Advancing aeronautics

"What aeronautics research should be supported by the U.S. government? What compelling and desirable benefits drive that research? How should the government -- especially NASA -- make these decisions? This monograph develops practical mechanisms for answering these difficult questions. The authors describe ways to evaluate and compare the potential benefits from different research options, show the range of fundamental approaches for research to achieve those benefits, compare rough estimates of the costs of research and subsequent development and implementation against those benefits, and outline a transparent decision process for objectively evaluating competing research options. The monograph illustrates these mechanisms with examples that show the magnitude of aeronautics problems and challenges in economic terms that allow direct comparison across research areas. It also highlights how areas such as general aviation safety might warrant additional attention."--RAND website.