[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 118 (Friday, June 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33756-33757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16314]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Establishment of an Aviation Research Grants Program Involving 
Primarily Undergraduate Institutions and Technical Colleges

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of criteria.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is providing notice 
of the principal criteria for the awarding of grants under the Research 
Grants Program Involving Undergraduate Students, as provided under the 
FAA Research, Engineering, and Development Authorization Act of 1997, 
Public Law 105-155. The FAA is soliciting proposals for research grants 
from primarily undergraduate institutions and technical colleges, 
including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and 
Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), for research on subjects of 
relevance to the FAA.
    Grants may be awarded in the following three categories:
    1. Research projects to be carried out at primarily undergraduate 
institutions and technical colleges;
    2. Research projects that combine research at primarily 
undergraduate institutions and technical colleges with other research 
supported by the FAA; or
    3. Research on future training requirements on projected changes in 
regulatory requirements for aircraft maintenance and power plant 
licensees.
    The principal criteria for the awarding of grants under this 
program are:
    1. The relevance of the proposed research to technical research 
needs identified by the FAA;
    2. The scientific and technical merit of the proposed research; and
    3. The potential for participation by undergraduate students in the 
proposed research.
    The FAA explicitly reserves the right to make one award, multiple 
awards, or no awards under this program.
    A solicitation, entitled ``Grants for Undergraduate Aviation 
Research'' will be available through the Internet beginning June 12, 
1998. The ftp address is: ftp://ftp.tc.faa.gov/Grants/Solicitations/
ungrad.doc.
    Colleges and universities not eligible under the program described 
in this notice are encouraged to submit applications under our existing 
grant program. Interested parties may access the current solicitation, 
Grants for Aviation Research, Program No. 97.2 at any time throughout 
the year at the ftp site: ftp://ftp.tc.faa.gov/Grants/Solicitations/
solic97.doc.

DATES: The solicitation for applications under this program will be 
available on the Internet beginning June 12, 1998. The Opening Date for 
receipt of grant applications is July 01, 1998 and the Closing Date is 
July 31, 1998. Proposals postmarked on or before the closing date will 
be accepted for review. Applicants should allow at least 90 days for 
review and processing.

ADDRESSES: Grant applications should be submitted to Clare J. Nanni, 
Grants Officer, Aviation Research Grants

[[Page 33757]]

Program, Office of Research and Technology Applications, AAR-201, FAA, 
William J. Hughes Technical Center, Atlantic City International 
Airport, New Jersey 08405.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Clare J. Nanni, Grants Officer, Aviation Research Grants Program, 
Office of Research and Technology Applications, AAR-201, FAA, William 
J. Hughes Technical Center, Atlantic City International Airport, New 
Jersey 08405, e-mail: [email protected]. Voice: (609) 485-6970, 
Fax: (609) 485-6509, or the FAA Aviation Research Grants Program 
hotline at 609-485-8410.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ``Research Grants Program Involving 
Undergraduate Students'', appearing at Section 3 of the FAA Research, 
Engineering, and Development Authorization Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-
155), authorizes the FAA to establish a research grants program to 
utilize primarily undergraduate and technical colleges, including 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic Serving 
Institutions, in research on subjects of relevance to the FAA. The 
central purpose of the FAA Aviation Research Grants Program involving 
undergraduate students is to encourage the participation of 
undergraduate students in proposed projects that support innovative 
research of potential benefit to the long-term growth of civil 
aviation.

Research Areas

    Areas that contribute to the FAA's mission of improving aviation 
safety, capacity, efficiency, human factors, and security, are as 
follows:
    a. Capacity and Air Traffic Control Technology;
    b. Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance;
    c. Aviation Weather;
    d. Airports;
    e. Aircraft Safety Technology;
    f. System Security Technology;
    g. Human Factors and Aviation medicine;
    h. Environment and Energy;
    i. Systems Science/Operations Research; and
    In addition, research on future training requirements on projected 
changes in regulatory requirements for aircraft maintenance and power 
plant licensees are highlighted in the recent legislation. Detailed 
descriptions of these programs and additional research areas are 
contained in the program solicitation.

Eligibility

    Applications may be submitted by two- and four-year colleges and 
universities, including HBCUs, HSIs and other minority institutions 
that meet the following definition of ``technical college'' or 
``primarily undergraduate'' institutions:
    1. Technical College is defined as an institution that offers 
associate degree programs in arts and science.
    2. Primarily undergraduate institutions are such institutions that 
focus primarily on undergraduate education. Included by the definition 
are two- and four-year colleges, masters-level institutions, and 
smaller doctoral institutions that institution-wide did not award a 
total of more than 20 doctoral degrees during the past two academic 
years in science and engineering fields supported by the National 
Science Foundation (NSF).

Proposal Submission

    Guidelines for the application format and content are contained in 
the Solicitation. Every effort will be made to reach a decision and 
inform the applicant promptly. Unless and until an award is made, the 
FAA is not responsible for any costs incurred by the proposing 
organization.

Award Date

    Recipients of FAA research grants will be announced on a continuous 
basis.

    Issued in Atlantic County, New Jersey on June 12, 1998.
Jan Brecht-Clark,
Acting Director, Office of Aviation Research, AAR-1.
[FR Doc. 98-16314 Filed 6-18-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M