New Cooperative Research and Development Agreements Awarded

The FAA Technology Transfer Program has recently entered into Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRDAs) with Stereo Optical, Inc., and Titmus Optical, Inc. The FAA Office of Aviation Medicine’s Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) will lead this collaborative effect. CRDAs were awarded on July 12 th and 18 th of 2007, respectively.

Stereo Optical has requested FAA approval for the newly developed Optec® 5000 vision tester to be used by the aviation community for the testing and certification of civilian pilots. Changes include cosmetic redesign and the use of light emitting diodes (LED) to illuminate test slides rather than the incandescent light bulbs used by the previously approved vision tester.

Titmus Optical has requested FAA approval for the newly developed Titmus i400 vision screener to be used by the aviation community for the testing and certification of civilian pilots. Changes include cosmetic redesign and the use of fluorescent lamps to illuminate test slides rather than incandescent light bulbs used by the previously approved vision tester.

The objective of this research is to evaluate the changes in these testing devices. Should the results of this evaluation indicate that there is no significant difference between human subject test scores obtained using the new vision testers with test scores produced by the (old) currently approved test instruments, FAA approval will be recommended.

The FAA has also recently entered into a CRDA with The Boeing Company. The collaborative research is in safety and airframe integrity.

The objective of this CRDA is to conduct research into areas of safety and airframe integrity that is of high importance and of mutual interest to the industry and the FAA. In addition, this CRDA will begin to collaborate investments and technical expertise in airframe repair technologies, particularly in the area of application of bonded repair technology for fatigue cracks, scratches, gouges, corrosion and blendouts, lightning strike damage, and other damages initiated in the fuselage skin pressurized structures.

This CRDA was awarded on October 30. The results are expected to provide cost effective repair solutions.

For additional information regarding these CRDAs, please contact Deborah Germak, FAA’s Technology Transfer Program Manager at (609) 485-9862.