NASA Aeronautics Research

Dr. Jaiwon ShinAssociate AdministratorNASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate

www.nasa.gov

NASA Alumni League (NAL) Discussion4 March 2011
Aviation’s Economic Impact

The aviation industry is vital to the nation’s economic well-being

• Aviation directly or indirectly provides 997,000 Americans 

with jobs

• In 2006, aviation manufacturing and services accounted for 

$445B in direct and indirect economic activity

• In the U.S., more than 60 certified domestic carriers 

operate every day

– They operate more than 6500 aircraft – They service almost a million travelers daily on 28,000 

flights

– In 2008, they had an annual operating revenue for 

commercial flights of $168B

• In 2008, aviation provided the nation with a trade surplus of 

$57.4B

Sources: The International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce

U.S. DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics Research and Innovative Technology Administration

“The Economic Impact of Civil Aviation on the U.S. Economy”, October 2008, FAA Air Traffic Organization
Challenges in Aeronautics Still Exist

Air Traffic Congestion

The current system cannot deal well with today’s air traffic, and projected traffic growth make this problem worse.Safety Air transportation is the safest mode of transportation. However, as aircraft and air trasystems become more automated and complex, failure to maintain and even improve this enviable safety record would be unacceptable to the flying public. Environmental ImpactsLocal noise and air quality concerns are inhibitors to air traffic growth.

• Solutions to these problems require innovative technical concepts.• International competition in the filed of aviation is intense. • The U.S. competitive edge in aviation can only be sustained through 

appropriate industry AND government R&D. 
Impacts of Aviation Challenges

In 2008, U.S. major commercial carriers burned 19.6B gallons of jet fuel, and DoD burned 4.6B gallons. 

average price of $3.00/gallon, fuel cost was $73B

U.S. commercial carriers and 

DoD release more than 250 

million tons of CO2 into the 

atmosphere each year

Aircraft noise continues 

regarded as the most sig

40 of the top 50 U.S. airport

areas that do not meet EPA l

quality standards

FAA’s attempt to reconfigu

York airspace resulted in 14 

due to noise complain

regarded as the most sig

hindrance to NAS capacity 

Airline delays in the U.S. cost 

industry and passengers 

$32.9B in 2007

In 2007, aircraft in the U.S. 

spent 213 million minutes 

taxiing and in ground holds 

The high cost of certification for 

new or upgraded aviation 

systems is prohibitive

Since 1980 FAA has invested 

in airport noise abatement p

in homes
NASA Technology Onboard Commercial Fixed-Wing Ai

+ DIGITAL FLY-BY-WIRE

+ COMPOSITE STRUCTU

+ LIGHTNING PROTECTION STANDARDS

+ AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

+ COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS (CFD) + NASA STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS (NASTRAN)

+ AIRBORNE WIND SHEAR DETECTION

+ TURBO AE

+ GLASS COCKPIT

+ AREA RULE

+ WINGL

+ ICING DETECTION

+ SUPERCRITICAL

+ JET ENGINE AIRFOIL

COMBUSTORS

+ ENGINE NOZZLE CHEVRONS + DAMAGE-TOLERANT FAN CASING

+ WIND TUNNELS + RUNWAY GROOVES
Chevrons - The Road From Idea to Deployment

Initial service entr

Systems Assessment: 2001-2005• Ground-test evaluation in engine test stands • Flight evaluation in relevant environmentsFundamental Research: 1996-2000• Computational and experimental research to develop a 

fundamental understanding of the fluid mechanics governing the effectiveness of the concept

• Development of practical implementations (chevrons)Seedling Idea: 1994-1996Basic studies on jet mixing suggest that tabs can enhance 

jet mixing, with the potential to reduce noise
Boeing 747-8 with Chevron Nozzles

Source: The Boeing Company
How do we know we are working on the right goals?

National Aeronautics Research and Development Policy“NASA and in consultation with other Federal agencies shall develop a national aeronautics 

policy to guide the aeronautics programs of the Administration through 2020” – Science, 

State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 2006 (Public Law 109 – 108 - November 22, 2005)

• Executive Order signed by President Bush, December 2006

- Outlines principles to follow in order for the U.S. to “maintain its technological leadership 

across the aeronautics enterprise”

Alignment with National Goals

National Plan for Aeronautics Research and Development and Related InfrastructureOriginal plan signed by White House December 2007; Biennial update signed Feb 2010

- Goals and objectives for mobility, national security and homeland defense, aviation safety, 

energy and the environment (except workforce which is being worked under a separate activity)

- Summary of system-level challenges identified with specific quantitative targets

Vision 100 Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act and the Integrated Work Plan (IWP)Vision100: Public Law 108-176, December 2003

- Established the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO) to engage multiple agencies 

to plan, develop and implement the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen)

IWP: Version 1.0 Released September 2008

- Functional outline of activities needed to achieve the NextGen Vision
NASA Aeronautics Investment Strategy

TechnolTransfer

Integrated System-Level Research

TechnolTransfe

Fundamental Research Seeking New Ideas

Enabling “Game Changing” concepts and technologies from advancing fundamental research ultimately understand the feasibility of advanced systems
NASA Aeronautics Programs

Fundamental Aeronautics ProgramConduct cutting-edge research that will produce innovative concepts, tools, and 

Directly address the fundame

research needs for Ne

developing revolutionary c

Airspace Systems P

Integrated 

Systems 

Research Program

Integrated 

Systems 

Research Program

Conduct research at an 

integrated system-level on 

promising concepts and technologies 

and explore/assess/demonstrate the 

Aviation Safety Program

concepts, tools, and technologies to enable revolutionary changes for vehicles that fly in all speed regimes.

Conduct cutting-edge research to produce innovative concepts, 

tools, and technologies to improve the intrinsic safety attributes of 

current and future aircraft and air traffic management systems.

developing revolutionary c

capabilities, and technolo

will enable significant 

in the capacity, effici

flexibility of 

SV

Aeronautics Test Program

Preserve and promote the testing capabilities of one of the United States’ largest, most versatile and comprehensive set of flight and ground-based research facilities.

and explore/assess/demonstrate the 

benefits in a relevant environment.
Collaboration with External Partners

Other Government Agencies U.S. Industry

Aeronautics

Academia International Organizations
FY 2011 Budget Request

($ Millions) FY 2009

Actual 1/

FY 2010Enacted 2/

FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 F

Aeronautics Total $650.0 $507.0 $579.6 $584.7 $590.4 $595.1 $

Aviation Safety 89.3 75.0 79.3 78.9 81.2 81.9 8Airspace Systems 121.5 80.0 82.2 82.9 85.9 86.6 8Airspace Systems 121.5 80.0 82.2 82.9 85.9 86.6 8Fundamental Aeronautics 307.6 220.0 228.5 231.4 236.0 241.8 2Aeronautics Test 131.6 72.0 76.4 76.4 75.6 77.4 7Integrated Systems Research 0.0 60.0 113.1 115.1 111.7 107.4 1

1/FY 2009 shows the July Operating Plan including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.2/FY 2010 shows the Consolidated Appropriation Act, 2010 (PL 111-117) without the Administrative transfers
NextGen Operations

ProblemCurrent ground delay policy at SFO can lead to excessive unrecoverable delays due to fog

Approach

San Francisco Bay areaair traffic flows

Conducted a simulation recommending Ground Delay Program (Gparameters for SFO airport. Merges National Weather Service reatime data with Air Traffic Control departure scheduling.Next Steps•Brief FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center (Dec. 201•Delivery of implementation plan (Jan. 2010) $ 0.5M FAA Collaborative Agreement 

Contribution

Partners: FAA, Mosaic ATM, and MIT Lincoln LaboratoryResultsSignificant near-term reduction in ground delays at San Francisco Airport.
High Ice Water Content Research

Understanding Power Loss High-Altitude Engine Icing•Hundreds of engine power loevents have occurred in the la15 years.•NASA will fly specially- instruaircraft in High Ice Water Cont(HIWC) regions near Australia better understand icing particlphysics and compare to grounbased weather detection sche•FAA is a primary partner in thcampaign, scheduled for 2QFDarwin, Australia.•Additional partners include BoNCAR, NRCC, and the AustraBureau of Meteorology
Data Mining for Aviation Safety

• NASA has open-sourced key data mining software for

analyzing flight data recorder output through DASHlink, a collaborative website with over 300 members

• Southwest Airlines acquired sequenceMiner and Orca, 

two advanced anomaly detection techniques, through DASHlink

• Early application of these techniques to data from 7200 

flights uncovered flight events specified in SWA’s Flight Operations Manual that were not caught by SWA’s existing analysis methods

• Events flagged by these software tools will be added to 

SWA’s daily operations review to improve operational performance

• Southwest plans to incorporate these software tools into 

daily use – 1600 flights/305 planes. 

• Five year non-reimbursable Space Act Agreement is 

being drafted
Environmentally Friendly Vehicles

Since July 2007, NASA has conducted more than 80 flights of the Hybrid Wing Body X-48B aircraft, in partnership with the U.S. Air Force, Boeing, and Cranfield Aerospace Ltd.

Achieving Significantly Reduced Fuel Burn Will ReIntegration of Multiple Technologies

Vehicle

Estimated Fuel Savings*

Benefits to the PublicFuel burn savings: Over 40% reduction from current aircraftEmissions reduction:Local air quality: 50% less NOx Global climate: 40% less CO2Noise reduction 1/6th the objectionable ground noise footprint of current aircraft

1 = Hybrid wing configuration2 = + advanced engine and airframe technologie3 = + embedded engines with BLI inlets4 = + laminar flow* NASA systems analysis results. Reductions rela

B777 with GE90 engines.
NextGen Systems Study

NASA conducted a systems study into the integration of advanced vehicles and concepts into NThis consisted of two $6M, 18-Month NASA studies to understand tradeoffs involved for both vand the ATM system, including safety considerations, system performance, environmental cons

Raytheon Company: Supersonic Business Jets, Very Large Transports, Very Light Jets and Un-crewed Aerial Vehicles.

Sensis Corporation: Cruise Efficient Short Take-Off & Landing, Large Tilt-Rotor, SuperTransports, Very Light Jets and Un-crewed Aerial Vehicles
Advanced Vehicles System Study

Description: Completed four 18-month “Advanced Concept Studies for Commercial Subsonic Transport Aircraft Entering Service in the 2030-35 Period”. Study is intended to stimulate far-term thinking towards future aircraft needs and identify key technology needs to meet the challenges. Results:• Lower cruise speeds at higher altitude (~40-45k ft)• Heading toward BPR 20 (or propeller) with small, high efficiency core• Higher wing aspect ratio and laminar flow to varying degrees• Uniquely enabling concepts/technologies emerged (strut/truss, double 

bubble, hybrid-electric (battery) propulsion for example)

• Broadly applicable technology advances needed (for example 

lightweight materials, high-temp materials, gust load alleviation)

Impact: Results used as key information to guide future investment in the SFW project. Phase 2 investigations to follow.

Boeing, GE, Georgia T

MIT, Aurora, P&W, Aerodyne
Aeronautics Test Program Overview

The Aeronautics Test Program (ATP) was established to:•Retain and invest in NASA aeronautics test capabilities considered strategically important to the agency and the Nation•Establish a strong, high-level partnership to expand cooperation between NASA and DoD to facilitate an integrated national strategy for management of their respective facilities. This has been established as the National Partnership for Aeronautics Testing (NPAT). The ATP strategic plan includes these four areas:1.Provide recommendation to Aeronautics and Center management regarding the facilities2.Represent the strategic interest of NASA and the Nation regarding the facilities3.Provide direction to NASA test capability manager

s

4.Provide financial support to NASA test capabilities to ensure the right capabilities are available at the right time to meet the needs of NASA and the Nation

X-51 Scramjet readied for fli

in LaRC 8’ HTT (NASA
ATP Facilities

AMES RESEARCH CENTER

Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel

GLENN RESEARCH CENTER

Icing Research Tunnel

10x10 Supersonic Unitary Tunnel

8x6 Supersonic Wind Tunnel

9x15 Low Speed Wind Tunnel

DRYDEN FLIGHT RESEARCH CENTER

Western Aeronautical Test Range

Support & Test Bed Aircraft

Flight Loads Laboratory

Research Aircraft Integration Facility

9x15 Low Speed Wind Tunnel

Propulsion Systems Lab 

LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER

National Transonic Facility

8-foot High Temperature Tunnel

Langley Aerothermodynamics Lab

14x22 Subsonic Wind Tunnel

Transonic Dynamics Tunnel

4-foot Supersonic Unitary Tunnel

20-foot Vertical Spin Tunnel

10 x 10 Supersonic Unitary Wind Tunnel

Revolutionary Approach to Time-Critical Long 

Range Strike – RATTLRS
Summary

ARMD has experienced tremendous success through the past years by committing to the following core principles:•Valuing innovation and technical excellence•Aligning our research to ensure a strong relevance to national needs•Transferring technology in a timely and robust manner•Maintaining strong partnerships with other government agencies, industry and academia

•Inspiring the next generation of engineers and researchers

Our planned research for the upcoming years will continue to provide valuable benefit to the aviation community and the Nation.