Moran leads bill supporting safer, more accessible commercial aviation

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) on June 1 sponsored a bipartisan bill that would direct the administrator of the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to continue operation of the Advanced Materials Center of Excellence, a public, private, and academic partnership that researches materials to improve commercial aviation.

The Joint Center of Excellence (COE) for Advanced Materials (JAMS) was established in January 2004 to assist in ensuring the safe and reliable application of composites and advanced materials to commercial aircraft, according to the FAA. The center is a joint effort of the Center of Excellence for Composite and Advanced Materials led by Wichita State University (WSU) and the Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials in Transport Aircraft Structures led by the University of Washington.

The main focus of the partnership is the research, engineering and development of information used to assure safety and standardize certification of existing and emerging structural applications of composites and advanced materials, the FAA says.

“Our universities are necessary partners and pivotal contributors to aviation safety research,” Sen. Moran said. “As the aviation industry continues to evolve, this legislation will help make certain the Joint Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials can continue identifying solutions for advanced structures and materials issues, while meeting the demands of a changing ecosystem to ensure that any passenger who chooses to fly can do so and in a safe manner.”

Sen. Moran introduced the Joint Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials and Safety Act, S. 1796, with lead original cosponsor U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA). They are both members of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

If enacted, S. 1796 would expand the scope of research to include testing for accessible air travel for people with disabilities, including in-cabin wheelchair users and passengers with mobility challenges, and would increase federal resources for the consortium to accommodate additional research capabilities, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Moran’s office.

The bill also would bolster research into advanced aerospace technologies, such as carbon fiber polymers, thermoplastic composites, and additive manufacturing, the summary says.

“Continuing the mission of FAA’s Joint Centers of Excellence for Advanced Materials is critical to advancing U.S. leadership in advanced materials and composites that will make planes lighter, safer, and more fuel-efficient,” said Sen. Cantwell. “Extending the centers’ research to advance the safe use of wheelchair restraint systems and personal wheelchairs in flight is key to improving the passenger experience for individuals with disabilities.”

The measure is supported by John Tomblin, WSU senior vice president for Industry and Defense Programs and director of the Center of Excellence for Composites and Advanced Materials; Marco Salviato, associate professor in the William E. Boeing Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics and director of the Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials in Transport Aircraft Structures at the University of Washington; and Michele Erwin, founder and president of All Wheels Up.