National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Small Business Innovation Research 2001 Program Solicitation

TOPIC A4 Small Aircraft Transportation System

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A4.01 Small Aircraft Transportation System Technologies
A4.02 Small Aircraft Transportation System Propulsion Technologies

Numerous factors combine to create opportunities for a small aircraft transportation system for business and personal travel in the 21st century. These include a rapid growth in the use of air travel (creating safety and affordability issues and increasing pressure on National Airspace System (NAS) capacity for operations by the Government and private sector users), declining numbers of communities served by scheduled air carriers, increasingly stringent international environmental standards, an aging fleet of small aircraft, and aggressive foreign competition. NASA seeks innovative technologies supporting advances in flight systems, airspace and ground systems infrastructure, integrated design and manufacturing and aircraft configuration design concepts as well as general aviation propulsion technologies.

A4.01 Small Aircraft Transportation System Technologies
Lead Center: LaRC
Participating Center(s): None

NASA seeks innovative technologies to support advances for small aircraft transportation systems that substantially increase the demand for retrofit of existing aircraft, new aircraft and airport and airspace utilization. Of specific interest are advanced, affordable, certifiable technologies for human-factors engineered display of flight information for total situational awareness and simplified integration of flight controls with displays and propulsion systems. In addition, innovations are desired in cost-effective, user-friendly improvements in the graphical display of weather, traffic, and NAS facilities' information services in the cockpit. NASA also seeks innovations in manufacturing methods and materials that can radically reduce the unit cost of small aircraft. Specifically, proposals are sought for the following areas:

Aircraft Configuration

• Advanced concepts that reduce the landing speed for FAR Part 23 aircraft under 6,000 pounds by half. Advanced concepts for roadable aircraft are also desired. This category must include a sound business plan for production with a technical plan providing for compatibility with the emerging National Airspace System architecture and a certification plan to meet at least one of the following applicable FARs: Part 103 (Ultra-lite vehicle), Part 21.24 (Primary Category Aircraft), Part 23 (Certified Aircraft) or Part 27 (Rotorcraft), or Part 21.191 Advisory Circular AC No: 20-27 series (Experimental Homebuilt Aircraft).

Flight System Technologies, Information Systems and Pilot Vehicle Interface

• Cost-effective advances in emerging navigation and graphical weather displays, graphical depiction methods, intuitive cockpit display systems with emphasis on pilot-display interface, flight controls, voice interface, portable and wearable display technologies, communications and human factors engineering technologies to aid pilot decision-making and to reduce cockpit workload.

Certifiable Off-the-Shelf System Hardware and Software

• Affordable cockpit systems including sensors, attitude-heading reference systems, terrain, obstacle, and hazardous weather avoidance systems, and applications for standardized data bus system architectures such as firmware, software, design and maintenance tools, and flight information and management products for airplane systems status and flight planning.

Airspace Infrastructure

• Advances and innovations in digital high-speed, high-bandwidth communications, and intelligent system design for automated, collaborative decision making, and systems for collision avoidance.

Integrated Design and Manufacturing

• Innovative manufacturing methods and materials providing significant advances in the cost, safety, weight, and cabin comfort for general aviation aircraft through materials technology, structural designs and assembly, and crash-worthiness. All proposals should include supportability plans (support infrastructure, maintenance requirements, operations, and training), certification plans (cite specific FARs), compatibility with current and future airspace architecture, and a clear path to commercialization.
  

A4.02 Small Aircraft Transportation System Propulsion Technologies
Lead Center: GRC
Participating Center(s): None

NASA seeks proposals that offer small aircraft dramatic improvements in acquisition and life-cycle costs, performance, safety and reliability, environmental compatibility (noise, emissions and fuel), ease of operation and passenger comfort through innovative propulsion concepts and/or integration of innovative propulsion technologies. In all cases, the offeror must demonstrate acquisition and life-cycle costs that are at least comparable to current propulsion system costs. Anticipated benefits must be defined using appropriate theoretical and experimental data. An understanding of the basis of the technology innovation and its application to aircraft engines must be demonstrated. Offerors must address commercialization potential. Paths to FAA certification must be described. Proposals are sought in the following areas:

Propulsion Technologies
NASA seeks propulsion technologies for small aircraft that will result in substantial improvements over those targeted in the NASA General Aviation Propulsion program. Any improvements in areas such as performance, safety, and environmental compatibility must be accomplished with affordability as a prime consideration. Substantially reduced costs, at least 75 percent less than 1997 systems, are highly preferred. Advanced technologies which could lead to advantageous alternate propulsion systems and fuels (e.g., electric propulsion, hydrogen fuel, etc.) are also sought. Offeror must provide strong rationale for the viability and affordability of the propulsion concept which would use the proposed technology, and show substantial benefits over conventional propulsion systems. It is recognized that unconventional propulsion systems will likely be long term developments, however, it is highly preferred that the specified technology development addressed by the offeror have an application which could be commercialized in the nearer term.

Propulsion System Control and Health Monitoring Technology
NASA seeks proposals for low cost electronic engine control and health monitoring system technologies which substantially reduce pilot workload, fuel consumption, and engine emissions, and increase safety, reliability, and time between overhaul (TBO). Engine diagnostics should focus on pilot notification of engine status and operability, post-flight diagnostic methods, trend analysis, maintenance aides, and automatic fault accommodation. Much of this technology already exists, but it is too costly and/or too costly to certify for light aircraft. In some cases, cost reductions by orders of magnitude must be achieved. Development of methods for using commercially available high volume hardware and achieving low cost software production and validation is encouraged.

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