FAA Aviation Research Grants Program
The FAA offers research grants to universities and non-profits for innovative aviation studies in areas like air traffic control, safety, weather, and human factors.
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Funder: DOT - FAA Aviation Research Grants
Due Dates: November 1, 2026 (White paper) | December 1, 2026 (New application) | January 2, 2027 (White paper and new application) | September 7, 2027 (Final closing)
Funding Amounts: Up to $6,000,000 per award for 12–60 months
Summary: Supports basic and applied research advancing civil aviation, commercial space transportation, and catastrophic aircraft failure prevention.
Key Information: Applications must come from eligible institutions or 501(c)(3) nonprofits, not individuals.
Description
The Federal Aviation Administration’s Aviation Research Grants Program supports innovative, advanced research addressing the long-term growth and short-term technical needs of civil aviation. Grants and cooperative agreements support basic and applied research across physical, chemical, biological, medical, psychological, mathematical, and engineering sciences. The program seeks to advance emerging technologies and enhance technology assimilation, transfer, and development within the FAA. Immediate application to an FAA research and development program is not required.
Research may address aviation safety, capacity, efficiency, security, commercial space transportation, or methods to prevent catastrophic aircraft failures. Areas of interest include air traffic control automation, artificial intelligence applications, aircraft safety technologies, aviation weather, airport systems, and human factors. Funding comes primarily from FAA program offices supporting research in their specific technical areas.
