FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION CEAT Airport · PDF fileFEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign leads the Center of Excellence (COE) for Airport

F E D E R A L A V I A T I O N A D M I N I S T R A T I O N

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign leads the Center of Excellence(COE) for Airport Technology (CEAT).This Center was competitively selected by the FAA Administrator in 1995,through a strong working partnership with the FAA, initially focused on airportpavement issues.

In 1999, the Center broadened its researchto include airport safety components:wildlife hazard mitigation, anti-icing, andairport lighting and visual guidance. TheCOE research team was expanded toinclude Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute(RPI), and North Carolina A&TUniversity (NCA&T).

In 2004, the COE developed a strongpartnership with the O’HareModernization Program (OMP). TheCenter established a research initiative tar-geting technical issues related to the con-struction of new and extended runways.

The joint project emphasizes activeresearch and novel approaches to the creation of durable pavements providingfor improvement and cost-effectiveness inthis vital area.

The COE/OMP research team lendsexpertise in the areas of concrete pavementstudies, airport wildlife safety managementand subgrade support and stabilization atthe Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

In 2004, the FAA also invited the LightingResearch Center (LRC) at RensselaerPolytechnic Institute to conduct researchon new LED and tungsten halogen tech-nologies for airport visual guidance. TheCOE has been serving as an umbrellaorganization encompassing this work.

The COE has sponsored summer intern-ship programs between NCA&T andUIUC over the past decade. This out-reach effort has successfully encouraged

students from underrepresented groups topursue graduate studies in airport engineering.

The FAA’s National Airport Pavement TestFacility (NAPTF) located at the FAAWilliam J. Hughes Technical Center, pro-vides COE researchers the opportunity to analyze multiple-wheel interaction effectson runway surfaces. Knowledge beinggained from these studies supports theFAA’s development of new pavementdesign software in preparation for the nextgeneration of commercial aircraft includ-ing the Boeing B-777 and Airbus A-380.

Over the past decade, CEAT has produced50 Ph.D. theses, 500+ technical reports,articles and papers, has involved over 150students. Since it’s inception, the FAAinvestment in CEAT research has beenmatched by more than $18M of cost shar-ing contributions by the University ofIllinois and CEAT industrial partners.

Technology Areas:Pavement Research: NondestructiveEvaluation of Pavements, StructuralBehavior and Modeling, DesignConcepts and Procedures.

Safety Management: Avian Radars,Foreign Object Debris (FOD)Detection, LED Lighting Technology,Wildlife Hazard Mitigation.

Sponsor:Airport Technology R&D Team

Web:http://ceat.illinois.edu/

Center of Excellence for Airport TechnologyCEAT

Patricia Watts, Ph.D.

Program Director

FAA Centers of Excellence

Office of Finance & NextGen Planning

Atlantic City Int'l Airport, NJ 08405

Phone: (609) 485-5043

Fax: (609) 485-9430

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.coe.faa.gov

The FAA has established the following Centers of Excellence:

• The Joint Center of Excellence for Computational Modeling of Aircraft Structures - 1992 to 1996Designated by Congress in 1990

• Airport Technology - 1995Web: http://cee.uiuc.edu/research/CEAT

• Operations Research - 1996Web: http://www.nextor.org

• Airworthiness Assurance - 1997Web: http://www.coe.faa.gov/aace

• General Aviation - 2001Web: http://www.cgar.org

• Aircraft Noise and Aviation Emissions Mitigation - 2003 (with NASA andTransport Canada)Web: http://www.partner.aero

• Advanced Materials - 2004Web: http://www.niar.twsu.edu/coe/cecam.aspWeb: http://depts.washington.edu/amtas

• Airliner Cabin Environment Research - 2004Web: http://acer.eng.auburn.edu

Center Projects Include:

Airport Safety:• Wildlife Hazard Abatement Systems

(WHAS)• Deployment and Evaluation of Avian

Radars• Deployment and Operation of FOD

Detection Systems at Airports• Metrics and Measurement Procedures

for LED Lighting Systems• Field Evaluation of Runway Guard

Lights

Airport Pavement:• Non-Destructive Testing and Evaluation

(NDTE) Technologies for AirportPavement

• Advanced Finite Element Modeling ofAsphalt Overlays

• Alternative Fatigue Cracking Modes onAirfield Rigid Pavements

• Hot-Mix Asphalt (HMA) FatigueCharacteristics for Airport Pavements

• Development and Validation of ResidualStress Test for Concrete Pavement

University Partners:University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (lead)

North Carolina A&T UniversityRensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Public Partners:O’Hare Modernization ProgramO’Hare International AirportChicago Department of AviationPort of SeattleSeattle-Tacoma International AirportJohn F. Kennedy International AirportProvidence International AirportRhode Island Airport Corporation

Industry Affiliates:XSiGHT SystemsGeo-Marine Inc.Accipiter SystemsTrex Enterprises Corp.QinetiQ Group PLC Stratech Systems, Ltd.

FAA CEAT Program Manager:David R. Brill, Ph.D.Airport Technology R&D TeamWilliam J. Hughes Technical Center Phone: (609) 485-5198Fax: (609) 485-4845 Email: [email protected]

CEAT University Director:David A. Lange, Ph.D.University of Illinois at

Urbana Champaign Phone: (217) 333-4816Fax: (217) 893-0004Email: [email protected]


NEXTORNational Center of

Excellence for AviationOperations Research

Established in 1996, the Center ofExcellence (COE) for Aviation OperationsResearch (NEXTOR) seeks to lead the aviation community by exploring newideas and paradigms for aviation opera-tions, educating and training aviation professionals, and promoting knowledgeexchange among industry, government andacademic leaders.

In collaboration with the FAA and itsindustry partners, this Center looks todevelop an understanding of how theNational Airspace System (NAS) serviceproviders and users will respond to alterna-tive system architectures, operational con-cepts, investment strategies, and financemechanisms. The knowledge and capabili-ties gained from this research provides crit-ical information to executives and seniorgovernment officials on a host of issues

ranging from near-term investment choicesto long-term strategies.

Through its conference and seminar series,this COE gains a wealth of informationthat is presented and discussed with theacademic and industrial community. Theseries offers two to three conferences andseminars per year on such subjects as NASInfrastructure Management, PerformanceMetrics, and Economic and Social Value ofAir Transportation.

In addition, the partnership seeks toincrease the breadth of aviation operationsresearch knowledge through short coursesand degree programs at each of its universi-ties. More than 200 graduate students haveparticipated in the COE’s research programs since the organizations formationin 1996. Short courses are taught by facul-

ty members and are open to any FAA, federal government, or industry affiliateemployee interested in air transportationsystems analysis. COE members andindustry affiliates have provided more than15M in matching contributions.

Core Members:University of California, BerkeleyMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyGeorge Mason UniversityUniversity of Maryland, College Park

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Industry Affiliates:

The Boeing Company

California Department of Transportation

CSSI, Inc

Draper Laboratory

Established: 1996

Technology Areas:• Air Traffic Management and Control• Safety Data Analysis• Communications, Data Collection,

and Distribution• Human Factors• System Performance and Assessment

Measures• Aviation Economics• Knowledge Transfer and Education

Sponsor: Office of TechnologyDevelopment and OperationsPlanning

Web: http://www.nextor.org


Program Director




Phone: (609) 485-5043

Fax: (609) 485-9430












Federal Express

HoneywellLeigh Fisher AssociatesLogistics Management InstituteLos Angeles World Airports Maryland Aviation AdministrationMassachusetts Port AuthorityMetron Aviation Inc.Northrop GrummanSabreSan Francisco International AirportSeagull TechnologySouthern California Association of

GovernmentsVirginia Department of Transportation

University Management Team:

Co-Directors:

Prof. Mark Hansen, Ph.D.University of California-BerkleyPhone: (510) 642-2880Email: [email protected]

Prof. Arnie Barnett, Ph.D.Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyPhone: (617) 253-2670Email: [email protected]

Prof. Michael Ball, Ph.D.University of MarylandPhone: (301) 405-2227Email: [email protected]

Prof. Antonio Trani, Ph.D.Virginia Polytechnic InstitutePhone: (540) 231-4418Email: [email protected]

Prof. Lance Sherry, Ph.D.George Mason UniversityPhone: (703) 993-1711Email: [email protected]


Center of Excellence for Aircraft Noiseand Aviation Emissions Mitigation

N A T I O N A L A E R O N A U T I C S & S P A C E A D M I N I S T R A T I O N

PARTNERPartnership for AiR Transportation Noise and Emissions Reduction

Established: September 2003

Research Areas:• Noise and Emissions Measurements• Aviation Effects on Air Quality and

Climate• Noise and Emissions Impacts on

Human Health and Well-Being• Compatible Land Use Management• Aircraft Operational Procedures for

Reduced Noise and Emissions• Design and Analysis of Current and

Future Aircraft Technology • Aviation Alternative Fuel

Opportunities, Challenges,Emissions Characteristics

• Interdependencies AmongTechnology, Policy, Operations,Economics, Environment

• Tools and Analysis to InformDecision-making

• Communication and ContinuingEducation

Sponsors: FAA Office of Environmentand Energy, NASA Aeronautics,and Transport Canada

Web: http://www.partner.aero

The Center of Excellence (COE) forAircraft Noise and Aviation EmissionsMitigation (PARTNER) collaborates withits sponsors, FAA, NASA, DOD, andTransport Canada, and a broad range ofstakeholders to enhance the understandingof aviation environmental issues, and fostera quieter and cleaner environment. Inaddition to its core sponsors, Center activ-ities are supported by the Department ofTransportation Volpe NationalTransportation Systems Center, theDepartment of Defense, and theEnvironmental Protection Agency.

The Center of Excellence is a long-term

partnership of academia, industry, andgovernment to foster technological, opera-tional, policy, and workforce advances forthe betterment of mobility, the economy,and the environment. The group conductsresearch and engineering development toincrease understanding of aviation's envi-ronmental impacts, and to develop andassess options for mitigating these impacts.

The knowledge and capability gained fromthis research provides government, indus-try, communities, and policy-makers withnew scientific understanding and analysisto employ when addressing aviation's envi-ronmental impacts. COE members and

industry affiliates have provided more than$27M in matching contributions.

Examples of current research:

• Emissions Characteristics ofAlternative Fuels

• Emissions Atmospheric Impacts• Health Impacts of Aviation-Related

Air Pollutants• Noise Exposure Response• Health Effects of Aircraft Noise• Sonic Boom Mitigation• Sound Structural Transmission• Open Rotor Noise Impact On Airport

Communities• Continuous Descent Arrival


Program Director




Phone: (609) 485-5043

Fax: (609) 485-9430












• Airport Surface MovementOptimization

• Environmental Cost-benefit Analysisof Ultra Low Sulfur Jet Fuels

• Life-cycle Analysis of Alternative JetFuels

• Metrics for an Aviation CO2 Standard

• Economic and Environmental Effectsof a Cap-And-Trade Policy inAviation

• Tools to Assess Technology, Operationsand Policy Options for Mitigation

University Partners:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology -Team Lead

Georgia Institute of Technology

Harvard University

Pennsylvania State University

Purdue University

Stanford University

Missouri University of Science andTechnology

University of North Carolina

York University

Other University Participants:Cambridge University, University ofCalifornia at San Diego, University ofHouston, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, University of Reading,University of Sheffield.

Industry, Professional and Community Affiliates:

One of PARTNER's great strengths is itsadvisory board. Members include aero-space manufacturers, airlines, airports,national, state and local government, pro-fessional and trade associations, non-gov-ernmental organizations and communitygroups. They are united in the desire tofoster collaboration and consensus tojointly advance environmental perform-ance, efficiency, safety and security. Acomplete list of members is available athttp://web.mit.edu/aeroastro/partner/about/board.html

University COE Director:Ian A. Waitz, Ph.D.Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyPhone: (617) 253-0218Email: [email protected]

FAA Program Manager:Lourdes Maurice, Ph.D.Federal Aviation Administration Phone: (202) 493-4293Email: [email protected]

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

TransportCanada

TransportsCanada

NASA Program ManagerJay E. DryerFundamental Aeronautics Program Office DirectorEmail: [email protected]

Transport Canada Program ManagerTed McDonaldSenior Environmental Advisor (Aviation)Conseiller principal de l'environnement(aviation)Transport CanadaPhone: (613) 990-1125Email: [email protected]


Center of Excellence forGeneral Aviation ResearchCGAR

Established: 2001

Technology Areas:

• NextGen ADS-B • Weather Technology in the Cockpit • General Aviation Safety

Management Systems• Remote Airport Lighting Systems • FAA Industry Training Standards • Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Sponsor:

Airport and Aircraft SafetyResearch & DevelopmentDivision

Web: http://www.cgar.org/

Federal Aviation AdministrationAdministrator, Jane Garvey, selected ateam of universities that forms the AirTransportation Center of Excellence forGeneral Aviation Research (CGAR) inMarch, 2001. The Embry-RiddleAeronautical University (ERAU) servesas lead for the core team that includesWichita State University, the Universityof North Dakota, and the University ofAlaska. Affiliate universities includeFlorida A&M University and MiddleTennessee State University. In August2001, the universities entered into coop-erative agreements with the FAA thatallow them to share as equal technicalpartners in support of GA safety-relatedresearch and development.

Centers of Excellence (COEs) are designat-ed following rigorous competition and a

formal evaluation based on selection crite-ria mandated in Public Law 101-508, theFAA Research Engineering andDevelopment Authorization Act of 1990.

Funding for the center is provided throughcost-share contract awards and grants sub-ject to dollar-for-dollar matching require-ments mandated by Congress. The COErepresents a long-term FAA commitmentover a period of 10 years, and the Center isstriving to become a self-supportingnational resource during its final phase. Through the Air Transportation Centers ofExcellence program, the FAA enhancesinternal research efforts with access to aca-demic research, and hastens the applicationof this work to benefit the aviation com-munity and the flying public.

By establishing major research centers

throughout the country to advance aviation-related technologies, the FAAproactively works toward creating a poolof professionals trained in aviation-relat-ed research areas; helps finance graduateeducation; fosters cooperative FAA-uni-versity-industry research and develop-ment; and ultimately improves thenational airspace system.

FAA Centers of Excellence form a cumula-tive repository of aviation related knowl-edge, and encompass the entire spectrumor research and development from basicresearch to engineering development andprototyping.

The FAA has funded more than 100 proj-ects, reports, theses, and doctoral disserta-tions through this Center of Excellencepartnership. More than 250 graduate and



Program Director




Phone: (609) 485-5043

Fax: (609) 485-9430











undergraduate students have participated inresearch activities associated with this COE.The COE members and industry affiliateshave provided more than $15M in match-ing contributions.

CGAR Center projects include:• Effect of ADS-B on Near Mid-Air

Collision Rates of General AviationAircraft

• Remote Airport Lighting Systems(RALS)

• Establish a North American Bird StrikeAdvisory System (NABSAS)/ USCivilian Airport Wildlife AdvisorySystem

• Weather Technology in the Cockpit(WTIC)

• Safety Management Systems (SMS) • Statistical Analysis for General Aviation

Accidents • Aviation-Grade Ethanol Development • Joint Training Standards Development -

FAA Industry Standards Program • UAS Systems Research • Human Factors in General Aviation • ASI Course Development

For additional information:

University Lead: Steven Hampton, Ed.D. COE For General Aviation Research Embry Riddle Aeronautical University 600 S. Clyde Morris Blvd. Daytona Beach, FL 32114-3900 Phone: (386) 226-6725 Fax: (386) 323-5094 Email: [email protected]

FAA Program Manager:Peter Sparacino FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center Atlantic City Int'l Airport, NJ 08405 Phone: (609) 485-5430 Fax: (609) 485-4101 Email: [email protected]

University Partners: Embry Riddle Aeronautical UniversityUniversity of North DakotaUniversity of Alaska-AnchorageUniversity of Alaska-FairbanksWichita State University

Affiliate Members: Florida A&M University Middle Tennessee State University


The Joint Center of Excellence for Advanced MaterialsJAMS

The Joint Center of Excellence (COE) forAdvanced Materials (JAMS) was estab-lished in January 2004 to assist in ensuringthe safe and reliable application of com-posites and advanced materials to commer-cial aircraft. The Center is a joint effort ofthe Center for Composite and AdvancedMaterials (CECAM) led by Wichita StateUniversity and Advanced Materials forTransport Aircraft Structures (AMTAS) ledby the University of Washington. TheCOE is a leader in international coordina-tion of research, development, and stan-dardization for structures constructed fromthese new materials.

The common goal of this Joint Center, aswith the other COEs, is to create a cost-sharing academic, industrial, and govern-mental partnership. The members areforging a union between the public sector,the private sector, and academic inst i -tutions to create a world-class capabilityto identify solutions for existing and

potential advanced materials andstructures issues.

The main focus of this partnership is theresearch, engineering, and development ofinformation used to assure safety and stan-dardize certification of existing and emerg-ing structural applications of compositesand advanced materials. Specifically, proj-ects include the evaluation of past applica-tions, performance of applied research, andthe development of standard engineeringpractices.

This Joint Center of Excellence, workingwith industry and government, also playsan important role in technology transfer,training, and continuing education for theaircraft industry and regulators. The groupstrives for international standardization;develops consensus for developed proto-cols; identifies standardized criteria formaterial and process control; and promotesshared material databases worldwide.

COE members and industry affiliates haveprovided more than $15M in matchingcontributions.

JAMS Projects include:

• Aging of Composite Aircraft Structures:Beechcraft Starship Teardown andDecommissioned Boeing 737 Tail

• Certification of DiscontinuousComposite Material Forms for AircraftStructures

• Combined Global/Local Variability andUncertainty in IntegratedAeroservoelasticity of CompositeAircraft

• Crashworthiness of Composites:Material Dynamic Properties

• Damage Tolerance and Durability ofAdhesively Bonded CompositeStructures and GLARE Laminates forAircraft Structures

• Development and Evaluation ofFracture Mechanics Test Methods forSandwich Composites

Established: 2004Technology Areas:• Material Standardization and Shared

Databases• Bonded Structures• Structural Substantiation• Damage Tolerance and Durability

Maintenance Practices• Advanced Material Forms

andProcesses• Unique Advanced Materials Cabin

Safety Issues• Life Management of Materials for

Improved Aircraft MaintenancePractices

• Nanotechnology for CompositeStructures

Sponsor: Office of Airport and AircraftSafety R&D Division

Web: http://www.jams-coe.org/


Program Director




Phone: (609) 485-5043

Fax: (609) 485-9430












• Development of Reliability BasedDamage Tolerant Structural DesignMethodology

• Environmental Factor Influence onComposite Design and Certification

• Evaluation of Friction Stir Weld Processand Properties for Aerospace Application

• Failure of Notched Laminates UnderOut-of-Plane Bending

• Fluid Ingression Damage Mechanism inComposite Sandwich Structures

• Identification and Validation ofAnalytical Chemistry Methods forDetecting Composite SurfaceContamination and Moisture

• Impact Damage Formation onComposite Aircraft Structures

• Improving Adhesive Bonding ofComposites Through SurfaceCharacterization

• Inverse/Optimal Thermal Repair ofComposites

• Methods for the Evaluation of the Fitnessof Fiber Reinforced Composite Surfacesfor Subsequent Adhesive Bonding

• Production Control Effect on CompositeMaterial Quality and Stability

• Standardization of Analytical andExperimental Methods forCrashworthiness Energy Absorption ofComposite Materials

• Statistical Analysis Program forGenerating Material Allowables

• Structure Health Monitoring for LifeManagement of Aircraft

• Training Strategy Development -Composite Materials Education forAircraft Practitioners

• Technology Assessment of theAirworthiness of Unmanned AerialSystems

CECAM Director/University Lead:John Tomblin, Ph.D., Executive DirectorNational Institute for Aviation ResearchWichita State UniversityPhone: (316) 978-5234 Email: [email protected]

CECAM Members:Northwestern UniversityPurdue UniversityUniversity of DelawareUniversity of California at Los AngelesTuskegee University

AMTAS Director/University Lead:Mark E. Tuttle, Ph.D.Professor, Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of WashingtonPhone: (206) 685-6665Email: [email protected]

AMTAS Members:Washington State UniversityOregon State UniversityFlorida International UniversityUniversity of UtahEdmonds Community College

FAA Program Manager:Curtis Davies William J. Hughes Technical CenterPhone: (609) 485-8758Email: [email protected]

Composite sandwich panel with a circular repair patchbeing inspected using mechanical impedance equipment.


Established: August, 2004

Technology Areas:• Cabin Air Quality Sensor System

Development• Contamination Mitigation

Technology Development• Air Quality Incident Analysis• Safety and Health Risk

Assessments• Disease Transmission and

Mitigation

Sponsor: FAA Aviation SafetyOffice of Aerospace Medicine

Web: http://acer.eng.auburn.edu

The Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) Administrator announced the estab-lishment of the Center of Excellence(COE) for Airliner Cabin EnvironmentResearch (ACER) on August 30, 2004.Recently re-named the COE for Researchin the Intermodal Transport Environment(RITE), the Center, in collaboration withthe FAA, expanded its scope and nowengages in research and development toensure the safety and health of all humanoccupants of aircraft as well as other vehi-cles used in public transportation (e.g.,trains, buses, etc.). This partnership seeksto develop tools to understand and miti-gate occupant safety and health risks thatarise from environmental issues.

The COE conducts research that includesthe entire spectrum from applied researchthrough engineering development, proto-typing, and testing within the scope of theairliner cabin environment. The scope ofthis research includes, but is not limited to:development of cabin air quality sensors

and sensor systems to detect potential envi-ronmental contaminants; evaluation anddefinition of the distribution of chemicalcontaminants and infectious disease in air-liner cabins; investigation of the healtheffects of potential contaminants and otheraspects of airliner cabin environments.

The Center performs field and laboratoryanalysis of potential cabin contaminants,assessments of potential methods to miti-gate, control and eliminate the effectand/or spread of contaminants and disease,and develops databases with supportingarchitecture for documentation of contam-inants and contaminant incidents on com-mercial airliners. The future scope of activ-

ities may be expanded to other aviationcargo and cabin environmental qualityefforts such as large-scale application ofsampling/analysis techniques in commer-cial aviation. COE members and industryaffiliates have provided more than $15.5Min matching contributions.

University Partners:Auburn University - Executive LeadHarvard University - Technical Co-leadPurdue University - Technical Co-leadBoise State UniversityKansas State UniversityUniversity of Medicine and Dentistry

of New Jersey

Center of Excellence for Research in theIntermodal Transport Environment

(formerly Airliner Cabin Environment Research-ACER)RITE

“We’ve brought together some of the brightest minds science has tooffer to focus on cabin air quality and chemical and biologicalthreats to protect passengers and crew members. This research willbe of great benefit to the flying public.”

FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey











Program Director




Phone: (609) 485-5043

Fax: (609) 485-9430



University Leads:Executive DirectorRuel A. (Tony) Overfelt, Ph.D.Auburn UniversityPhone: (334) 844-5940Email: [email protected]

Technical Directors:John D. Spengler, Ph.D.Harvard UniversityPhone: (617) 384-8810Email: [email protected]

Q. Yan Chen, Ph.D.Purdue UniversityPhone: (765) 496-7562Email: [email protected]

FAA Program Managers:Charles Ruehle, M.D.FAA Office of Aerospace MedicinePhone: (202) 493-4580email: [email protected]

Jean WatsonFAA Aviation SafetyOffice of Aerospace MedicinePhone: (202) 267-8393Email: [email protected]

Industry Affiliates:Air Transport Association ANSYS Inc.AeroClave LLC.Airline Pilots AssociationAirOcare Inc.Altera Inc.Boeing CompanyDelta Air LinesDonaldson Company Inc.Goodrich Sensor SystemsHoneywellIntergraph CorporationInvisiMED CompanyKeddeg CompanyPall Aeropower CorporationSteris CorporationTechnical University of DenmarkTSI Inc.United Technologies Research Center

Advisory Board Members: Air Transport Association, ARA, Boeing, Honeywell (Chair), Pall AeropowerCorp., Steris, CDC, and EPA.


Genesis of the Center of Excellence forCommercial Space Transportation

On August 18, 2009, FAA Administrator,Randy Babbitt, in concurrance with arequest by Dr. George Nield, AssociateAdministrator for the FAA Office ofCommercial Space Transportation (AST),agreed to the creation of a new FAA Centerof Excellence for Commercial SpaceTransportation (COE CST).

Dr. Nield intends to utilize the collabora-tive COE model to help fulfill the role ofAST to "encourage, facilitate, and pro-mote" commercial space transportation.The new FAA Center will focus on strate-gic research, education and training to sup-port AST initiatives over the next decade.

Since its creation in 1984, the FAA Officeof Commercial Space Transportation hassuccessfully conducted its two-fold regula-tory responsibility: 1) to judiciously regu-late the industry to ensure public safety,

and 2) to encourage, facilitate, and pro-mote a safe and successful commercialspace transportation industry. As of March2010, there have been over 200 successfullaunchs that were licensed or permittedlaunches by the FAA Office of CommercialSpace Transportation.

The Emerging Commercial SpaceTransportation Industry

On October 4, 2004 Burt Rutan won the$10 million Ansari X PRIZE withSpaceShipOne, his suborbital reusablelaunch vehicle to an altitude of 100km(328,000 feet). This feat was immediatelyrecognized as a milestone in flight by theSmithsonian's National Air & SpaceMuseum, and it led to the creation andannouncement of Virgin Galactic, the firstcommercial company designed to providefrequent and safe flights to take privateindividuals to the edge of space and back.

Armadillo Aerospace and Masten Space

Systems, after claiming all two million dol-lars in the Lunar Lander Challenge byOctober 2009, announced plans to beginflight testing of rocketpowered vehicleswith the stated goal of commercial opera-tions for frequent suborbital flight andrecovery of scientific payloads to altitudesnear, to, and above 100 kilometers.

Meanwhile, the intentions and accom-plishments of other companies, e.g.,Orbital Sciences, Space ExplorationTechnologies (aka SpaceX), and XCORAerospace, provide strong examples of theemerging commercial space transportationsectors that differentiate themselves fromthe more established sectors of expendablelaunch vehicles.

Currently, as of April 2010, the next chap-ter of the SpaceShipOne story has alreadybegun to unfold. Space- ShipTwo (chris-tened VSS Enterprise), a vehicle six timeslarger than its predecessor, underwent itsinaugural captive carry test. It was carried

To be Established: 2010

Technology Areas:

Space Traffic Mgt & Operations

Launch Vehicle Systems

Human Space Flight

Space Commerce

Sponsor:Office of Commercial SpaceTransportation

The Center of Excellence forCommercial Space Transportation CST

VSS Enterprise First Flight: Photo by Mark Greenberg










by WhiteKnightTwo (christened VMSEve) and successfully accomplished allflight test goals. Further flight testing isexpected through 2010 and into 2011.

COE CST Description

Like the eight FAA Center teams previous-ly selected by FAA Administrators, thisCOE will encourage and facilitate the col-laboration of world class scientists and theleveraging of shared resources and capabil-ities to maximize the synergy amongst gov-ernment entities, academic partners, andindustry affiliates. Members will coordi-nate efforts to define and conduct research,disseminate results and engage in technol-ogy transfer for public purpose while theyeducate, train, and prepare the next gener-ation of commercial space transportationprofessionals.

Administrator Babbitt has made a 10- yearcommitment to fund the COE for CST atan annual level of one million dollars.COE members are required to match fed-eral grant funds 1:1 from industry andother non-federal sources.

The four major research areas and theircomponent technical domains to beaddressed by the COE CST include:

Space Launch Operations and Traffic Management:• On-Orbit Operations • Emergency Response • Ground Safety • Spaceports • Space Traffic Control • Training • Space Environment

Launch Vehicle Systems, Payloads,Technologies, and Operations: • Safety Management & Engineering • Flight Safety Analyses & Computation • Avionics • Flight Safety Systems • Materials • Propulsion Systems • Sensors • Software Safety • Testing • Vehicle Design, and Payloads

Commercial Human Space Flight:• Aerospace Physiology and Medicine

• ECLSS and Habitability • Human Factors • Human Rating of Commercial

Spacecraft • Personnel Training

Space Commerce: • Space Business and Economics • Space Law • Space Insurance • Space Policy • Space Regulation

AST Points of Contact: Ken DavidianAST Research Lead Phone: (202) 267-7214 Email: [email protected]

Brenda ParkerCOE CST Lead Phone: (202) 267-3674 Email: [email protected]

FAA Office of Commercial SpaceTransportation 800 Independence Ave SW Washington DC 20591


Program Director




Phone: (609) 485-5043

Fax: (609) 485-9430



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FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION CEAT Airport · PDF fileFEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign leads the Center of Excellence (COE) for Airport