NASA and a state-owned aerospace company in China have entered into a partnership to carry out a five-year joint aeronautics research initiative in an effort to update air transportation and work toward greater automation of aviation operations in both countries.
Both parties will gather and analyze data from Chinese airports to support air traffic management efficiency and the advancement of air transportation concepts and tools, NASAÂ said Thursday.
NASA will collaborate with U.S. airlines and the Chinese Aeronautical Establishment will partner with the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the China Air Traffic Management Bureau and Chinese airports and airlines for the study.
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said the study will work to advance ground delay predictions to help air carriers to schedule their departures.
He added that the project looks to impact U.S. carrier operations in China and the global aviation community.
The study is in line with another research effort by the Airspace Operations and Safety Program within NASA’s aeronautics research mission directorate.