Wings of Prosperity: U.S. Aeronautics Leadership Anchors Economic Growth and Security

Introduction

U.S. leadership in the aeronautics enterprise has long underpinned economic prosperity and national security. The aeronautics enterprise comprises civil and military aircraft and aviation systems, the air transportation management system, aviation infrastructure, and the people involved in the research, design, development, manufacture, operation and use of these aircraft and aviation systems. The aeronautics enterprise is an integral part of the U.S. economy, annually generating 4.9 percent of U.S. gross domestic product—$1.9 trillion in total economic activity in 2019—and more than 10 million jobs.[1] The aeronautics sector is also a major exporter, the second largest manufacturing export sector in the United States, generating $148 billion in exports in 2019.[2] From next-generation fuels, to advances in aircraft design, to improvements in the aviation infrastructure, the aeronautics enterprise is poised for disruption and transformation. As such, continued investment in state-of-the-art aeronautics research and development (R&D) is critical to ensure the continued vitality of this important sector.

One of the major challenges facing the global aviation industry is to reduce the climate impacts of aviation. Consistent with the 2021 Aviation Climate Action Plan[3] and national security policies, the U.S. Government will prioritize efforts to reduce and ultimately achieve net-zero emissions from United States aviation by 2050. These efforts include improved efficiency in flight operations, innovations in engine and aircraft technology, and the use of emerging energy sources such as Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs), electricity, and hydrogen. In light of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) goals for net-zero carbon emissions, the U.S. Government will prioritize decarbonization to maintain its global economic competitiveness, national security, and benefits to humanity.

The U.S. National Airspace System (NAS) is the most complex, most efficient, and safest airspace system in the world. It accommodates approximately 2.3 million passengers and 66,000 tons of cargo on 25,000 flights daily. These numbers are projected to increase, as emerging aviation technologies such as drones, air taxis, balloons, and the increasingly frequent launch and re-entry of spacecraft, place increased strain on the NAS. Accordingly, it is imperative that the NAS safely transform into the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). Transforming into NextGen is necessary to create an optimal operating environment for integrating new aircraft and traffic management systems, while completing upgrades to legacy systems, and enhancing connectivity and speed.

New aeronautics technologies are providing users of the NAS better connectivity options, with greater speed. Drones offer the ability to perform complex operations faster and more efficiently. Large electric aircraft can move people or cargo around urban environments with greater speed. Quiet supersonic and hypersonic aircraft have the potential to traverse huge distances in a fraction of current times. Autonomous systems can improve operational and energy efficiencies, while promoting sustainability. These advances in connectivity and speed are expected to significantly benefit both economic competitiveness and national security. To that end, the U.S. Government will prioritize maintaining an agile regulatory framework that rewards innovation and technological advances, while promoting safety and sustainability.

The United States will maintain its global leadership in the aeronautics enterprise by supporting R&D to: (1) achieve sustainable aviation, (2) transform the national airspace system, and (3) promote connectivity and speed. The United States will pursue these priorities as guided by seven principles: (1) Safety, (2) Environment, (3) Economic Competitiveness, (4) Innovation, (5) Security, (6) Workforce, and (7) Equity.

[1] Federal Aviation Administration. “The Economic Impact U.S. Civil Aviation: 2020”. https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/2022-08/2022-APL 038%202022_economic%20impact_report.pdf. Released August 2022

[2] International Trade Administration. “Leading Economic Indicators Aerospace Industry”. Accessed February 21, 2023. https://www.trade.gov/leading-economic-indicators-aerospace-industry

[3] Federal Aviation Administration. “United States 2021 Aviation Climate Action Plan”. https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/2021-11/Aviation_Climate_Action_Plan.pdf. Released November 2021