Accommodating a level of air traffic in 2025 that may be double that of today will require passenger and cargo air vehicles that fly much cleaner and quieter, consume less fuel, and take off and land on short runways. Increased performance requires expansion of the allowable flight envelope, increased structural reliability with reduced structural weight, and increased energy efficiency and operability for advanced airframe and engine systems and subsystems. While there are no specific system-level goals for noise, emissions, and performance, technologies will be evaluated using trade studies for typical engines and aircraft. The 10-year strategy includes provisions for novel test methods and validated prediction tools that can be used to improve system tradeoffs for advanced concepts capable of meeting longer-term noise, emissions and performance targets.

• Development of prediction and analysis tools for reduced uncertainty in design process
• Development of concepts/technologies for enabling dramatic improvements in noise, emissions, and performance characteristics of subsonic/transonic aircraft

• Direct impact on future designs of a wide range of subsonic aircraft relevant to industry, DoD, and OGA
• Direct impact on JPDO & NextGen operational and environmental goals and objectives

• Enable major changes in engine cycle/airframe configurations
• reduce uncertainty in Multi-disciplinary Design and Analysis Tools and Processes
• Develop/Test/Analyze advanced multi-discipline-based concepts and technologies
• Conduct discipline-based foundational research

The table below summarizes NASA's technology goals for future-generation aircraft and represents the "corners" of the trade space. NASA seeks to identify solutions that meet goals for noise, emissions, and energy usage (fuel burn), while recognizing that it may be necessary to "trade" optimal numbers in one category to boost numbers in another. (This table was presented during a NASA pre-proposal conference in November 2007 for the NRA "Advanced Concept Studies for Subsonic & Supersonic Commercial Transports Entering Service in the 2030-2035 Period.")