FAA awards $27M to 11 universities to reduce aircraft emissions, noise

FAA has granted $27.2 million to 11 U.S. universities to reduce noise and aircraft emissions. Research teams around the country can delve into a variety of aviation environmental topics like SAF, emissions and noise impacts thanks to FAA funding from the Aviation Sustainability Center program. "The work of these teams is a cornerstone of the FAA's sustainability efforts," FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said. "The entire aviation industry can leverage this research to reduce noise and enable safe and efficient operations while working toward net-zero emissions by 2050." ASCENT grant will support the work of numerous universities, including: The George Institute of Technology: fuel efficiency, fuel emissions, fuel cells, sustainable aviation fuel technology, air quality, noise measurement and next-generation aircraft. Washington State University: sustainable aviation fuel, the sustainable aviation fuel supply chain, fuel efficiency and hydrogen propulsion. Pennsylvania State University: engine technology, fuel efficiency, noise measurement and supersonic propulsion. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: fuel emissions, air quality, contrails, noise, the sustainable aviation fuel supply chain, high altitude operations, hydrogen propulsion, electrification assessments and commercial space emissions. Dayton University: sustainable aviation fuel and fuel testing. Boston University: air quality, noise, and health issues involving aviation noise. University of Illinois: contrails, emissions impacts, fuel testing, and commercial space emissions. Purdue University: fuel efficiency and the sustainable aviation fuel supply chain. The University of North Carolina: air quality. Stanford University: sustainable aviation fuel. University of Hawaii: fuel efficiency and the sustainable aviation fuel supply chain. The teams from Missouri University of Science and Technology, Oregon State University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Tennessee and the University of Washington will be continuing research other ASCENT projects. The projects cover a range of topics like aircraft technology innovation, alternative jet fuels, aircraft emissions, noise impacts, aviation operations, aviation tools and supersonic research. Within the range of topics, projects include turbine cooling through additive manufacturing, methods for fast quantification of oxygenated compounds in alternative jet fuels, improving climate policy analysis tools, cardiovascular disease and aircraft noise exposure, airport surface movement optimization, AEDT evaluation and development support, and low emission premixed combustion technology for supersonic civil transport. "The FAA has invested more than $155 million in grant funds since the ASCENT research effort began and the work has driven forward our environmental effort significantly," said Laurence Wildgoose, assistant administrator for policy, international affairs and environment. "As a result of ASCENT research, four new procedures have been implemented at Boston Logan International Airport to reduce noise impacts on surrounding communities."