Atom | FAA Aviation Research Grants Program

Funder: DOT - FAA Aviation Research Grants

Due Dates: June 3, 2025 (White Paper/Pre-Application) | July 3, 2025 (New Grant Application) | August 2, 2025 (White Paper/Pre-Application) | September 3, 2025 (New Grant Application) | November 1, 2025 (White Paper/Pre-Application) | December 1, 2025 (New Grant Application) | January 2, 2026 (New Grant Application)

Funding Amounts: Up to $6,000,000 per year available; individual awards typically range from several thousand to several million dollars for 1–5 years.

Summary: Supports innovative research by universities and nonprofits to advance civil aviation in areas such as air traffic control, safety, weather, airports, and human factors.

Key Information: White paper submission is recommended but not required; cost sharing is encouraged but not mandatory.

Description

This program, administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), funds research grants and cooperative agreements to address both the long-term growth and short-term technical needs of civil aviation and commercial space transportation. The program encourages basic and applied research in scientific and engineering disciplines relevant to aviation, with the goal of advancing knowledge, technology assimilation, and development within the FAA and the broader aviation community.

Research topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

Capacity and air traffic control technology
Communications, navigation, and surveillance
Aviation weather
Airports (design, operations, environmental impacts)
Aircraft safety technology (including catastrophic failure prevention)
Human factors and aviation medicine
Systems science and operations research

The program is open to a wide range of scientific and engineering fields, including physical, chemical, biological, medical, psychological, mathematical, and engineering sciences.

Due Dates

White Paper/Pre-Application (Recommended):
- June 3, 2025
- August 2, 2025
- November 1, 2025
- June 3, 2026
- August 2, 2026
- November 1, 2026
- (and similar dates through 2027)
New Grant Application:
- July 3, 2025
- September 3, 2025
- December 1, 2025
- January 2, 2026
- July 3, 2026
- September 2, 2026
- December 1, 2026
- January 2, 2027
- (and similar dates through 2027)

Note: If a due date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the deadline is extended to the next business day.

Funding Amount

Total Program Funding: Approximately $6,000,000 per year (subject to appropriations).
Award Size: Individual awards typically range from several thousand to several million dollars.
Award Duration: 12 to 60 months (1–5 years).
Award Types: Grants and cooperative agreements.
Cost Sharing: Not required, but proposals with cost sharing may be viewed favorably.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include:

Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
Private institutions of higher education
Nonprofit research institutions with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)

Not eligible: For-profit organizations and individuals.

The FAA encourages participation from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs).

Applicants must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) and have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) at the time of application.

Application Process

White Paper/Pre-Application (Optional but Recommended):
- Submit a 3-page white paper summarizing the proposed research, collaborators, PI bio, and estimated cost.
- Email to Monica Butler (see Contact Information).
- FAA will notify the PI if the research is of interest.
Full Application:
- Submit electronically via Grants.gov.
- Required forms include SF 424 R&R, Research & Related Budget, Senior/Key Person Profile, Project/Performance Site Location, and others.
- Attach a detailed project description (max 15 pages), budget narrative, and required assurances.
- Applications are accepted according to the published schedule.
Review Process:
- Proposals are evaluated for intrinsic value, relevance to FAA mission, technical soundness, and research performance competence.
- Proposals may be rated as undistinguished or with distinction.
- Cost sharing, while not required, may influence funding decisions.
Award Administration:
- Selected applicants will receive a formal award notice.
- Reporting requirements and terms will be specified in the award document.

Additional Information

No cost sharing is required, but it is encouraged and may strengthen the application.
No profit is allowed for nonprofit or academic institutions.
Pre-award costs are generally not reimbursed unless specifically approved.
Metric system must be used in all proposals and reports.
Non-discrimination assurances are required as a condition of award.

External Links

Contact Information

Name / Office	Email	Phone	Website
Monica Butler, Grants Officer	monica.y.butler@faa.gov	(202) 267-3277	FAA Contact Page
FAA Aviation Research Grants	9-ANG-ARG-Grants@faa.gov	(202) 267-3277	FAA Aviation Research Grants

For technical questions, contact the relevant FAA program manager listed in the NOFO or via the program website. For administrative questions, contact the Grants Officer.