10.08.03

FAA Approves Cantwell's Composites Research Center

Composites critical to 7E7 success

SEATTLE, WA - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has decided to move forward with U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell's (D-WA) research center that will focus on advanced materials in airplanes. Today Cantwell will meet with University of Washington and Boeing officials and other partners to plan their response to the FAA's request for proposal. Cantwell will be available afterward to discuss the content of the meeting. The new FAA Center of Excellence would focus on research to encourage the broader use of advanced structural materials, including composites and new aluminum alloys, in future aircraft such as the Boeing 7E7.

"This is more than an investment in research, it is an investment in jobs," Cantwell stated. "Creating jobs in the future, means looking ahead at what is going to drive business and industries. Composites are the new material for airplanes and will be at the center of new aerospace jobs."

Approval of the new research center came as the FAA issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for accredited institutions of higher education to propose plans to establish the Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials. The purpose is to forge a union of public sector (FAA, airport authorities, state/local governments, etc.), private sector (airlines, manufacturers, etc.), and academic institutions to create a world-class consortium that will identify solutions for existing and anticipated advanced materials problems.

In their proposal, the FAA acknowledges, "The full potential of composites, bonding, and other advanced materials and processes have not been realized. Industry continues to pursue performance advantages and cost savings possible with technology innovation, which may be classified as advanced material forms and processes."

Gov. Gary Locke stated, "Sen. Cantwell's leadership and work with the UW in proposing this center will strengthen Washington state's coordinated effort to land the 7E7."

Boeing officials affirmed the center's importance.

"The continuing effort to establish the advanced materials center is a great example of our elected officials working together with industry to keep U.S. leadership in creating a safe and efficient global air transport system. These technologies will be essential going forward as we look towards designing and building the commercial airplanes of the 21st century," said Alan Mulally, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

The University of Washington can make a strong case as to why the new research center should be headquartered there. With its strengths in advanced materials research through its College of Engineering, its nationally recognized leadership in nanotechnology, and its unique relationships with both the Boeing Company and the FAA Transportation Division, the University of Washington and its regional partners - including WSU, Oregon State University and Edmonds Community College -- is particularly well-positioned to participate in this Center of Excellence.

UW Interim President Lee Huntsman stated, "Having this Center of Excellence awarded to the UW would be a wonderful tribute to the strength of the UW faculty in aerospace research. It further demonstrates the importance of research to industry and creating new jobs. The benefits of Senator Cantwell's efforts on behalf of this initiative will be felt for years to come."

The research center would focus on these advanced materials with three primary goals. First, it would research the long-term durability and maintainability of aircraft manufacturing structures. Second, it would train new composites engineers and technicians and offer them continuing education. Third, the center would bring companies, researchers and government together to share ideas about new applications of the research.

The FAA's solicitation proposal expires November 17th, with and expected grant award in early December 2003. The FAA intends to invest between $300,000 and $500,000 in the first year and a minimum of $300,000 per year for the next two years of the COE, with additional funding to come through public and private sector sponsors.

Cantwell proposed the Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials in early 2003 after consultations with the University of Washington College of Engineering. Senator Cantwell believed that research in this field was particularly important given the Boeing's company to rely predominately on composite structures for its new 7E7 aircraft.

In February 2003, Cantwell proposed legislation directing the FAA to create such a center - the legislation was ultimately included in the Conference Report for the FAA Reauthorization bill. In July 2003, Senator Cantwell hosted FAA's Chief Research official, Charles Keegan to visit the Boeing Frederickson facility and discuss the proposed center with the University of Washington.

This would be the country's sixth FAA Center of Excellence (COE). The COE program is administered by the FAA to foster collaboration among industry, academia and the FAA. The COEs strive to perform research pertinent to developing and maintaining a safe and efficient national aerospace transportation system. The current five COEs are: (1) Airworthiness Assurance Center (Ohio State, Iowa State); (2) Operations Research (Berkeley, MIT and others); (3) Airport Pavement Research (University of Illinois, Northwestern); (4) General Aviation (Embry-Riddle Aero Univ., Wichita State, University of North Dakota and others) and (5) Aircraft Noise and Aviation Emissions Mitigation (led by MIT).