FAA National Aviation Research Plan, Portfolio of Goals, Destination 2025, Flight Plan Program: National Airspace System, NextGen, Air Traffic, Human Protection, Crash Safety, Aviation Weather

Four official Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) documents - converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction - provide unique details about federal plans for the aviation system, with information on the National Airspace System (NAS), NextGen, air traffic management, aviation weather, aircraft noise and emissions, pilot training, human protection, crash safety, evacuation, hazardous weather, occupant protection, and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) integration. The four documents: NARP - National Aviation Research Plan; FAA Portfolio of Goals Fiscal Year 2012; FAA Destination 2025; and FAA Flight Plan 2009-2013.

The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) represents a substantial and long-term change in the management and operation of the national air transportation system. This is a comprehensive initiative that involves not only the development of new technology, but also the leveraging of existing technologies. This includes satellite navigation and control of aircraft, advanced digital communications, and enhanced connectivity between all components of the national air transportation system. In the future, all airports and aircraft in the US airspace will be connected to NextGen’s advanced infrastructure and will continually share information in real-time to improve air transportation’s safety, speed, efficiency, and environmental impacts, while absorbing increased demand levels.

The National Aviation Research Plan (NARP) is the FAA's performance-based plan to ensure that research and development (R&D) investments are well managed, deliver results, and sufficiently address national priorities. The NARP integrates the FAA R&D programs into a portfolio that addresses the near-, mid-, and far-term research needs of the aviation community. The NARP uses R&D goals and performance targets to bridge the strategic visions laid out in the former Flight Plan and the new Destination 2025 to the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), and it identifies how the FAA can use its research strengths to meet these needs. This approach enables the FAA to address the current challenges of operating the safest, most efficient air transportation system in the world while building a foundation for the future system in an environmentally sound manner.

Part 1: 2012 National Aviation Research Plan * * Executive Summary * Preface * Chapter 1 * National Airspace System * 1.1 Mission * 1.2 Vision * 1.3 National Goals * 1.4 NextGen Mandate * 1.5 Planning Documents * 1.6 Research and Development * Chapter 2 * Research and Development Goals * 2.1 R&D Goal 1 - Fast, Flexible and Efficient * 2.2 R&D Goal 2 - Clean and Quiet * 2.3 R&D Goal 3 - High Quality Teams and Individuals * 2.4 R&D Goal 4 - Human-Centered Design * 2.5 R&D Goal 5 - Human Protection * 2.6 R&D Goal 6 - Safe Aerospace Vehicles * 2.7 R&D Goal 7 - Separation Assurance * 2.8 R&D Goal 8 - Situational Awareness * 2.9 R&D Goal 9 - System Knowledge * 2.10 R&D Goal 10 - World Leadership * Chapter 3 * Alignment with NextGen * 3.1 NextGen Solution Sets * 3.2 FAA NextGen R&D Portfolio * Chapter 4 * Research Business Management * 4.1 Sponsors * 4.2 Programs * 4.3 Budget * 4.4 Partnerships * 4.5 Evaluation * Acronyms and Abbreviations