Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH16ZEA001N AATT1
NASA is offering a discretionary research grant opportunity called the Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT1) Project under Amendment 3 of the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) Research Opportunities in Aeronautics (ROA) 2016 NASA Research Announcement (NRA). The central goal is to spur teams to develop a conceptual design for a next-generation, single-aisle commercial transport aircraft that could realistically enter airline service in the mid-term timeframe, defined here as 2035 or earlier. The emphasis is not on incremental improvements to current tube-and-wing airliners, but on a credible, aircraft-level concept that shows how advanced technologies, especially electrified propulsion, could materially change performance and environmental outcomes.
The solicitation is specifically aimed at aircraft concepts that use a significant amount of electrical power for propulsion, beyond the kinds of electrical loads already found on modern aircraft (such as flight controls, environmental systems, and wing de-icing). In other words, NASA is looking for designs where electric power is meaningfully tied to thrust generation, whether through full or partial turboelectric architectures or full or partial hybrid-electric configurations. These include arrangements where turbine engines generate electrical power that is distributed to motors driving fans (turboelectric), as well as combinations of conventional propulsion with battery-assisted or electrically driven propulsion elements (hybrid-electric). The intent is to explore electrified aircraft propulsion as a pathway to major reductions in energy use and environmental impact while still meeting real airline operational needs.
A key requirement is that the proposed aircraft concept must match the operational role of a conventional Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 class airplane. NASA frames this as a 154-passenger-class, single-aisle transport with a twin-turbofan configuration and the ability to meet typical single-aisle mission expectations. Proposals therefore need to demonstrate that the concept is not just a laboratory idea, but something that can plausibly deliver the capabilities airlines depend on in this market segment, while outperforming the conventional baseline in multiple aircraft-level metrics.
On performance, NASA is explicitly asking for improvement relative to today s single-aisle transports across mission energy use, life-cycle carbon, emissions, and noise. This pushes proposers to think beyond fuel burn alone and address broader environmental accounting, including upstream and operational impacts implied by electrification choices. Noise is also singled out, which typically requires integrated airframe and propulsion design thinking (for example, fan placement, shielding, distributed propulsion concepts, or operational strategies) rather than treating acoustics as an afterthought. The overall expectation is a well-supported conceptual design that shows how electrified propulsion can translate into measurable, system-level benefits.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is posted through NASA s NSPIRES system and is identified by Funding Opportunity Number NNH16ZEA001N AATT1. It is categorized as a grant under science, technology, and other research and development, with CFDA 43.002. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning NASA is open to proposals from a broad range of organizations, not limited to a narrow applicant type. NASA also encourages proposers to assemble strong, complementary teams, explicitly calling out partnerships among industry, small businesses, and universities. This signals that NASA expects the work to span multiple specialties, such as aircraft conceptual design, propulsion and powertrain architecture, electrical power generation and distribution, energy storage, thermal management, safety and certification considerations, and system-level modeling of emissions and noise.
The timeline provided in the announcement sets a Notice of Intent (NOI) deadline of October 14, 2016, with full proposals due November 28, 2016. The funding listing indicates this is a NASA Headquarters opportunity and was created on September 29, 2016. While the listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided text, the overall framing suggests a competitive R and D solicitation intended to generate credible concept designs that can guide NASA s research priorities and help mature electrified propulsion approaches for the single-aisle commercial market.Apply for NNH16ZEA001N AATT1
- The NASA Headquarters in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT1) Project" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.002.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2016-09-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-11-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this NASA grant opportunity?
The opportunity is the Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT1) Project under Amendment 3 of the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) Research Opportunities in Aeronautics (ROA) 2016 NASA Research Announcement (NRA).
What is the central goal of the AATT1 Project solicitation?
The central goal is to spur teams to develop a conceptual design for a next-generation, single-aisle commercial transport aircraft that could realistically enter airline service in the mid-term timeframe, defined as 2035 or earlier.
Is NASA looking for incremental improvements to current tube-and-wing airliners?
No. The emphasis is not on incremental improvements to current tube-and-wing airliners. NASA is seeking a credible aircraft-level concept that shows how advanced technologies, especially electrified propulsion, could materially change performance and environmental outcomes.
What kind of propulsion focus does the solicitation emphasize?
The solicitation specifically targets aircraft concepts that use a significant amount of electrical power for propulsion, beyond the electrical loads already common on modern aircraft (such as flight controls, environmental systems, and wing de-icing). The electric power must be meaningfully tied to thrust generation.
What types of electrified propulsion architectures are included?
Included architectures span full or partial turboelectric concepts and full or partial hybrid-electric configurations. Examples mentioned include turbine engines generating electrical power distributed to motors driving fans (turboelectric), and combinations of conventional propulsion with battery-assisted or electrically driven propulsion elements (hybrid-electric).
What aircraft market segment must the proposed concept match?
The proposed aircraft concept must match the operational role of a conventional Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 class airplane.
What is NASA's reference aircraft description for this role?
NASA frames the target as a 154-passenger-class, single-aisle transport with a twin-turbofan configuration and the ability to meet typical single-aisle mission expectations.
Does the proposal need to demonstrate real-world airline relevance?
Yes. Proposals need to show the concept is not just a laboratory idea, but something that can plausibly deliver the capabilities airlines depend on in this market segment.
What performance and environmental outcomes does NASA want improved?
NASA is asking for improvement relative to today's single-aisle transports across mission energy use, life-cycle carbon, emissions, and noise.
Is the evaluation emphasis limited to fuel burn?
No. The solicitation pushes proposers to address broader environmental accounting, including upstream and operational impacts implied by electrification choices, in addition to mission energy use.
Why is noise called out as a specific focus area?
Noise is explicitly singled out, which implies the concept should reflect integrated airframe and propulsion design thinking (for example, fan placement, shielding, distributed propulsion concepts, or operational strategies) rather than treating acoustics as an afterthought.
Where is the opportunity posted and how do applicants access it?
The opportunity is posted through NASA's NSPIRES system.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NNH16ZEA001N AATT1.
What type of funding instrument is being offered?
It is categorized as a grant under science, technology, and other research and development.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 43.002.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning NASA is open to proposals from a broad range of organizations rather than limiting eligibility to a narrow applicant type.
Does NASA encourage team-based proposals and partnerships?
Yes. NASA encourages proposers to assemble strong, complementary teams and explicitly calls out partnerships among industry, small businesses, and universities.
What kinds of expertise does NASA imply may be needed on a proposal team?
The announcement signals the work may span multiple specialties, including aircraft conceptual design, propulsion and powertrain architecture, electrical power generation and distribution, energy storage, thermal management, safety and certification considerations, and system-level modeling of emissions and noise.
What is the mid-term timeframe defined by NASA for entry into airline service?
The mid-term timeframe is defined as 2035 or earlier.
What are the key submission deadlines mentioned?
The Notice of Intent (NOI) deadline is October 14, 2016, and full proposals are due November 28, 2016.
Which NASA organization is associated with this funding listing?
The funding listing indicates this is a NASA Headquarters opportunity.
When was the funding listing created?
The listing was created on September 29, 2016.
Does the provided information specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The provided text does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
What kind of deliverable is NASA primarily seeking through this solicitation?
The framing indicates NASA is seeking well-supported conceptual aircraft designs that can guide NASA's research priorities and help mature electrified propulsion approaches for the single-aisle commercial market.
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