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COMPETITIVE ASSESSMENT OF TECHNOLOGY 105 5â Competitive Assessment of Technology In reviewing the history of the United States in world commercial aviation, it is obvious that the ability to translate high technology into efficient products suited to the marketplace has been a major factor in penetrating world markets successfully. Of comparable importance, manufacturers and customer airlines have been willing to incorporate even newer technologies as they emerged, both for new aircraft and for modification of existing models to improve their performance. The U.S. response to the need for quiet engines, reduction in fuel consumption, and the incorporation of new materials is an example of its continuing ability and readiness to utilize new technology. The airlines of the United States, other national markets, and the certifying agencies have fulfilled an essential role in supporting acceptance of these technologies and in demonstrating them through safe and cost-effective service. None of this would have been possible without the active participation, encouragement, and support of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in achieving early certification. Technological leadership in the commercial aircraft field is not of itself sufficient for success in the marketplace. The products must fit the customer's needs and be available when the customer wants them. When the United States dominated the large transport and other aircraft markets, the time of introduction and the fit of the product to a specific customer's needs were important but not as overriding as today. Two things have happened to suggest that the United States must accelerate its application of technology: Effective foreign competition has emerged with equivalent technology and a number of additional countries such as Indonesia, Brazil, Spain, and Japan have indicated their determination to enter some segments of the market. This chapter consists of two parts. The first addresses the airframe and the fully assembled aircraft; the second examines propulsion technology. In each the panel assesses the present state of technology, then considers capabilities for conducting research and development and for manufacture.
