7 Core Principles Shaping the Future of Aviation in the U.S

Guiding Principles

To maintain its leadership in the aeronautics enterprise, U.S. Government efforts will be guided by seven principles, which reflect American values.

1. Promoting Safety

The U.S. Government will continue to prioritize safety while fostering innovation to capture the benefits of technological progress. Automated systems need to be safe without impeding software updates or machine learning capabilities. U.S. Government and industry stakeholders need to continuously update systems to meet the needs of the aeronautics community, while continuing to manage safety risks. The United States will promote the continued safety of air transportation as new technologies are integrated into the NAS. In partnership with the aeronautics enterprise, the U.S. Government will maintain public confidence in the safety of the NAS and will continue to invest in systems that facilitate air traffic control and support collision avoidance. Federal departments and agencies will continue to promote the commercial availability of alternate sources of positioning, navigation, and timing to a create a more resilient aviation enterprise.

2. Protecting the Environment

Aviation noise impacts communities near airports, and emissions of conventional pollutants substantially degrade local air quality. Emissions from aviation must be dramatically reduced to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050, from U.S. commitments to decarbonize shared skies with other nations to local communities, where the impact of aviation becomes a community concern. The U.S. Government will promote game-changing research and technological innovations, while advocating for timely state, local, and international policies, to reduce emissions and achieve quiet, clean, energy-efficient air transportation. To achieve these goals, the U.S. Government will work with aviation stakeholders to implement the actions on the aeronautics enterprise stipulated in the U.S. 2021 Aviation Climate Action Plan.

3. Advancing Global Economic Competitiveness

The ability to compete is critical to preserving the role of the United States as the world’s leading economy. The U.S. Government will support efforts to create and sustain high-skill, high-paying jobs. The U.S. Government will continue to support entrepreneurs that experiment, innovate, and pursue new ideas in a market that allows all types of businesses to flourish, resulting in improved choice, better service, and lower costs for consumers. The U.S. Government will create systems that foster and enable private sector innovation and international collaboration. Examples include promoting standards and regulatory approaches that support aviation industry’s efforts in new technology and innovations, and supporting high-risk design and development approaches for rapid transformation of the technology to increase the Technology Readiness Level (TRL).

One avenue for academic, private sector, and government cooperation is ensuring infrastructure and testbeds are available to the community, consistent with airspace safety and national security considerations. The U.S. Government will provide a safe, timely, responsive regulatory environment, consistent with national security and foreign policy considerations, that supports the infusion and agility needed for new technologies. The U.S. Government will work with ICAO and other international organizations to develop cost-effective, cooperative international standards and regulatory approaches, while promoting safety and sustainability.

4. Accelerating Innovation

The U.S. Government will prioritize R&D investments that expand the boundaries of flight by maturing new technologies and designs through agile development and digital engineering to reduce development times and costs. It will prioritize accessible, domestic, long-term and applied R&D, and the design, testing and evaluation (RDT&E) and manufacturing of emerging aeronautics technologies. It will also draw on expertise at academic institutions to provide independent scientific advice to inform U.S. Government R&D programs and planning processes, and advance a strong U.S. academic community dedicated to aeronautics.

The U.S. Government will coordinate the efforts required to sustain and advance the nation’s RDT&E infrastructure, including computational and experimental facilities. It will work with the aeronautics enterprise on training, evaluation, and standards development to better enable new aviation technologies and the regulatory framework required for safe and secure operations. The U.S. Government will continue to promote high-risk, high-reward near- and long-term innovative technologies and solutions that are beyond the scope and time horizon of commercial entities. This includes R&D on advanced energy storage technologies, hydrogen, electricity, alternative fuels, and other technologies needed to reduce GHG emissions. Priority technologies include autonomy, artificial intelligence and machine learning, secure hardware and software systems, high-strength materials, lightweight battery and charging technologies, advanced propulsion systems, new design tools to enable agile development, and new fuels that will result in lower carbon emissions and more efficient operations. The U.S. Government will continue to promote the importance of the regulatory enterprise working closely with the aeronautics enterprise to enable the rapid transition of technologies to new commercial products.

5. Strengthening National Security

The aeronautics enterprise is vital to strengthening the U.S. national security and homeland defense. It is a critical aspect of America’s national security strategy, providing needed capabilities to defend U.S. interests. New aeronautics technologies, such as supersonics and hypersonics, are being developed for national security purposes, and are becoming important components of U.S. defense.

All elements of aircraft and the air transportation system must be secure to protect people and goods within the aeronautics enterprise. The U.S. Government will prioritize a secure, agile aviation technology system that supports air transportation. Modern information technology systems with clear cybersecurity standards and supply chain risk management best practices are critical to aviation operations and integral to building trust in the aeronautics enterprise. To this end, the U.S. Government will prioritize secure-by-design hardware and software systems to build trust and resilience.

6. Developing the Workforce

The U.S. Government will develop the aeronautics workforce by investing in people. To enable a robust, technologically-advanced aeronautics R&D environment, the United States will continue to cultivate human talent and creativity by fostering a vibrant, innovative academic community dedicated to aeronautical technical disciplines. It will promote access to aeronautics activities, technology, and infrastructure for academic use through partnerships with academic institutions. The U.S. Government will continue to engage communities to build relationships for supporting STEM opportunities linked to aeronautics research priorities, and create timely, engaging activities for youth to discover and experience real-life applications of STEM skills. The U.S. Government will identify and provide opportunities to expand the applicant pool for jobs in the aeronautics enterprise, while attracting youth through fellowships, internships, apprenticeships, and other work-based learning experiences.

The growing sector presents an opportunity to educate and employ people from underserved communities and from backgrounds currently underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). A focus on developing a skilled, interdisciplinary technical workforce drawing on trade schools, community colleges, tribal schools, as well as traditional four-year college degrees and universities, will increase diversity in and contribute to the evolution of the aeronautics enterprise.

7. Prioritizing Equitable Access to Air Transportation

Air transportation must remain broadly affordable and accessible. AAM has the potential to transform commercial aviation, connecting underutilized airports in rural communities to other locations. Like high-quality roads, connectivity enables rural and underserved communities to access more opportunities.

Future air transportation should serve all communities wherever they may live. In July 2022, the U.S. Government announced a new set of disability policy priorities, which underscore the importance of inclusion, dignity, and non-discrimination. To this end, the U.S. Government will prioritize airport improvement projects, domestically and internationally, designed to increase mobility, expand access, and improve connectivity for people with disabilities and reduced mobility