The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) manages and operates the National Airspace System (NAS), a significant national resource. However, the demands on this system are continuously growing, and changing technologies provide the opportunity to dramatically improve system effectiveness and efficiency. To this end, the FAA's R,ED Program is an investment in the future that will sustain the United States preeminence in aviation throughout the world. Without this investment, the United States leadership would erode. Thus, the importance of aviation to the Nation Mandates a comprehensive research, engineering, and development program to ensure both the safety of public air transportation and the fulfillment national priorities and policy goals. The contributions of aviation to the Nation's economy cannot be overstated. Aviation and related industries contribute over $600 billion to the United States economy (5.5 percent gross domestic product (GDP), encompassing over 8 million jobs. Aviation is critical to business travel, tourism, and travel services (a $47.5 billion industry), as well as aircraft components ($24.7 billion), cargo and mail transport, and industrial national and international competitiveness. Aerospace is by far the largest exporting industry for the United States, with a 1990 industry trade surplus of $27 billion. The United States is currently the recognized world leader in aerospace, aviation, and air traffic control, However, this leadership role cannot be sustained without continued research into new and evolving technologies.


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