1

Federal Aviation Developing Administration

Strategic R&D Plan 

for the FAA

Presented by: Cathy Bigelow, Research and 

Development Management Division, ANG-E4

Date: Summer 2014

Federal Aviation

Administration

Background

• FAA needs to think more strategically about 

the future

• Opportune time to think ahead more and 

develop plan that could support 

Administrator’s Strategic Initiatives

• Developing more effective R&D portfolio 

may lead to increase in value of our R&D 

budget

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2

Federal Aviation

Administration

New Tasking for REDAC and 

Subcommittees for Fall meetings

• Asking subcommittees to look at broader, 

longer-term perspective, 10+ years

• Provide FAA advice to support development 

of R&D portfolio that is

– Strategic

– Responsive

– Addressing future R&D needs

3

Federal Aviation

Administration

Approach

• At Summer/Fall meeting, develop two lists

– Emerging issues, things FAA should get ahead of

– Future opportunities, areas where FAA could benefit

• Refine the lists to the top 4-5 issues

• Explain why it is important for FAA to 

consider each one

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3

Federal Aviation

Administration

Output

• Subcommittee produce a written report and 

brief their results at Fall REDAC

– Report their top 4-5 emerging issues and future 

opportunities

– Describe why each one should be consider by the 

FAA

5

Federal Aviation

Administration

QUESTIONS

6
4

Federal Aviation

REDAC and the Administration

Subcommittee: Roles 

and Responsibilities

Presented by: Cathy Bigelow, ANG-E4

Date: Summer 2014

Federal Aviation

Administration

Basis for REDAC

• 49 USC § 44508 - Research advisory 

committee

• Established a research advisory committee 

in the FAA, which shall

A. Provide advice and recommendations to the 

Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 

about needs, objectives, plans, approaches, 

content, and accomplishments of the aviation 

research program; 

B. Assist in ensuring that the research is coordinated 

with similar research being conducted outside the 

Administration; 

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5

Federal Aviation

Administration

Basis for REDAC, cont’d

C. Review the operations of the regional centers of air 

transportation excellence; and 

D. Annually review the allocation made by the 

Administrator of the amounts authorized among the 

major categories of research and development 

activities carried out by the Administration and 

provide advice and recommendations to the 

Administrator on whether such allocation is 

appropriate to meet the needs and objectives 

identified under subparagraph (A). 

9

Federal Aviation

Administration

Basis for REDAC, cont’d

• The Administrator may establish 

subordinate committees to provide advice 

on specific areas of research.

• FAA established the following:

– Aircraft Safety

– Airports

– Environment and Energy

– Human Factors

– NAS Operations

10
6

Federal Aviation

Administration

Operation of REDAC and 

Subcommittees

• Two sets of meetings (full committee and 

subcommittees) held annually

• First meeting in summer/fall timeframe

– Purpose is to provide strategic guidance to the FAA 

to develop the upcoming FY+3 research portfolio

– FAA informs the subcommittee so they can provide 

the strategic guidance

• Review of past year activities and accomplishments

• Selected deep dives

• Proposed FY+3 focal areas

11

Federal Aviation

Administration

Operation of REDAC and 

Subcommittees

• Two sets of meetings (full committee and 

subcommittees) held annually

• Second meeting in winter/spring timeframe

– Purpose is to review the R&D portfolio developed 

based on their strategic guidance from fall meeting

– FAA briefs the proposed R&D FY+2 portfolio

– Subcommittee provides recommendations on the 

proposed portfolio

12
7

Federal Aviation

Administration

Purpose of Subcommittees

• Formed by FAA to assist REDAC

– Provide advice to REDAC on specific areas of 

research

– Assist in identifying overarching issues that could 

affect R&D portfolio

– Help the FAA establish the best possible R&D 

portfolio within the constraints of FAA’s available 

resources

13

Federal Aviation

REDAC and the Administration

Subcommittee: 

Writing Good 

Recommendations

Presented by: Cathy Bigelow, ANG-E4

Date: Summer 2014
8

Federal Aviation

Administration

Subcommittee Recommendations

• Key outputs of the REDAC to fulfill their 

R&R

• Needed to help FAA ensure best possible 

R&D portfolio within the constraints of 

FAA’s available resources

• Best recommendations are clear and 

actionable

15

Federal Aviation

Administration

Good Recommendation Example

• The SAS recommends that the FAA collate 

the results of its Unleaded Fuels program 

and that the FAA transfer these results to 

the aviation and petroleum industry for the 

private sector’s use in any additional efforts 

aimed at developing alternatives to 100LL 

aviation gas and modifications to piston 

engines to accept lower octane fuels.

16
9

Federal Aviation

Administration

Opposite of Good Example

• The Subcommittee applauds the CAASD 

NextCAS IRAD effort, but modifying TCAS or 

creating a new collision avoidance system to 

achieve compatibility with NextGen would be 

a particularly complex problem, and that work 

would need to be based on a clear 

understanding of changed requirements and 

be a mainstream activity within CAASD’s 

FAA-funded work program, to be done in 

concert with existing TCAS experts at FAA, 

MIT/LL and other organizations.

17

Federal Aviation

Administration

Current Two Part Format

• Finding

– Provides some context for the recommendation

– Background so reader can better understand 

recommendation

– FAA response does not address the Finding or any 

information contained in the Finding

• Recommendation

– Should giving advice to the FAA to do something

– Should be clear to the reader what that something is

– Assume reader is non-technical

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10

Federal Aviation

Administration

Questions

19