AIA Unveils New Five-year Research And Development Plan

The Washington-based Aerospace Industries Association unveiled its second five-year research and development plan aimed at urging the Bush administration to develop a vision for aerospace similar to the one recently proposed by the president for space exploration.

The “most spectacular” enhancements of life in the 21st century will be tied to discoveries in research and development for aerospace, said Clayton M. Jones, chairman, president and CEO of Rockwell Collins [COL]. Jones, who also serves as chairman of the AIA board of governors’ initiative on aerospace research and development, presented the plan and noted that the AIA’s first five-year plan sought and helped to achieve significant funding increases for defense research and development (R&D).

The new plan calls for a continuation of the Defense Department‘s strong levels of R&D funding and seeks increases for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) during the next five years.