Much has been done to develop a national vision for aerospace. However, NASA and FAA research and development (R&D) programs in key aeronautics sectors are insufficient, and there is little or no alignment across government agencies to encourage and facilitate joint benefits.

Understanding that the decisions we make now will shape aersospace for the 21st century, AIA has developed a Five-Year Plan for Research and Development for American Aerospace to address these shortcomings.

With this plan, we are launching a campaign to inform Congress, the administration, and others who have a responsibility and role in shaping the future of our industry about what needs to be done to ensure that the United States aerospace industry remains a global leader in the 21st century.

AIA's Five-Year Research and Development Plan (2004-2008)

Summary

• Implement recommendations of the Commission on the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry.
• Increase NASA budget by $34 billion.
• Bolster the FAA research, engineering, and development budget by $3.8 billion.
• Maintain current Defense Department research, development, test, and evaluation funding levels at $60 billion with added emphasis on including aircraft engine components and propulsion systems, avionics, solid rocket motors, rotorcraft, and global positioning system modernization.
• Support the Joint Planning and Development Office to create a unified inter-agency R&D program.
• Support federal funding to establish research requirements for air traffic management system modernization.
• Speed transition of government research to the aerospace sector.
• Fly a new manned launch vehicle by 2010 and increase spending toward this end by an average of $4 billion a year.

• White Paper: NASA Aeronautics Research and Development Funding (PDF), May 2005

• Press Release: AIA Unveils New 5-Year R&D Plan, Asks for a Vision for Aeronautics, February 25, 2004

• Presentation by Clayton M. Jones, chair of the AIA Board of Governors' initiative on aerospace research and development and Chairman, President and CEO of Rockwell Collins (MS Powerpoint)

• Aerospace Research & Development brochure (PDF)

• Press Briefing Fact Sheet

• Questions and Answers

• Aviation Week & Space Technology Viewpoint by Clayton M. Jones and John W. Douglass, February 23, 2004 (PDF)
  For more information, please visit Aviation Week's web site.