13. 10. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 266/5 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Decision adopting the pilot phase of a programme of strategic research 
and technology in the field of aeronautics 
Pilot phase (1989 to 1990) 
COM(88) 293 final — SYN 144 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 14 July 1988) 
(88/C 266/05) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community and, in particular, Article 130 Q 
(2) thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
In cooperation with the European Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas Article .130 K of the EEC Treaty provides that 
the framework programme shall be implemented through 
specific programmes developed within each activity; 
Whereas the Council, by adopting the framework 
programme of Community research and technological 
development (1987 to 1991) (') acknowledges the interest 
of an action on science and technology for the manufac­
turing industries in the field of modernization of 
industrial sectors; 
Whereas promotion of European industrial competi­
tiveness is one of the major goals of the framework 
programme; 
Whereas the European Parliament, in its assessment of 
the situation and development of the European aero­
nautical industry (2) stressed its role for the future 
political, social and economic development of the 
Community and made particular reference to a series of 
actions to be promoted; 
Whereas the Commission, together with the aeronautical 
industry, has analysed the future needs for aeronautical 
research and technology in order to assure the inter-
(') OJ No L 302, 24. 10. 1987, p. 1. 
(2) Resolution of 15. 10. 1987, PV 33 II, PE 117.164. national competitiveness of the European industry in the 
medium and long term and has concluded that there is 
an urgent need for action at Community level; 
Whereas a Community programme meets the need to 
strengthen and broaden the research and technology 
base of the European aeronautical industry; whereas its 
beneficiaries must therefore be the undertakings, univer­
sities and research centres in the Community which are 
best suited to attain these objectives; 
Whereas it is essential that actions taken in the field of 
aeronautical research and technology acquisition at 
national level and at Community level should be fully 
coherent; 
Whereas it is necessary to make an urgent start on a 
preparatory phase in order to develop new methods of 
collaboration and coordination of aeronautical research 
in the Community before a major programme of aero­
nautical research and technology can be implemented; 
Whereas the Scientific and Technical Research 
Committee (Crest) has expressed its opinion, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
A specific programme of research and technological 
development in the field of aeronautics, as defined in the 
Technical Annex is hereby adopted for a period of two 
years, from 1 January 1989. 
Article 2 
The amount deemed necessary for the execution of the 
programme is 60 million ECU over 24 months, including 
expenditure on staff whose costs shall not exceed 4,5 % 
of the Community's contribution. 
No C 266/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 13. 10. 88 
Article 3 
Rules for the implementation of the programme are set 
out in the Technical Annex. 
Article 4 
In the second year of the programme implementation, 
the Commission shall undertake a review of the 
programme and it shall report to the Council and to the 
European Parliament on the results thereof. 
An evaluation of the results achieved shall be conducted 
by the Commission, which shall report thereon to the 
Council and the Parliament. 
The abovementioned reports shall be established having 
regard to the objectives set out in the Annex to this 
Decision and in conformity with the provisions of Article 
2 (2) of the framework programme. 
Article 5 
The Commission shall be responsible for the execution 
of the programme and shall be assisted in its implemen­
tation by a Committee, hereafter referred to as 'the 
Committee' composed of two representatives of each 
Member State and chaired by the representative of the 
Commission. 
Members of the Committee may be assisted by experts or 
advisors depending on the nature of the issue under 
consideration. 
The proceedings of the Committee shall be confidential. 
The Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure. 
The Secretariat shall be provided by the Commission. 
Article 6 
The procedure laid down in Article 7 shall apply to: 
— The assessment of proposed projects and the 
estimated amount of the Community's financial 
contribution, 
— the definition of appropriate procedures for the 
exchange of information pursuant to Article 9, 
— the participation in any project or action by organi­
zations and undertakings as provided for in Article 
10, 
— the measures to be undertaken to evaluate the 
programme. 
Article 7 
Where the procedure laid down in this Article is to be 
followed, the representative of the Commission shall 
submit to the committee a draft of the measures to be 
taken. The committee shall deliver its opinion on the 
draft within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter. The 
opinion shall be delivered by the majority laid down in 
Article 148 (2) of the Treaty in the case of decisions 
which the Council is required to adopt on a proposal 
from the Commission. The votes of the representatives of 
the Member States within the committee shall be 
weighted in the manner set out in that Article. The 
chariman shall not vote. 
The Commission shall adopt measures which shall apply 
immediately. However, if these measures are not in 
accordance with the opinion of the committee, they shall 
be communicated by the Commission to the Council 
forthwith. In that event the Commission may defer 
application of the measures which it has decided for a 
period of not more than one month from the date of 
such communication. 
The Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take a 
different decision within the time limit referred to in the 
previous paragraph. 
Article 8 
The contracts entered into by the Commission shall 
regulate the rights and obligations of each party, 
including the methods of disseminating, protecting and 
exploiting the results of the programme. 
Article 9 
With regard to the activities provided for in Article 1, 
the Member States and the Community shall exchange 
all appropriate information to which they have access 
and which they are free to disclose concerning the areas 
covered by this Decision, whether or not planned or 
carried out under their authority. 
The information shall be exchanged in accordance with a 
procedure to be defined by the Commission after 
consulting the Committee and will be treated as 
confidential at the supplier's request. 
Article 10 
Where framework agreements for scientific and technical 
cooperation between non-member European countries 
and the European Communities have been concluded, 
organisations and undertakings established in these 
countries may, under appropriate conditions, to be 
defined by the Commission, become partners in a project 
undertaken within this programme. 
No contractor established outside the Community who 
particicpates as a partner in a project undertaken within 
the programme shall be entitled to Community financing 
intended for the programme. 
Article 11 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 
13. 10. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 266/7 
TECHNICAL ANNEX 
DEFINING THE PILOT PHASE OF A PROGRAMME OF STRATEGIC RESEARCH AND TECH­
NOLOGY IN THE FIELD OF AERONAUTICS 
I. APPROACH AND OBJECTIVES 
(a) Approach 
As regards the programme as a whole, the means by which the above objectives will be achieved is 
the establishment of a strategic programme of precompetitive aeronautical research and technology 
acquisition, conducted at Community level, focussed upon key technology goals derived from 
industrial analysis of future generic product goals and concerted to the maximum extent with other 
national and international research and technology acquisition activities. 
For the pilot phase the same basic methods are to be followed but they will be implemented at a 
smaller scale of activity than that envisaged for the main programme. The work plan specified for 
the pilot phase is chosen to provide valid research in this field* Thus the programme addresses a 
number of important problems, ranging over most of the disciplinary fields of interest and compre­
hending a representative variety of types of activity. Within these broad criteria, the subject chosen 
have been suggested by the industry and have been refined after extensive discussion by experts. 
The scope of activity implied by reference to research and technology acquisition in this field 
covers all types of action which are not related to design, manufacture or sale of specific products 
and which are downstream of basic research. 
(b) Objectives 
The essential objective of the overall programme is to respond to the severe technological 
challenge which confronts the European aeronautical industry. To achieve this vital aim, the 
programme seeks to encourage and assist a qualitative leap in the scope and effectiveness of 
cooperation at European level between the many and varied organisations (aircraft companies, 
engine companies, equipment companies, national research centres, materials suppliers, research 
institutes, universities, etc.) the work of which contributes to the European aeronautical technology 
base. 
The specific objectives of the pilot phase are: 
— to create the essential impetus for the launching of a major and complex programme of actions, 
— to carry out research work in a number of areas of technological advance which are of great 
importance to the future capability of the aeronautical industry, 
— to learn lessons regarding the management and operation of such a programme and to refine 
the definition of the longer term actions which should be pursued, 
— to provide concrete evidence upon which decisions regarding future action can be based. 
II. TECHNICAL CONTENTS 
The programme shall consist of the following tasks: 
Aerodynamics (including flight mechanics) 
Analysis and optimization of high speed aircraft configuration including aerothermodynamics heat load 
estimates 
— Framework and integration 
— Optimization strategy and methods 
^— Approximate methods (loads and coefficients) 
— Transport and thermodynamics phenomena and models 
No C 266/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 13. 10. 88 
— Numerical methods 
— Grid generation 
— Shock/vortex boundary layer interactions 
— Experimental techniques — measurements and data base 
— Low speed performance 
Laminar flow control 
— Wind tunnel calibration and utilization 
— Testing techniques and suction device development 
— Numerical flow field calculation 
— Surface quality and degradation 
— Flight test requirements 
— Technology of non-wing applications, fixed wing aircraft and helicopters 
— Final cost-benefit analysis 
Materials 
— Aluminum-lithium alloys 
— Metal matrix composites 
— Powder metallurgy 
— Test methods for the characterization and qualification of material 
— Organic composites for service-temperatures above 120 °C 
— Fibre-reinforced carbon and fibre-reinforced ceramics 
— Surface technologies 
— Adhesives 
— Composites with organic matrices for service-temperature up to 120 °C 
— Composites 
— Composite/metal kombinations 
Acoustics 
Aircraft noise source identification, prediction and reduction 
— Helicopters and tilt-rotors 
— Acoustic sources 
— Prediction codes 
— Transmission paths 
— Community and passenger noise impact 
— Advanced propellers and propfans 
— Near and far field noise prediction schemes 
— Validation of the prediction schemes by low speed and high speed wind-tunnel tests 
— Installation effects 
— Engine testbed for acoustic measurements 
— Specifications 
— Design and construction 
— Instrumentation 
— Calibration 
13. 10. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 266/9 
Interior noise prediction and reduction 
— Prediction techniques 
— Active noise control 
— European aircraft interior noise test facility 
Exterior noise reduction by active control 
— Theoretical investigations 
— Development of anti-noise generators 
— Development of controlling logic for periodic and stochastic noise 
Acoustic fatique and related damage tolerance on advanced composites 
— Investigation of materials and construction methods 
— Static and dynamics test of coupons and components 
— Modal test programme 
— Acoustic fatigue tests 
— Theoretical analysis of damage tolerance and acoustic fatigue 
— Development of non destructive testing methods for new fibre composite materials and structures 
Computation 
— Requirements 
— General supercomputing 
— Mathematical/physical models and algorithms 
— Integration of engineering and design tools 
— Knowledge-based systems 
— Software environment 
— Basic tools 
— Communication 
— Software production environment 
Airbrorne systems and equipments 
Integration and operation of systems and equipment 
— Digital technology 
— Centralized/decentralized Computing 
— Data transmission 
— Sensors and actuators 
— Electrical power 
— Systems development and evaluation tools 
— Flight deck operational concepts and flight management systems 
— On board intelligent knowledge based systems (IKBS) 
All-electric aircraft 
— Ice protection 
— Ice physics 
— Advanced ice protection concepts 
— Electrical impulse de-icing (EIDI) 
No C 266/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 13. 10. 88 
— Flight control actuation 
— Electromechanical actuators (EMA) 
— Electrohydraulics pumps (EHP) 
— Electrohydrostatics actuators 
— Secondary power generation 
— Electrical generation 
— Replacement of engine-bleed air 
— New high power electrical distribution system 
Propulsion 
— Definition of experimental parameters to be obtained for the difference operating conditions 
— Study and define configuration for the main phase testing 
— Assessment and selection of suitable wind tunnels, and type and sizes of models 
— Aerodynamic design of models 
— Specification and design of the wind tunnel models and their components 
— Specification of suitable drive motors 
— Definition of model propellers and engine nacelles preferably in cooperation with propeller and 
engine manufacturers 
— Detailed definition and specification of the experimental programme, together with measuring 
equipment data acquisition and analysis requirements 
— Acquisition and assembly of hardware. 
Design and manufacturing technology 
— Intelligent interfaces 
— Common data base 
— 3D solid modelling 
III. IMPLEMENTATION 
The programme shall comprise pre-competitive research and technology projects, carried out by means 
of contracts to be concluded with companies, including small and medium-sized undertaking, research 
centres, universities resident in the Community. Pursuant to Article 10 of the Decision, the programme 
may also be open to similar entities resident in the countries concerned. 
Particular attention will be given to the coordination and the complementarity with activities carried 
out under the programmes of the Member States and of the Community. 
The programme shall include the organization of meetings and consultation of experts. 
The selection of projects is carried out by the Commission, assisted by the Committee, having regard 
to the objectives defined in this Annex. 
The projects shall, as a rule, be submitted in reply to an open invitation published in the Official 
Journal of the European Communities and involve the participation of at least two independent 
industrial partners not all established in the same Member State. Each contractor will be expected to 
bring a significant contribution to the project. Contractors shall be expected to bear a substantial 
proportion of the costs. The Community contribution shall normally be 50 % of the total expenditure. 
Alternatively, in respect of universities and research institutes carrying out projects or actions, the 
Community may bear up to 100 % of the additional expenditure involved. 
13. 10. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 266/11 
IV. EVALUATION CRITERIA 
The Commission's communication to the Council concerning a Community plan of action relating to 
the evaluation of Community research and development activities for the years 1987 to 1991 
(COM(86) 660 final) states that the objectives and milestones of each research programme have to be 
set out in a testable form, which are set out below: 
1. As the principal objective is to enhance the competitive position of the Community aeronautical 
industries, the evaluation should determine: 
— the extent to which the project was selected against industrial criteria, 
— the value of the management structure set up the implementation of the pilot phase. 
2. A further objective is to encourage transfrontier collaboration in the strategic aeronautical industrial 
research and technology, to reduce duplication of the efforts and provide better utilization of 
facilities. 
The implementation of the programme will offer the smaller Member States of the Community the 
opportunity of contribute to participate in high advanced technological programmes and this is a 
further powerful factor in promoting European unity. 
The evaluation should determine: 
— to what extent links were established between partners (aeronautical companies, SMEs univer­
sities and research centers), 
— to what extent satisfactory procedures were established for management and exploitation of 
intellectual property created by the programme. 
3. As a typical objective of a 'pilot programme' we can expect the following results: 
— the provision of experience and relevant information, 
— the successful preparation of the main programme. 
The evaluation should assess these outputs.