Last week, NATA joined five other national aviation associations in calling for full funding of two key FAA research and development programs: CLEEN (Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions, and Noise) and ASCENT (Aviation Sustainability Center). “For more than a dozen years, these two programs have enabled successful public-private partnerships and world-class research that have accelerated the development and deployment of new aviation and fuel technologies. Such collaboration has fostered American innovation and global leadership while advancing aircraft efficiency, reducing aviation noise, and ensuring the resilience of our aviation system,” the associations wrote in a letter to leaders of the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee for Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) Subcommittee. The CLEEN program accelerates development, certification, and deployment of aircraft and engine technologies that reduce noise, emissions, and fuel burn, with private industry contributions historically exceeding government funds. ASCENT works to develop cost-effective innovations that decrease aviation noise while increasing our industry’s fuel efficiency and energy resiliency.
As Congress finalizes FY 2027 appropriations, NATA will continue to advocate for level funding of such programs critical to our industry’s innovation and U.S. global leadership. Read the full letter here.