FAA Aviation Research Grants Program
Funds basic and applied aviation research and related cooperative agreements for colleges, universities, and eligible nonprofit research institutions to advance civil aviation and commercial space transportation technology.
RESTRICTED TO: NONPROFITS
⚑ Eligibility varies by organization type and proposed research character; colleges and universities are generally eligible. · Covers both grants and cooperative agreements. · Broad scientific scope includes physical, chemical, biological, medical, psychological, mathematical, and engineering sciences. · Topics emphasized include air traffic control, communications/navigation/surveillance, aviation weather, airports, aircraft safety, human factors, and operations research.
This is primarily an aviation/air-traffic/engineering program, and the team’s core lines are public risk perception, weather warning communication, energy/nuclear attitudes, and education policy—not aviation systems or transportation research. The closest overlap would be on aviation weather or human-factors communication, but that would be too indirect for a PI-level fit for this team.
JUDGED AGAINST THE ROSTER'S PUBLICATION DOSSIER · GPT-5.4-MINI · 2026-07-07
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 90 strong | technical depth: central; funds applied research |
| IPPRA | 65 good | peripheral portfolio topic: public_health; signature methods: policy analysis; social/behavioral work is substantial; funds applied research; capped at 65 (limited social-science role) |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 30 weak | funds applied research; deep-tech content |
Description
The FAA hereby announces its continuing interest in receiving applications for aviation research grants and cooperative agreements to pursue the long-term growth and short-term technical needs of civil aviation, under this funding opportunity. Eligibility of applicants for the award of an aviation research grant varies depending on the nature of the proposer's organization, as well as the character of the research being proposed. In general, colleges, universities, and other non- profit research institutions under Section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of United States Code, are eligible to apply for an aviation research grant.
The FAA Aviation Research Grants Program encourages and supports innovative, advanced research of potential benefit to the long-term growth of civil aviation and commercial space transportation. The pursuit of basic and applied research in scientific and engineering disciplines that have the potential to further knowledge and understanding on a broad front of emerging technologies is crucial to the realization of this goal. The intent is to encourage applied
research and development to enhance technology assimilation, transfer, and development in the FAA. The FAA Aviation Research Grants Program does not require the immediate application to Research and Development (R&D) programs, although this may occur in some cases. The FAA encourages the
submission of proposals that embrace the entire spectrum of physical, chemical, biological, medical, psychological, mathematical, and engineering sciences.
The following list illustrates topics of interest to those who may consider applying for a grant under this funding opportunity:
1. Capacity and Air Traffic Control Technology
2. Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance
3. Aviation Weather
4. Airports
5. Aircraft Safety Technology
6. Human Factors and Aviation Medicine
7. Systems Science/Operations Research
For more information, please carefully review FAA Notice of Funding Opportunity 20-01, and any supporting attachments.
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: Trina M Bellamy Grants Contracting Officer <monica.y.butler@faa.gov>
Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · Federal (generic) conventions SEE A FEDERAL EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — Federal (generic)'s document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.