Technical Center Hosts Annual Meeting for the Mid-Atlantic Institute for Simulation and Analysis

By Tammy J. Lusk, Esq.

On March 29, 2007, Deborah Germak, Program Manager, FAA Technology Transfer Program hosted the Mid-Atlantic Institute for Simulation and Analysis (MAISA) Annual Meeting at the Technical Center. Dr. Wilson Felder, Director of the Technical Center welcomed the attendees. John Wiley, Managing Director of FAA Integrated Engineering Services gave an overview of the Technical Center. Dr. John Lacontora, from Boeing/MAISA is the group’s leader. Dr. Peter Kincaid from the University of Central Florida discussed “Trends in Modeling and Simulation.” Guy Higgens, Vice President at Boeing Company discussed “Modeling and Simulation at Boeing.” After lunch, panel discussions were held on “The Growing Importance of Modeling, Simulation & Analysis and its Impact on the Future of Aviation” and “The Aviation Research and Technology Park.”

The Institute’s initial focus is on Modeling, Simulation and Analysis (MS&A) for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. They provide educational opportunities, research and development capabilities, and professional services to meet regional and national requirements. It is also established to foster regional economic development where appropriate.

The MAISA creates a vehicle that brings regional organizations (government, industry and academia) together to enable the growth and maturity of a national MS&A capability. The mission of MAISA is to promote economic and cultural development by extending MS&A literacy, research, resources, and application knowledge. Their goal is to develop and sustain a regional MS&A institute with the capability to link and support MS&A professionals throughout the region, to create an MS&A institute with the capability to link and support MS&A professionals throughout the region, to create an MS&A virtual knowledge center, to leverage and provide national MS&A resources to organizations that are in need that would not otherwise have the resources available to them, to promote MS&A educational programs at all levels of education (K-PhD.), provide training and professional development opportunities, and to provide an outlet for technology transfer.