NASA Aeronautics Is Focus of Research And Technology Roundtable

Beth Dickey
Headquarters, Washington

WASHINGTON -- NASA officials will meet with aeronautics industry, academia and government leaders Feb. 21-22 for the second in a series of roundtable discussions about future directions for aeronautics research and technology.

The Aeronautics Research and Technology Roundtable is sponsored by NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate in Washington and organized by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering.

The 25-member panel includes a broad range of executives, entrepreneurs and experts representing airframe and engine manufacturers, general aviation companies, academia, industry associations and other federal agencies. Its purpose is to facilitate candid dialogue among participants, to foster greater partnership among the NASA-related aeronautics community, and, where appropriate, carry awareness of issues to the wider public.

"We are grateful to the National Research Council for helping us expand our communication with our colleagues in industry," said Jaiwon Shin, NASA's associate administrator for aeronautics research. "The Aeronautics Research and Technology Roundtable has provided an excellent forum for us to exchange ideas, explore research concepts, and discuss more vigorous public-private collaboration outside the competitive arena."

The two-day meeting will be conducted by the National Research Council's Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board and will be held at the National Academies' Keck Building at 500 Fifth St. NW in Washington.

On the first day, roundtable members will participate in separate discussions on issues of interest to four aviation sectors. General aviation and commercial aviation will be the subjects of concurrent sessions from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST. Vertical lift and unmanned aircraft systems will be featured in concurrent sessions from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST. On the second day, roundtable members will gather from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST for a plenary session featuring reports from the previous day's discussions.

Discussion topics were identified at the first roundtable meeting in August 2011. Four teleconferences, organized by sector, were conducted in December 2011. A third roundtable meeting is anticipated later this year.

News media interested in attending the roundtable should contact the National Research Council's Office of News and Public Information at 202-334-2138 or news@nas.edu. Space is limited.

NASA has a long history of aeronautics research for public benefit. Through scientific study, NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate works to find practical solutions to the problems of flight. In the past six years, the directorate has revitalized its aeronautics research investment portfolio with a back-to-basics philosophy balanced by a growing portfolio of systems-level research efforts that ensures excellence in broad-based fundamental research with robust mechanisms for community participation.

For information about the Aeronautics Research and Technology Roundtable, visit http://sites.nationalacademies.org/DEPS/ASEB/DEPS_061276.

For information about NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, visit http://www.aeronautics.nasa.gov.

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