NASA Official Says None Of The Ideas May Work, But Worth Exploring

NASA has selected six proposals to study transformative ideas that might expand what's possible in aviation, shifting the boundary between fantastic and futuristic.

Mach Technique [ICAO] Describes a control technique used by air traffic control whereby turbojet aircraft operating successively along suitable routes are cleared to maintain appropriate MACH numbers for a relevant portion of the en route phase of flight. The principle objective is to achieve improved utilization of the airspace and to ensure that separation between successive aircraft does not decrease below the established minima. FMI: www.faa.gov

Aero Linx: Collegiate Soaring Association In late 1985, CSA was formed to foster and promote the amateur sports of gliding and soaring in the context of Colleges and Universities, on a National and non-profit basis. CSA shares goals with other bodies, such as the National Inter-collegiate Flying Association (NIFA), the Soaring Society of America (SSA), and a host of University Sports Associations. Since 1989, CSA has been recognized by SSA as an Affiliate, and is thereby connected to NAA and FAI, but is otherwise independent. Perhaps unlike NIFA, CSA's end-goal activity is a sport aspect of flying (soaring) rather than a career aspect. Nonetheless, CSA encourages the use of gliders in Aviation Education, for which they off

"We may find none of these ideas will work... On the other hand, we could learn they look promising and worth additional longer-term investment." Source: Doug Rohn, NASA’s Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program director in the agency's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD), discussing NASA's selection of six proposals to study transformative ideas that might expand what's possible in aviation, shifting the boundary between fantastic and futuristic.