Experimental aircraft demonstrations

(a) Study Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with industry and academia, shall conduct a study of NASA’s administration of past and ongoing NASA experimental aircraft demonstrator projects. (b) Future demonstrations The study under subsection (a) shall include an identification of flight research activities, systems, capabilities, and technologies that could be viable candidates for experimental aircraft demonstrator projects. Such activities, systems, capabilities, and technologies may include technological advancements related to structures, aerodynamics, propulsion, controls, and autonomous capabilities. The study shall include a description of criteria and performance metrics used to determine the readiness of an activity, system, capability, or technology for incorporation into an experimental aircraft demonstrator project. (c) Lessons learned The study under subsection (a) also shall include an assessment of lessons learned from NASA’s administration of past and ongoing experimental aircraft demonstration projects over the last decade, including the projects set forth under section 10831 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117–167). Such assessment shall include— (1) a quantitative assessment of each experimental aircraft demonstration project’s ability to meet cost, schedule and performance goals, as defined at the time of project confirmation; (2) the extent to which each project’s objectives or performance goals were changed or descoped, and the rationale for such change or descoping; (3) the extent to which the system, capability, or technology that was the subject of each project was matured as a result of its demonstration on an experimental aircraft demonstrator; and (4) the extent to which each project has contributed, or is likely to contribute in the future, to advancing the capabilities of and innovation in the United States aircraft and aviation industries.