Advancing Aeronautical Safety A Review of NASA's Aviation Safety-Related Research Programs (2010) / Chapter Skim
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2 NASA'S AVIATION SAFETY RESEARCH PRIORITIZATION
2 NASA'S AVIATION SAFETY RESEARCH PRIORITIZATION
Pages 14-20
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From page 14... ...
The second, referred to as the "National Plan," identifies a series of near- to long-term aviation safety challenges that the FAA, NASA, and other federal government agencies are expected to address commensurate with their research roles. NASA's aviation safety research mission has evolved over the past dozen years in response to changing policy guidance, from the 1997 report by the White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security to the more recent National Policy.
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From page 15... ...
In keeping with the Gore Commission's advice, the FAA and NASA signed an agreement in 1999 formalizing the agencies' mutual commitment to developing technologies with the greatest potential for reducing the com mercial aviation accident rate.5 The two agencies agreed to engage in joint research in a number of areas, such as aging aircraft, wake vortex research, wind shear prediction, and aircraft icing detection. 6 In addition, NASA emphasized its role in bringing about early improvements in commercial aviation safety.
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From page 16... ...
With respect to safety, it points to the potential for new and diverse aircraft operations, includ ing new general aviation, advanced rotorcraft, very light jets, and unmanned aircraft, 11 that may present new and complex safety challenges that will require research and development of new safety technologies and operating procedures. The National Plan also acknowledges a continued need for research to address existing safety issues but observes that "the current system has reached a state where low accident levels for commercial aviation, and the traditional forensic investigation approach to aviation safety, are yielding fewer insights capable of significantly improving aviation safety."12 Consistent with NASA's revised aviation safety program, the National Plan stresses the importance of research to advance preventative and prognostic techniques.
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From page 17... ...
Although the National Plan does not explain how these specific safety challenges were identified, it does point to safety-related research needs that have been identified by other sources. Over the past several years, a number of other reports and plans have been issued to advise and guide NASA's aeronautics research program, both generally and with respect to safety research.
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From page 18... ...
NASA connects with the aviation industry through CAST, which employs a data-driven strategy to develop and promote government and industry safety initiatives aimed at reducing the risk of commercial aviation fatali ties. Composed of industry and government safety experts, CAST analyzes reports and data from aircraft incidents BOX 2.1 Examples of NASA Safety-Related Research Roles in the Joint Planning and Development Office's Integrated Workplan • Vulnerability discovery to support analysis tool development for safety assurance and safety risk management (SRM)
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From page 19... ...
The committee was told that a major function of the Aviation Safety Program office is to review its existing research portfolio and any proposed research for consistency with NASA's mission, the fundamental safety chal lenges identified in the National Plan, and identifiable safety research needs. To identify safety research needs, National Plan for NASA Safety Research Needs Aeronautics R&D • Informed by broad spectrum of stakeholders Agency Goals • Balances potential impact with research capabilities, resources, and commitments Government Char ter Analysis of Research Portfolio Review Community Recommendations Input Industry CAST/ICAO Decadal Survey JPDO Committees NAC Independent NRC FAA OGA NTSB Reviews FIGURE 2.1 NASA depiction of its process for analyzing its safety research portfolio in relation to research needs.
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From page 20... ...
The objectives of these research projects and the utilization of existing research capabilities are then adjusted to better align with these emphasized safety concerns. Based on this process, the Aviation Safety Program leadership stated that its safety research projects align with the following six overarching safety research concerns (listed in no particular order)
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