Civil Tiltrotor - A New Transportation Alternative

The Congress directed the Secretary of Transportation to establish a Civil Tiltrotor Development Advisory Committee (CTRDAC). This committee examined the costs, technical feasibility, and economic viability of developing civil tiltrotor (CTR) aircraft; the integration of CTR aircraft into the national transportation system; and the resulting national economic benefits. The CTRDAC also determined what further research and development (R&D) and regulatory changes are needed and recommended how CTR aircraft and related infrastructure development costs should be allocated between government and industry. This paper is based on the CTRDAC Report to Congress recommending the creation of a public/private partnership and proceeding with an integrated CTR program. Whether this occurs will be dependent on whether Congress accepts these recommendations and provides funding for the Federal portion of this cost-shared program.