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M&P-131

Strategic Goal 4: Advance aeronautics research for societal 

benefit.

OUTCOME 4.1: DEVELOP INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES 

THROUGH A BALANCED RESEARCH PORTFOLIO TO IMPROVE CURRENT AND FUTURE 

AIR TRANSPORTATION. 

NASA, through the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD), plays a key role in the discovery 

and development of the innovative solutions and advanced technologies required for the Next Generation 

Air Transportation System (NextGen). This includes pursuing technologies that are in their infancy today, 

developing the knowledge necessary to design radically new aviation systems, and enabling efficient, 

high-confidence design and development of revolutionary vehicles. These improvements must take place 

without compromise to the current safety record of the aviation industry. 

ARMD’s Fundamental Aeronautics Program takes an integrated approach to address the critical longterm challenges of NextGen. This program ensures a long-term focus on both traditional aeronautical 

disciplines and relevant emerging fields for integration into multidisciplinary system-level capabilities for 

broad application. The Aviation Safety Program develops innovative algorithms, tools, concepts, and 

technologies that will improve the safety attributes of current and future aircraft operating in the National 

Airspace System, identify and control emerging hazards, and overcome aircraft safety-related barriers that 

could impede full realization of NextGen. Finally, the Airspace Systems Program addresses the 

fundamental air traffic management research needs of increasing capacity, improving efficiency, and 

reducing the environmental impact of aviation in NextGen in collaboration with ARMD’s partners in 

government, industry, and academia.

Reported Multi-Year Performance 

Multi-Year Performance Goal 4.1.1.1: Transfer knowledge to the aviation community to better 

manage safety in aviation.

FY11 NASA developed and tested an analysis tool that can automatically review large-scale 

Green software systems for errors without needing to run the software. This capability is part of an 

FY12 on-going NASA research effort to reduce the time and cost associated with ensuring the 

safety of complex, flight-critical systems. NASA’s tool reduced the analysis time from the 

three to four hours typical of a currently available commercial product down to several 

minutes. The NASA tool also achieved a false positive rate of five percent or less.

Green

NASA also advanced its data mining algorithms that look for anomalous events occurring 

across thousands of flights that can represent precursors to aviation safety incidents. In a 

validation test, the latest algorithm successfully predicted the occurrence of known safety 

events with at least 10 percent more lead time than prior methods. Earlier recognition can be 

a good indicator of an algorithm's ability to reliably identify a wide range of potential safety 

concerns. These tests were done on real flight datasets of at least 10 terabytes. NASA 

provided the capabilities to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Aviation Safety 
Management and Performance 

PERFORMANCE REPORTING AND PLANNING

M&P-132

Information Analysis and Sharing System (ASIAS), and multiple airlines.

In addition, NASA completed a Concept of Operations for an Integrated Vehicle Health 

Assurance System. In this concept, NASA provides its research approach for monitoring the 

health of aircraft systems during in-flight and post-flight analyses and then using that 

knowledge to confidently predict system malfunctions before they occur. The concept 

integrates ground-based inspection and repair information with in-flight measurement data 

for airframe, propulsion, and avionics subsystems. This approach may eventually enable 

airline maintenance practices to rely more on the actual system health of an individual 

aircraft and less on fleet-wide reliability averages.

Finally, NASA completed a first generation engine icing simulation code that predicts the 

adverse effects on engine performance due to high ice water content icing. Aircraft flying 

through high altitude thunderstorms encounter high concentrations of ice crystals. Under 

certain conditions, these ice crystals may cause ice to form inside a jet engine in a way that 

can degrade its performance, potentially leading to engine power loss. To better understand 

the hazards of high altitude icing, NASA modeled the conditions an engine would encounter 

throughout a hypothetical flight. NASA’s model incorporated the effects of ice 

accumulation, melting, and sublimation (conversion from solid to gaseous state) into a basic 

jet engine performance computer simulation. A study used the model to estimate the risk of 

engine icing in ice crystal conditions and the effect of the blockage on engine performance. 

Results showed that ice particle size is an important factor affecting engine icing. The 

distribution of ice particle sizes in clouds is currently unknown and is of high interest to 

NASA and its U.S. and international partners. Working with partners, NASA is conducting 

studies that further explore the atmospheric conditions leading to ice crystal icing and the 

effects of that icing on engine performance. Results from these studies will help aircraft 

remain clear of hazardous icing conditions and make aircraft engines more resilient if those 

conditions do occur.

For more information about NASA’s Aviation Safety Program, go to 

http://www.aeronautics.nasa.gov/programs_avsafe.htm. 

Update to Multi-Year Performance Goal

FY13 Update This performance goal remains the same in FY13.

FY14 This performance goal remains the same in FY14.

Reported Annual Performance

AR-12-1: Develop first generation engine icing performance degradation parametric 

capability.

simulation 

Contributing Theme: Aeronautics

Contributing Program(s): Aviation Safety 

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

None None None None None AR-12-1 

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update No annual performance goal in FY13.

FY14 AR-14-1: Conduct ground-based demonstration of a wireless sensor which provides lightning 

protection and can detect and diagnose damage in composite structures.
Management and Performance 

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Comments

The next anticipated activity in this area was to conduct flight tests to characterize the ice 

crystal environment, which can adversely affect jet engine performance. This work was 

dependent on a contract that was discontinued due to unforeseen circumstances. As a result, 

NASA will not be able to complete a test flight in FY 2013 and has removed the associated 

FY 2013 APG from the performance plan. NASA and its partners are exploring opportunities 

for acquiring this important test data in the future.

Reported Annual Performance

AR-12-2: Provide static code analysis techniques for certification.

Contributing Theme: Aeronautics

Contributing Program(s): Aviation Safety 

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

None None None 10AT01

Green

AR-11-1 

Green

AR-12-2 

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update AR-13-2: Develop onboard capabilities that aid in-flight decision-making 

instantaneous health assessment of aircraft systems.

through 

FY14 AR-14-2: Demonstrate use of an advanced software technique to verify the safety of a 

complex aircraft or ground automation software system.

Reported Annual Performance

AR-12-3: Develop concept of operations for an integrated vehicle health assurance system.

Contributing Theme: Aeronautics

Contributing Program(s): Aviation Safety 

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

7AT1 Green 8AT02 Green 9AT1

Green

10AT03

Green

AR-11-2 

Green

AR-12-3 

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update No annual performance goal in FY13.

FY14 AR-14-3: Provide integrated, high-fidelity simulator demonstration of an aerodynamic model 

that supports flight crew training requirements for assuring safe aircraft control.

Reported Annual Performance

AR-12-4: Demonstrate algorithm to predict at least three anomalies in massive datasets.

Contributing Theme: Aeronautics

Contributing Program(s): Aviation Safety 

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

None None None 10AT01

Green

AR-11-1 

Green

AR-12-4 

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update No annual performance goal in FY13.

FY14 No annual performance goal in FY14.
Management and Performance 

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M&P-134

Reported Multi-Year Performance 

Multi-Year Performance Goal 4.1.2.1: HPPG: Increase efficiency and throughput of aircraft 

operations during arrival phase of flight.

FY11 Results of NASA’s research to define and validate the Efficient Descent Advisor (EDA) 

concept were officially transferred in FY 2012 to FAA for further evaluation and potential 

operational use. The EDA concept helps air traffic controllers allow airliners of all sizes to 

more efficiently descend from cruising altitude to arrive at an airport using less engine 

power while maintaining a safe distance from other aircraft. As a result, airlines save money 

on fuel, fewer emissions are released into the atmosphere, and air traffic controller workload 

is reduced (since automation is added to the process). In fact, NASA simulations showed 

potential annual savings of $300 million in fuel. 

NASA also successfully simulated airport operations using an integrated set of software that 

better manages scheduling and spacing of aircraft in congested terminal airspace. The 

technologies, which include Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), a 

satellite based aircraft tracking technology, produced more precise aircraft spacing allowing 

for increased arrival rates and operational cost savings. The simulation was conducted with 

active FAA controllers, airline pilots, and data sets from Dallas/Fort Worth and Los Angeles 

airports. In addition, NASA successfully demonstrated safe interval management procedures 

to a single airport with dependent parallel runways utilizing NextGen flight-deck 

technologies. Benefits analysis indicates that these technologies have the potential to save 

several percent of total operational fuel costs due to more efficient arrivals. Although 

dependent on the level of aircraft equipage, annual system-wide savings are estimated at 

between $200 million to $300 million. Results from these simulations are being used to 

refine the plans for a future technology demonstration.

In addition, NASA developed weather translation models that provided an estimate of the 

weather’s impact (e.g., high surface winds, low visibility, etc.) on an airport’s capacity for 1 

to 8 hours in the future over a 15 minute interval. These models incorporated forecasts from 

three state-of-the-art, airport-centric weather forecasts from the National Weather Service. 

Two of the models on average were able to predict the weather-impacted Airport Arrival 

Rate (AAR) at two representative airports over a 1 to 8 hour look-ahead time horizon within 

10-15 percent of the actual weather impacted AAR. The third model was able to estimate 

the weather impacted AAR over a one-hour look-ahead time horizon within five percent of 

the actual weather impacted AAR at three representative airports. This improvement in use 

of weather predictions will provide substantial increase in airport arrival throughput.

For more information about NASA’s Airspace Systems Program, go to 

http://www.aeronautics.nasa.gov/programs_asp.htm. 

Green

FY12

Green

Update to Multi-Year Performance Goal

Demonstrate advanced technologies and solutions to achieve fuel efficient increases in 

FY13 Update operational performance of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) 

while reducing noise and emissions.

Demonstrate advanced technologies and solutions to achieve fuel efficient increases in 

FY14 operational performance of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) 

while reducing noise and emissions. 
Management and Performance 

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M&P-135

Comments

During FY 2012, NASA completed this Priority Goal and, with approval from the Office of 

Management and Budget, closed it out. Because ARMD is continuing work to increase 

operational performance of NextGen, NASA has retained 4.1.2.1 as a standard performance 

goal and revised the description to reflect current activities.

Reported Annual Performance

AR-12-5: Develop Initial Weather Translation Models.

Contributing Theme: Aeronautics

Contributing Program(s): Airspace Systems

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

7AT3

Green

8AT05

Green

9AT5

Green

10AT05

Green

AR-11-3 

Green

AR-12-5 

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update AR-13-3: Conduct human-in-the-loop simulations for taxi operations conformance, which will 

reduce fuel consumption during movement on the airport surface.

FY14 No annual performance goal in FY14. 

Reported Annual Performance

AR-12-6: Demonstrate safe Interval Management Procedures to a Single Airport with dependent 

parallel runways.

Contributing Theme: Aeronautics

Contributing Program(s): Airspace Systems

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

7AT2

White None None 10AT14

Green

AR-11-5 

Green

AR-12-6 

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update No annual performance goal in FY13.

FY14 AR-14-4: Develop a scheduling tool to enable efficient aircraft departure and merging into 

open slots in the congested overhead traffic stream reducing departure delays.

Reported Annual Performance

AR-12-7: NASA will provide the results of the human-in-the-loop (HITL) simulations and the 

field trial to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as they are completed, with the final 

report being provided in September 2012. (HPPG milestone)

Contributing Theme: Aeronautics

Contributing Program(s): Airspace Systems

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

7AT2

White None None 10AT14

Green

AR-11-5 

Green

AR-12-7 

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update No annual performance goal in FY13.

FY14 No annual performance goal in FY14.
Management and Performance 

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M&P-136

Reported Multi-Year Performance 

Multi-Year Performance Goal 4.1.3.1: Deliver tools, technologies, and knowledge that can be used 

to more efficiently and effectively design future air vehicles and their components to overcome 

national performance and capability challenges.

FY11 NASA completed analyses of ground-based tests that characterized the emissions of hydrotreated renewable jet (HRJ) fuel, which is an alternative aviation fuel. The results showed 

that HRJ fuels and their blends had substantially reduced particulate emissions 

(characterized by small particles of solids and liquids), minor effects on gaseous emissions, 

and no measureable adverse effect on engine performance. These data are important to 

industry and other government agencies such as the FAA and Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) to help ensure that aircraft can safely and efficiently utilize alternative fuels. 

In order to realize significant improvements in efficiency and reductions in the 

environmental impact of aviation, it may be necessary to develop new aircraft designs that 

have little resemblance to today’s tube-and-wing aircraft. NASA completed wind tunnel 

testing of a new concept that was very different from a tube-and-wing and demonstrated its 

reduced noise potential and improved short take-off and landing performance. Results from 

this test will be used to improve computational tools for a number of advanced aircraft 

configurations.

NASA also made advances in making air travel even more flexible and convenient. It is 

highly desirable to make modern helicopters quieter and more efficient so that they can 

safely carry more people and cargo and be more effective in conducting current missions 

and new missions such as increased delivery and transportation. To support these improved 

capabilities, NASA made significant advances in rotary wing propulsion systems that 

included new types of engine compressors and new transmissions. Also, to make rotorcraft 

more efficient, NASA demonstrated advances in computational modeling for rotorcraft 

fuselage drag reduction systems. People are always looking to spend less time traveling and 

more time at their destination. One way to help achieve this desire is faster air 

transportation. Although the noise associated with sonic booms has always been a limiting 

factor, this may change due to NASA research. NASA successfully completed wind tunnel 

tests that validated the computational tools developed for designing and shaping supersonic 

aircraft to produce quieter sonic booms. As part of its efforts to understand how much sonic 

boom noise must be reduced to allow unrestricted overland flight, NASA conducted the first 

tests in a new facility for simulating sonic boom noise as heard indoors.

The new computational design tools under development can greatly decrease the time 

needed for designing air vehicles and allow industry to explore new configurations. NASA 

completed the first generation of the Integrated Design and Engineering Analysis (IDEA) 

software, which enables the rapid and automated conceptual design of a hypersonic airbreathing vehicle. Because of this new tool, the time to conduct a vehicle design and 

analysis was reduced from 3 months (with today’s methods) to less than 24 hours with the 

fully automated IDEA software tool. Another software tool was used to calculate the airflow 

through the scramjet engine of a hypersonic airbreathing vehicle, which was then compared 

with real flight data obtained from an Air Force flight. This comparison helps refine and 

improve the software, which is used to design scramjet engines.

NASA studied hypersonic planetary physics by obtaining unique Martian atmospheric 

pressures, heat shield temperatures and heat shield recession data (loss of mass due to the 

ablation of the heat shield) from the instrumentation installed on the Mars Science 

Laboratory carrying the Curiosity rover. This highly unique data is being analyzed by 

Green

FY12

Green
Management and Performance 

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M&P-137

researchers at NASA and universities in order to inform all future Mars landing missions to 

enable reduced vehicle mass or a larger, more capable scientific payload.

For more information about NASA’s Fundamental Aeronautics Program, go to 

http://www.aeronautics.nasa.gov/fap/index.html. 

Update to Multi-Year Performance Goal

FY13 Update This performance goal remains the same in FY13.

Deliver tools, technologies, and knowledge that can be used to more efficiently and 

FY14 effectively design future air vehicles and their components to overcome national challenges, 

especially in fuel efficiency, noise, and emissions. 

Reported Annual Performance

AR-12-8: Characterize gaseous and particulate emissions of hydro treated renewable jet fuel as a 

potential carbon dioxide (CO2) neutral aviation fuel.

Contributing Theme: Aeronautics

Contributing Program(s): Fundamental Aeronautics

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

None 8AT07

Green

9AT7

Green

10AT07

Green

AR-11-6 

Green

AR-12-8 

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update AR-13-4: Develop, improve, and validate a multi-fidelity toolset to assess the noise 

characteristics of future subsonic aircraft.

FY14 AR-14-5: Determine the viability and performance benefits of a truss-braced-wing aircraft 

configuration through wind tunnel tests and high-fidelity computer simulations.

Reported Annual Performance

AR-12-9: Demonstrate drag reduction benefits of active flow control for a representative 

rotorcraft fuselage configuration.

Contributing Theme: Aeronautics

Contributing Program(s): Fundamental Aeronautics

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

7AT6 8AT09 9AT8 10AT08 AR-11-7 AR-12-9 

Green Green Green Green Green Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update No annual performance goal in FY13.

FY14 AR-14-6: Demonstrate the noise reduction and performance benefits of active twist concepts 

for rotor control for rotary wing aircraft through wind tunnel testing.
Management and Performance 

PERFORMANCE REPORTING AND PLANNING

M&P-138

Reported Annual Performance

AR-12-10: Validate the effectiveness of Micro-array Flow Control devices for improving 

performance and flow quality in low-boom supersonic propulsion inlets.

Contributing Theme: Aeronautics

Contributing Program(s): Fundamental Aeronautics

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

None 8AT11

Yellow

9AT9

Green

10AT09

Green

AR-11-8 

Green

AR-12-10

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update AR-13-5: Validate high fidelity tools for sonic boom and drag prediction to enable the design 

of future supersonic air vehicles.

FY14 No annual performance goal in FY14.

Reported Annual Performance

AR-12-11: Demonstrate First Generation Integrated Multi-Disciplinary 

Analysis and Design of Reusable Air-Breathing Launch Vehicles.

Simulation Tool for 

Contributing Theme: Aeronautics

Contributing Program(s): Fundamental Aeronautics

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

None 8AT13

Green

9AT10

Yellow

10AT10

Yellow

AR-11-9 

Yellow

AR-12-11

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update No annual performance goal in FY13.

FY14 No annual performance goal in FY14.
Management and Performance 

PERFORMANCE REPORTING AND PLANNING

M&P-139

OUTCOME 4.2: CONDUCT SYSTEMS-LEVEL RESEARCH ON INNOVATIVE AND 

PROMISING AERONAUTICS CONCEPTS AND TECHNOLOGIES TO DEMONSTRATE 

INTEGRATED CAPABILITIES AND BENEFITS IN A RELEVANT FLIGHT AND/OR GROUND 

ENVIRONMENT. 

As NextGen evolves to meet the projected growth in air traffic, researchers and technology developers 

must address the national challenges in the areas of mobility, capacity, safety, security, energy and the 

environment. In addition, researchers and technology developers must also address increasingly stringent 

aviation regulations, many of which are being imposed at the local levels. The Integrated Systems 

Research Program (ISRP) conducts research and technology development at an integrated system-level on 

promising aeronautical concepts and technologies and explores, assesses, and demonstrates their benefits 

in a relevant environment. By focusing on technologies that have already proven their merit at the 

fundamental research level, this program helps transition them more quickly to the aviation community, 

as well as inform future fundamental research needs. The integrated system-level research in this program 

is coordinated with on-going long-term, research within ARMD’s three fundamental research programs, 

with the research being conducted in partnership with other government agencies and industry. In 

addition, the research will focus specifically on maturing and integrating technologies into major vehicle, 

ground and operational systems and subsystems for accelerated transition to practical application.

Currently the ISRP has two projects, the Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) project and the 

Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration in the National Airspace Systems (UAS/NAS) project. The ERA 

project is exploring and documenting the feasibility, benefits and technical risks of vehicle concepts and 

enabling technologies identified to have the potential to mitigate the impact of aviation on the 

environment. Throughout its existence, NASA has invested in technologies aimed at improving fuel 

efficiency and reducing noise and emissions of current and future aircraft. Many of these technologies 

have directly impacted the advancement of capability present in today’s fleet, but are also applicable to 

the continued evolution of conventional configurations and to the realization of alternate airframe, 

propulsion and vehicle system concepts. The ERA project is currently developing promising vehicle 

configurations, airframe and propulsion concepts and technologies that were selected through aircraft 

system level assessments based on their potential to simultaneously reduce fuel burn, noise and 

emissions. These game-changing concepts and technologies will then be matured, and their performance 

will be evaluated at the sub-system and system level in relevant environments. The UAS/NAS project 

will contribute capabilities that reduce technical barriers related to the safety and operational challenges 

associated with enabling routine UAS access to the NAS. The desire and ability to fly Unmanned Aircraft 

Systems in the NAS is of increasing urgency. The application of unmanned aircraft to perform national 

security, defense, scientific, and emergency management is driving the critical need for less restrictive 

access by UAS to the NAS. This goal will be accomplished through a two-phased approach based on 

development of system-level integration of key concepts, technologies and/or procedures, and 

demonstrations of integrated capabilities in an operationally relevant environment. Solutions will advance 

the state of the art for UAS access. The timeframe for impact of this project will be 2015 to 2025. Each 

technical area will transfer technologies to relevant stakeholders, including the Federal Aviation 

Administration, Department of Defense (DoD), and industry, through research transition teams, 

technology forums, or other collaborative means.
Management and Performance 

PERFORMANCE REPORTING AND PLANNING

M&P-140

Reported Multi-Year Performance 

Multi-Year Performance Goal 4.2.1.1: Reduce technical risk by conducting research at an 

integrated system-level on promising aeronautical concepts and technologies in a relevant 

environment.

FY11 Throughout the initial phase (FY 2010–FY 2012) of the ERA project, a variety of tests and 

associated analyses were conducted with the goal of maturing promising technologies that 

will simultaneously reduce transport aircraft fuel burn, noise and emissions. Through these 

tests, environmentally friendly aircraft technologies were validated for performance and 

matured to the point that they can be tested together and in relevant environments. Through 

a series of reviews and assessments conducted in FY 2012, NASA selected eight, largescale integrated technology demonstrations to advance ERA research based on the potential 

benefit of the technologies to meet project goals, and the associated costs and risks. The 

integrated technology demonstrations build on work performed during the initial phase of 

the project and will focus on five areas: aircraft drag reduction through innovative flow 

control concepts; weight reduction from advanced composite materials; fuel and noise 

reduction from advanced Ultra High Bypass (UHB) engines; emissions reduction from 

advanced engine combustors; and fuel consumption and community noise reduction through 

innovative airframe and engine integration designs. This integrated, relevant-environment 

testing is the focus of the second phase of the ERA project, which began in FY 2013.

Based on data obtained during extensive ground test campaigns, NASA completed an 

assessment of two types of highly fuel-efficient jet engine concepts by comparing their 

performance in reducing the rate of fuel consumption and noise. One of the systems, 

referred to as “Open Rotor,” does not encase the engine fan blades in an engine housing as 

is typical in traditional jet engine designs. The second system, referred to as a “UHB 

Turbofan” is a much more fuel-efficient version of the aircraft engine commonly used by 

airliners today. Research has validated that both engine concepts have the potential to 

dramatically reduce fuel burn. The Open Rotor shows greater potential for fuel burn 

reduction (-36 percent vs. -27 percent) but at the price of a reduced noise reduction benefit 

when compared to the UHB concept (-13 dB vs. -24 dB). These results provide data to the 

aviation industry and regulatory community to make informed decisions on future aircraft 

propulsion systems, with a continual emphasis on reducing their impact on the environment.

NASA also conducted final analysis of test data (in partnership with FAA and The Boeing 

Company) for a Pultruded Rod Stitched Efficient Unitized Structure (PRSEUS) curved 

panel, which successfully demonstrated the viability of this integrally stitched composite 

technology concept for conventional commercial aircraft fuselage structures. The excellent 

performance of this concept shows promise in enhancing the structural integrity of aircraft 

while reducing overall structural weight.

As part of a collaborative effort with the FAA Technical Center, NASA conducted a flight 

test of a large (Ikhana MQ-9) unmanned aircraft equipped with ADS-B. This demonstration 

was a critical step in the development of a Live Virtual Constructive-Distributive 

Environment (LVC-DE), an innovative way to safely immerse a flying unmanned aircraft in 

the NAS through virtual techniques. The LVC-DE will provide the backbone for future 

flight tests (scheduled in FY 2015 and FY 2016) to validate the concepts and procedures 

developed by the project.

In support of these flight tests, a comprehensive plan was developed that addresses, in an 

integrated manner, a number of the challenges vital for safe UAS operations in the NAS. 

This plan also outlined the specific test objectives and concepts of operations for the LVCGreen

FY12

Green
Management and Performance 

PERFORMANCE REPORTING AND PLANNING

M&P-141

DE flight tests that will integrate remotely operated unmanned aircraft with simulated air 

traffic to evaluate these technologies in a relevant environment.

For more information about NASA’s Integrated Systems Research Program, go to 

http://www.aeronautics.nasa.gov/programs_isrp.htm. 

Update to Multi-Year Performance Goal

FY13 Update This performance goal remains the same in FY13.

FY14 This performance goal remains the same in FY14.

Reported Annual Performance

AR-12-12: Demonstrate low-weight, damage-tolerant stitched composite structural concept on 

curved panel subjected to combined tension and internal pressure loads.

Contributing Theme: Aeronautics

Contributing Program(s): Integrated Systems Research

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

None None None 10AT12

Yellow

AR-11-10

Green

AR-12-12

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update AR-13-6: Conduct tests to validate low-noise characteristics of a hybrid wing body

concept.

aircraft 

FY14 AR-14-7: Demonstrate Ultra High Bypass (UHB) propulsion systems can be integrated with 

Hybrid Wing Body (HWB) concepts to meet fuel burn and noise goals.

Reported Annual Performance

AR-12-13: Develop integrated Human Systems Integration, Communications, and Separation 

Assurance subproject test concept and Phase 2 test objectives necessary to achieve human-in-theloop simulation and flight test series milestones supporting the Unmanned Aircraft Systems 

(UAS) Integration in the National Airspace System (NAS) Project.

Contributing Theme: Aeronautics

Contributing Program(s): Integrated Systems Research

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

None None None None None AR-12-13

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update AR-13-7: Complete flight evaluations to assess the capabilities of the Live, Virtual, 

Constructive (LVC) distributed simulation environment.

FY14 AR-14-8: Conduct a human-in-the-loop (HiTL) simulation where unmanned aircraft are 

mixed with manned aircraft and subjected to a range of test conditions.
Management and Performance 

PERFORMANCE REPORTING AND PLANNING

M&P-142

Reported Annual Performance

No annual performance goal in FY12 or trended performance.

Contributing Theme: Aeronautics

Contributing 

Program(s): Integrated Systems Research

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update No annual performance goal in FY13.

FY14

AR-14-9: Conduct successful Project Formulation Review to enable the goal of 

accelerating the development and certification process for advanced composite 

structures thus improving the competitiveness of U.S. Industry.