3:30 Break

3:30 – 4:30 Fatigue Structures & Materials Mike Gorelik

4:30 – 5:30 Discussion/Summary/Homework/Actions Kenneth Hylander/

Eric Neiderman

6:30 Group Dinner: Touch of Italy, 6629 Black Horse 

Pike, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234 (609) 646-1855

271

9
Spring 2015 SAS Minutes

272 Review of FY17 Quad Charts – Session 1

Time SAS Member Comment Who is Needed? What to Present

11:15-

12:15

KH: System Safety Management 

(A11G.HF.10, A11H.SSM.9, 

A11H.SSM.11, A11H.SSM.13) - Large 

budget driver and strong (I think) 

connection to the Real Time System 

Safety SAS emerging issue. We should 

explore this further.

A11.HF.10

Dr. Bill Johnson (CSTA) 

Dr. Don Arendt (Sponsor 

POC)

A11H.SSM.9 

Mark Liptak (Sponsor POC)

Cliff Johnson (Research 

Provider)

A11H.SSM.11 & 

A11H.SSM.13 

Dr. Julia Pounds (Sponsor 

POC)

Vasu Kolli and Huasheng Li 

(Research Providers)

Dan Brock

Danko Kramar

Frank Wondolowski

(RED Group Members)

Discuss 

research

Discuss 

connection to 

emerging issue

KH: Rotorcraft FDM Data Gathering 

and Analysis for ASIAS (A11H.SSM.9) -

not sure I understand how this is 

research related. I have no debate that 

this work should be done but don’t we 

know how to do this already through the 

many FDM and ASIAS efforts in place in 

industry? Seems more like an operating 

budget requirement vs. research 

requirement unless I am missing 

something.

Mark Liptak (Sponsor POC)

Cliff Johnson (Research 

Provider)

Danko Kramar (RED Group 

Member)

Discuss 

research vs. ops

KH: Onboard Network Systems 

(A11D.SDS.1, A11D.SDS.4) - Seems to 

fit nicely with the SAS emerging issue 

of “Dependability of Increasingly 

Complex Systems” item.

Barbara Lingberg (Sponsor 

POC)

Alanna Randazzo (Research 

Provider)

Michelle Yeh

(RED Group Member)

Discuss 

alignment to 

emerging issue. 

KH: Fire Safety - Large budget driver 

and NOT something that we identified as 

a SAS priority or emerging issue. Did 

we miss something last Fall?

A11A.FCS.1 

Steve Edgar (Sponsor POC)

Gus Sarkos (Research 

Provider)

Michelle Yeh

(RED Group Member)

Show tasking 

and their 

alignment to 

emerging issues

10
Spring 2015 SAS Minutes

DS/Boeing: the only question we have 

ahead of the actual meeting is in 

reference to the Flutter Suppression 

R&D. We would like to know where this 

subject stands in FAA priorities, and 

what particular research is planned to be 

accomplished in the next three years.

Ian Won (Sponsor POC)

David Westlund (Research 

Provider)

Michelle Yeh (Red Group)

Tasking and 

timeline

273

274 Review of FY17 Quad Charts – Session 2

275

276

1:15-

2:15

KH: Advanced Materials and Structural 

Safety – See my first comment about 

overlapping research and I’d like to 

understand the AVS Composite Plan that is 

referenced in many of the Quad charts.

Larry Ilcewicz/Rusty 

Jones (AVS Composites 

Plan)

A11E.MI.1 

/A11E.SIM.5 

Ian Won (Sponsor POC)

Curtis Davies (Research 

Provider)

Dan Brock

Michelle Yeh 

(RED Group Members)

Composites plan 

one pager

Discuss research 

overlap-industry

CK: There seems to be areas of overlap that 

could be explored to accelerate and / or 

streamline research. The mapping above 

might help identify these areas of 

overlap. For example:

o Vision systems for helicopters 

A11H.TAS.5 versus Advanced 

Vision Systems A11G.HF.4

o Mitigating Ice Crystal Threat 

A11K.WX.3 versus Research 

on Ice Crystal and 

SLDA11D.AI.1

A11H.TAS.5 

Mike Webb (Sponsor 

POC)

Cliff Johnson and

Dr. Andrew Cheng 

(Research Providers)

A11G.HF.4 

Terry King (Sponsor 

POC)

A11K.WX.3 & 

A11D.AI.1 

John Fisher (Sponsor 

POC)

Dan Brock

Michelle Yeh 

(RED Group Members)

Discuss research, 

point out 

differences

277

278 Director’s Conference Room

11
Spring 2015 SAS Minutes

279 Dial in Access: (609) 916-1975, passcode 257511

280

281 Wednesday, March 25, 2015

282

8:30 – 9:00 Review of Homework Assignments from Previous Day –

Findings and Recommendations Discussions

All

9:00 – 9:15 Opening Remarks – FAA Aircraft Safety R&D

Action Items & Recommendations

Eric Neiderman

9:15 – 9:45 COE Overview Pat Watts

9:45 – 10:00 Break All

10:00 – 11:30 UAS R&D Portfolio Claude Jones

Sabrina Saunders-Hodge

11:30 – 12:30 Lunch Cafeteria 

12:30 – 1:30 Unleaded AvGas (NextGen BLI) Dave Atwood

1:30 – 1:45 Travel to Building 292 for Tour

1:45 – 2:45 Unleaded AvGas Tour Dave Atwood

2:45 – 3:00 Break

3:00 – 4:00 High Performance Computing, Big Data, ASIAS Charles (Cliff) Johnson

4:00 – 5:00 Wrap up All

SAS Fall Actions & Recommendation Review Kenneth Hylander/

Eric Neiderman

SAS Feedback/Future Planning Kenneth Hylander

283

284

12
Spring 2015 SAS Minutes

285

286 WebEx Directions

287 SAS FALL Meeting 

288 Date: March 24-25, 2015

289

290

SAS Spring 2015

Tuesday & Wednesday

8:00 am | Eastern Daylight Time

Join WebEx meeting

Meeting number: 397 881 

708 

Meeting 

password: spring

Add this meeting to your calendar.

Can't join the meeting? Contact support.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that this WebEx service allows audio and other information 

sent during the session to be recorded, which may be discoverable in a legal matter. By joining 

this session, you automatically consent to such recordings. If you do not consent to being 

recorded, discuss your concerns with the host or do not join the session.

294

13
Spring 2015 SAS Minutes

295 Appendix II

296

297 Attendance

298

299 Kathy Abbott

300 Allan Abramowitz

301 Chuck Agava

302 Dave Atwood

303 Katrina Avers

304 John Bakuckas

305 Randy Bass

306 Daniel Brock

307 Jimmy Bruno

308 Angela Campbell

309 John Cavolowsky (SAS)

310 Andrew Cheng

311 John Crowley (SAS)

312 Curtis Davies

313 Walter Desrosier (SAS)

314 Stephanie DiVito

315 Steve Edgar

316 Hossein Eghbali

317 Bill Emmerling

318 Jorge Fernandez

319 Jamie Figueroa

320 Dennis Filler

321 Mike Gallivan 

322 Michael Gorelik

323 Tony Gurcsik

324 John Hensyl

325 Mark Hesselton

326 Michel Hovan

327 Ken Hylander (SAS Chair)

328 Cliff Johnson

329 Claude Jones

330 Rusty Jones

331 Chuck Kilgore

332 Ryan King

333 Chris Kmetz (SAS)

334 James Knight

335 Ken Knopp

336 Danko Kramar

337 Andrew Lacher (SAS)

338 John Lapointe

339 Xiaogong Lee

340 Jim Mangie (SAS)

341 Michael McNeil

342 Mark Mutchler

343 Eric Neiderman (FAA DFO)

344 Kerin Olsen

345 Mark Orr

346 Maria Paine

347 Steve Ramdeen

348 Alanna Randazzo

349 Jim Riley

350 Manny Rios

351 Chinita Roundtree-Coleman

352 Rachel Seely

353 Chris Seher

354 Mark Slimko

355 Peter Sparacino

356 Fred Synder

357 Paul Tan

358 Isidore Venetos

359 Pat Watts

360 Ed Weinstein

361 Jim White

362 John White (SAS)

363 Frank Wondolowski

364 Michelle Yeh

365 Dres Zellweger

366

367

368

369

370

371

14
Spring 2015 SAS Minutes

372 Appendix III

373

374 Findings & Recommendations

375

376 Previous

377

378 SAS Spring_2013_24: Flight Deck/Maintenance/System Integration Human Factors and 

379 NextGen Human Factors 

380 Recommendation: The Subcommittee recommends that, for funding and functional purposes, 

381 AFS and AVS explore the possibility of closely aligning human factors research requirements 

382 with the other research areas they support, even though those issues fall outside of the traditional 

383 human factors portfolio. For instance, research on artificial vision and the complexity of 

384 instrument approaches both support increasing airspace capacity, which is a NextGen issue. 

385 Additionally, the Subcommittee recommends that more support and priority be given to human 

386 factors research that supports significant new or revised regulation.

387

388 FAA Response: Michele Yeh (FAA) presented information, FY17 Portfolio HF Connected 

389 Requirements, which showed the distribution of AVS sponsors across numerous TCRGs and 

390 requirements. The SAS agreed to close the F&R and prepare a new Finding. CLOSED

391

392 SAS Fall_2013_3: Alignment of Human Factors Research 

393 Recommendation: The Subcommittee recommends that, for funding and functional purposes, 

394 FAA explore the possibility of closely aligning human factors research requirements with the 

395 other research areas they support, even though those issues might fall outside the traditional 

396 human factors portfolio.

397

398 FAA Response: Kathy Abbott (FAA) discussed the alignment of human factors research. 

399 Kathy explained that there is an on-going coordination process across other research programs 

400 and that the HF TCRG is distributed across Flight Standards and actually embedded in the 

401 unmanned aircraft system (UAS) program. CLOSED

402

403 SAS Spring_2014-1: Weather and Decision-making

404 Recommendation: There is a significant body of knowledge about how people deal with 

405 probabilistic information for decision making in situations involving risk. It is recommended that 

406 the Weather program get sufficient understanding, using such information where appropriate, to 

407 help them design weather forecast displays, decisions support tools, and associated training that 

408 make use of probabilistic weather information. 

409

410 FAA Response: Randy Bass (FAA) addressed weather and decision-making with a presentation 

411 to the SAS: Understanding Probabilistic Weather Information. This presentation was prepared 

412 for delivery at the FAA 2014 SAS meeting but was postponed to Spring 2015. The SAS 

413 concurred that this presentation successfully closed out the F&R. CLOSED

414

415 SAS Spring_2014-2: UAS R&D Strategy

15
Spring 2015 SAS Minutes

416 Recommendation: The FAA should develop a holistic implementation plan to include a detailed 

417 R&D strategy which would address the research needs from both the regulator and airspace 

418 operator perspectives. 

419

420 The SAS requested further details on the UAS R&D plan reflecting deliverable validation 

421 milestones against the published FAA Integrated UAS Roadmap. 

422

423 FAA Response: Chris Swider (FAA) presented REDAC SAS Spring 2015 Review - Unmanned 

424 Aircraft Systems (UAS) Research Planning. Chris framed his presentation around the following 

425 elements: a) resource changes, b) integrated plans, c) research priorities, and d) partnerships. 

426 Claude Jones presented UAS R&D Update. Claude focused on FY15 research activities and the 

427 research requirements for FY16. The SAS agreed to close out the F&R and elected to establish 

an Action Item9 428 for the next SAS meeting to provide a UAS presentation with a focus on 

429 Pathfinder implications. CLOSED

430

431

432 New

433

434 Finding: The subcommittee was fully briefed on the UAS safety research plan. We are 

435 encouraged by the progress made in the past year regarding organization and networking of 

436 different stakeholders. We encourage the continuation of this integrated research planning. 

437 There appears to be a focus on real problems and growing consideration of evolving issues.

438

439 Recommendation: SAS Spring_2015-1: UAS Portfolio Flexibility

440 We recommend building flexibility into the FY17 UAS budget that can address emerging issues 

441 that may not be understood currently. We also recognize the focus on Beyond Line of Sight 

442 (BLOS) operations but recommend consideration of other emerging "long term" issues such as 

443 complete autonomous operations. We also recommend that UAS NAS integration R&D focus on 

444 sense and avoid technology vs aircraft robustness in case of impending collision.

445

446 Finding: There has been visible progress in terms of developing a process to prioritize research 

447 based on priorities and need. Review of the 2017 strategic guidance, quad charts, and list of 

448 emerging issues highlighted a need to provide greater linkage between the proposed and funded 

449 research and the FAA’s strategic plan. The strategic plan should not be a static document; it will 

450 require regular updates to address the changing needs of the FAA and the NAS and to ensure that 

451 the research is appropriately targeted. 

452

453 Recommendation: SAS Spring_2015-2: Research Roadmap Development

454 SAS understands and recognizes the ongoing need for research focused on operational safety of 

455 the current fleet. Notwithstanding, focused research must be conducted to address emerging 

456 issues. The FAA should develop and implement a process to produce 5 to 10 year research 

457 roadmaps to guide sponsors in the development of research requirements and to assist in 

458 prioritizing and focusing research on strategically significant elements. The roadmaps should 

459 define the FAA’s vision for the future, quantify success measures to the greatest extent possible, 

9 See Appendix III for list of open and new Action Items.

16

 
Spring 2015 SAS Minutes

460 and identify the research areas necessary to support the roadmap vision. It is further 

461 recommended that the FAA make available and use the roadmaps as the basis for its 

462 comprehensive strategic research plan, research needs, program initiatives, and intended 

463 outcomes for aviation safety.

464

465 Finding: There have been significant developments in additive manufacturing technologies and 

466 capabilities that are expected to rapidly proliferate in aviation applications due to many potential 

467 benefits including reduction in material cost, fewer part details, and enabling of more complex 

468 designs. However, additive manufacturing technologies have a number of technical risk factors 

469 that could have significant impact on design, production, and maintenance. The FAA must be 

470 prepared to address these factors in order to ensure appropriate airworthiness and certification 

471 standards and methods of compliance. The subcommittee received a briefing from the FAA 

472 fatigue and damage tolerance Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor (CSTA) on the 

473 establishment of an FAA Additive Manufacturing Steering Group to address these issues. The 

474 SAS strongly supports the high level of coordination with other government and industry 

475 initiatives and development of a detailed roadmap identifying near-term and strategic areas that 

476 focus FAA's activities on the safe implementation of these technologies. Current planning is to 

477 develop the additive manufacturing roadmap over the next 18-24 months. This roadmap will 

478 inform regulatory, policy, and R&D program needs. The subcommittee also noted and strongly 

479 endorsed the addition of additive manufacturing materials into the Metallic Materials Properties 

480 Development and Standardization (MMPDS) process and handbook (under research requirement 

481 A11E.SIM.4) to provide standardized and acceptable design and compliance data and tools.

482

483 Recommendation: SAS Spring_2015-3: Additive Manufacturing Research Acceleration

484 There is significant activity across all major aviation industry sectors in the application of 

485 additive manufacturing technologies affecting current production systems and new product 

486 designs. The subcommittee recommends that the FAA accelerate the development of the 

487 additive manufacturing roadmap over the next 12 months in order to inform FAA’s existing 

488 regulatory, policy, and R&D program needs. In addition, the subcommittee recommends that the 

489 FY17 and FY18 R&D portfolio includes consideration of proactive research necessary to ensure 

490 an understanding of key properties/characteristics of additive manufacturing to identify hazards 

491 and mitigations necessary to establish the appropriate standards and methods of compliance 

492 necessary to enable safe implementation of these technologies.

493

494

495 Observation: The Subcommittee continues to emphasize the importance of human factors 

496 research in all aspects of aviation safety. The Subcommittee also recognizes the importance of 

497 the human factors issues that AVS has identified for funding and further research. Human 

498 factors research covers a broad spectrum of regulations and guidance. Unfortunately, this 

499 significance and importance has not always been consistently recognized. As a result of this 

500 observation, the Subcommittee previously recommended that AVS closely align human factors 

501 research requirements with the other research areas they supported, even though those issues fell 

502 outside of the traditional human factors portfolio.

503

504 The committee is pleased to hear that FAA human factors specialists are closely involved (rather 

505 than just consulting) with many research efforts throughout the portfolio. The committee also 

17
Spring 2015 SAS Minutes

506 sees value in human factors specialists’ involvement during the requirements phase of research 

507 efforts and is pleased to be advised that this is happening. 

508

509 Observation: Based on the feedback received from multiple REDAC subcommittees, it is 

510 evident that crosscutting capabilities should be engaged at earlier stages of setting requirements 

511 and concept development. As operational concepts are explored, experts from all research 

512 disciplines should work jointly to establish operational requirements and objectives. Earlier

513 coupling across multiple disciplines may result in reduced development time and costs.

18
Spring 2015 SAS Minutes

514 Appendix IV

515

516 Action Items

517

518 Carry-over Action Items:

519

520 Spring 2014 Action Item 7: Eric Neiderman will provide an explanation of SDSS core 

521 capability at the next SAS meeting. REMAIN OPEN (Prepare background slides for Joe Del 

522 Balzo review and include in DSS Deep-dive presentation at Fall 2015 meeting)

523

524 Spring 2014 Action Item 8: Eric Neiderman will provide information regarding the NASA 

525 Ames tool to track safety cases. REMAIN OPEN (John Cavolowsky will address this issue at 

526 next SAS meeting.)

527

528 New Action Items:

529

530 Action Item 1: Provide FY17 BLI to requirements mapping (Rosetta Stone) showing full 

funding for BLIs. (CLOSED) 10 531

532

533 Action Item 2: Provide deep-dive presentations on SSM and DSS requirements as they relate to 

534 SAS emerging issues. (Action - John Lapointe see Carry-over Action Item #7 above)

535

536 Action Item 3: Provide UAS presentation with focus on Pathfinder implications. (Action - Chris 

537 Swider) 

538

539 Action Item 4: Provide human factor presentation on operator fatigue issues. (Action – Mark 

Orr)

11 540

541

542 Action Item 5: Provide requirements list with Mendoza Line and items below in advance of 

future Spring meetings. (Action – Mark Orr)12 543

544

545

10 Action Completed on April 8, 2015. 11 Mark Orr will prepare AFS plan and forward to SAS. 12 Mark will provide AVS approved FY17 list to SAS this May.

19