Story ID: 
FAA Renews Mitre Research Center Contract
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: Mitre said the nine-year FAA renewal from the Center for Advanced Aviation System Development will enable it to expand its research from surface to space.
Word Count: 218
The FAA has renewed a contract with Mitre to continue operating the Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD), which advises and provides technical expertise on the safety, security, and efficiency of the National Airspace System. Mitre, which has a relationship with the FAA tracing back 60 years, has operated the federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) since 1990. The contract renewal extends through 2030, reflecting the evolving and expanding role of CAASD, according to the company.

In addition to the FAA, the CAASD works with aviation international authorities to enhance aviation safety and conducts research through public and private partnerships using an array of laboratories, modeling, simulation, and analytic capabilities.

“Today, CAASD develops strategies, concepts, and technology applications to enable the FAA to make operational changes to continuously improve the capacity and effectiveness of the safest airspace system in the world,” said Mitre v-p and CAASD director Gregg Leone. “Our expanded mission will focus on defining the systems and operations of the future to achieve global harmonization and next-level safety.”

Leone added the contract will enable Mitre to expand its work across an entire domain of transportation, from surface to space, as the organization eyes projects to integrate activities —from drones to eVTOLs and space launches—seamlessly into the airspace system.