ROA 2009 C.5 NextGen Concepts and Technology Development Project (CTD1) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is NASA Headquarters ROA 2009 C.5 NextGen Concepts and Technology Development Project (CTD1), a grant and contracting opportunity focused on foundational concepts and technologies for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). The Funding Opportunity Number is NNH09ZEA001N (CTD1).

2) What is the main goal of CTD1?

The core purpose is to improve how the National Airspace System handles higher traffic levels while maintaining or improving safety, predictability, and efficiency. The work targets smoother aircraft movement through airspace and across airports, fewer delays, better use of capacity, and stronger resilience to uncertainty (especially changing weather).

3) Which technical areas does the announcement emphasize?

The technical emphasis spans several tightly related areas:

• Traffic flow management
• Dynamic airspace configuration
• Separation assurance
• Super density operations
• Airport surface operations

4) What is the central FY2010 research focus mentioned in the announcement?

A central FY2010 focus is simulation-based evaluation of automated separation assurance under realistic operational constraints, specifically sequencing, spacing, and scheduling requirements. The simulations are expected to evaluate both the automation and how work is shared between humans and machines (including potential roles and responsibilities for controllers and pilots).

5) What does NASA mean by “simulation-based evaluation” in this context?

Based on the notice, NASA is seeking simulations that reflect realistic operational constraints and that test automated separation assurance concepts, including how those concepts perform when sequencing, spacing, and scheduling requirements are present. The simulations should also address human/automation work-sharing rather than treating automation as a standalone technical component.

6) Why does the announcement stress common assumptions, scenarios, uncertainty treatments, and metrics?

The announcement calls for experimental designs that use common assumptions, common scenarios, explicit uncertainty treatments, and shared metrics so results can be compared consistently across different concepts. This structure is intended to enable “apples-to-apples” comparisons so NASA and partners can judge which approaches scale best, reduce workload, and maintain safety margins as traffic density increases.

7) What is meant by “automated separation assurance” in the scope of this project?

Within the scope described, automated separation assurance refers to automation-supported concepts intended to help maintain safe separation between aircraft, evaluated under operational constraints and in conjunction with human roles (controllers and pilots) in the system.

8) How does the opportunity address weather impacts?

The opportunity highlights expanding traffic flow management research to better account for weather-modeling uncertainty. Rather than treating weather as a fixed input, it seeks concepts and methods that explicitly accommodate uncertainty so plans are more robust, outcomes are more predictable, and efficiency improves even when forecasts are imperfect.

9) What kinds of airport-related research are being sought?

The project calls for algorithm development that produces robust, optimized solutions for airport surface traffic planning and control, along with initial algorithms for balancing airport arrivals and departures. The work is expected to consider both nominal conditions (normal operations) and off-nominal conditions (disruptions, constraints, irregular events) and evaluate benefits under increased airport traffic density.

10) Are environmental constraints part of the airport work?

Yes. Environmental constraints are explicitly part of the picture, suggesting proposed methods should consider factors such as emissions, noise, or other operational limitations that affect how airports can run at high throughput.

11) What does “metroplex capabilities” mean here?

The announcement indicates the project will identify research issues on the critical path to “metroplex” capabilities, described as integrated, high-density operations across multiple airports in a metropolitan region where airspace and surface constraints interact.

12) How important is human factors or human-automation integration in this opportunity?

Human and automation integration is a consistent cross-cutting requirement across the areas described. The announcement stresses developing information requirements and decision-making guidelines for:

• Human-human coordination (for example, controller-to-controller and controller-to-pilot)
• Human-machine decision making in airport and airspace contexts

The notice indicates it is not enough for an algorithm to work in theory; NASA is looking for concepts that can be operationalized with clear displays, procedures, decision support, and an understanding of how humans supervise, intervene, and collaborate with automation.

13) Who is expected to perform the research: NASA, external partners, or both?

Both. NASA indicates it will conduct core research internally while also building external collaborations. The announcement anticipates Space Act Agreements with U.S. industry for system-wide research partnerships (including systems integration and operational applications) and uses this NASA Research Announcement to leverage NASA in-house work with foundational research performed by universities, nonprofit organizations, and industry.

14) What types of partnerships are mentioned?

The notice specifically anticipates Space Act Agreements with U.S. industry for system-wide research partnerships, including systems integration and operational applications. It also frames the NASA Research Announcement as a mechanism to align external foundational research with NASA Aeronautics milestones and roadmaps.

15) What are the funding instruments for this opportunity?

The listed funding instruments include cooperative agreements and procurement contracts.

16) Is this opportunity discretionary, and what activity types does it support?

Yes. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and supports Science and Technology and other Research and Development activities.

17) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the information provided.

18) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is open to a broad range of applicant types, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement documents.

19) What are the key dates for this opportunity?

• Posted date: November 16, 2009
• Closing date (original and current): December 18, 2009
• Archive date: January 17, 2010

20) Where can applicants find NASA Aeronautics milestones and roadmaps referenced in the notice?

The announcement notes that NASA Aeronautics milestones and roadmaps are available through the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) website.

21) Who are the points of contact listed for this opportunity?

The notice references Parimal H. Kopardekar (Principal Investigator) and Michael R. Landis (Project Manager).

22) How should questions be submitted?

Questions are to be submitted in writing online as directed in the announcement materials.

23) What does the opportunity say about evaluating concepts under uncertainty?

The announcement emphasizes explicit uncertainty treatments in experimental designs and specifically calls out weather-modeling uncertainty in traffic flow management research. The intent is to produce more robust plans and more predictable outcomes when conditions (like weather forecasts) are imperfect.

24) Does the opportunity focus only on airspace, only on airports, or both?

Both. The technical areas include airspace-focused topics (traffic flow management, dynamic airspace configuration, separation assurance, super density operations) and airport-focused topics (airport surface operations, surface traffic planning/control, and balancing arrivals and departures), including interactions relevant to metroplex operations.

25) What is NASA trying to achieve with “apples-to-apples” comparisons?

By requiring common assumptions, scenarios, uncertainty treatments, and shared metrics, NASA aims to compare competing concepts consistently. This helps determine which approaches are most effective at scaling to higher traffic density, reducing workload, and maintaining safety margins.