Advancing the state of aviation safety is a central mission of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In keeping with direction from the National Aeronautics Research and Development Policy, issued by the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the emphasis of NASA aeronautics research is on undertaking longer-term, foundational research aimed at developing a stronger aviation knowledge and technology base. NASAs aeronautics research expertise and assets are also called upon to assist in finding solutions to more immediate and pressing needs of the aviation sector, particularly in the area of safety. Most responsibility for aeronautics research at NASA is housed in the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD). ARMD administers several major research programs, including the Aviation Safety Program, the Fundamental Aeronautics Program, and the Airspace Systems Program. While safety research is the primary domain of the Aviation Safety Program, safetyrelated research is undertaken in all of the ARMD programs. Congress requested this review of NASAs aviation safety-related research programs, seeking an assessment of whether the programs have well-defined, prioritized, and appropriate research objectives; whether resources have been allocated appropriately among these objectives; whether the programs are well coordinated with the safety research programs of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); and whether suitable mechanisms are in place for transitioning the research results into operational technologies and procedures and certification activities in a timely manner. To undertake such an assessment requires knowledge of why NASA elected to focus its safety research on specific objectives and on certain content to meet each objective. Accordingly, the Committee for the Review of NASAs Aviation Safety-Related Programs sought from NASA an explanation of how it goes about identifying and prioritizing safety research needs. Not in a position to make its own thorough assessments of research needs and priorities, the committee refrained from providing advice to NASA on the specific research it should be doing. The study findings with respect to each of the main aspects of the review sought by Congress are summarized next. These findings indicate that NASAs aeronautics research enterprise has made, and continues to make, valuable contributions to aviation system safety but it is falling short and needs improvement in some key respects.


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    Aviation Safety Incident Reporting: NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System

    Connell, L. J. / Transportation Research Board | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2000



    NASA's Aviation Safety and Modeling Project

    Chidester, Thomas R. / Statler, Irving C. | NTRS | 2006


    A Review of NASA's Propulsion Programs for Aviation

    W. L. Stewart / H. W. Johnson / R. J. Weber | NTIS | 1978