Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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 manufacturing industries in the field of modernization of
industrial sectors;

Whereas promotion of European industrial competitiveness 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 aeronautical 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, universities 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 aeronautical 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 implementation 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 organizations 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 N o 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 comprehending 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

N o 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 universities 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.