FAA to create research center

SEATTLE — The Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday announced that it will establish a research center focusing on using advanced materials such as alloys and composites in airplanes.

The news provided a glimmer of hope for the state’s battered aerospace industry. The University of Washington is angling to house the center, which was proposed by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.

"We want to make sure we put in a successful bid for this," Cantwell said in a telephone interview. "It’s a great opportunity for us to keep an applied manufacturing base in the state of Washington."

If the center is built at the UW, it could only strengthen the state’s attempt to persuade the Boeing Co. to build its new airliner, the 7E7, here, Gov. Gary Locke noted. Several states are trying to land the 7E7, the construction of which will rely heavily on advanced materials.

"To build the next generation of Boeing airplanes here, we need to have the next generation of aviation manufacturing technology located here," said Connie Kelliher, a Seattle district spokeswoman for the Machinists union.

Cantwell proposed legislation in February that would have directed the FAA to build the Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials. The legislation was eventually included in the FAA reauthorization bill, which is bogged down in committee.

On Wednesday, Cantwell said the FAA liked the idea for the center so much that the agency decided to go ahead whether the legislation is approved or not.

"The full potential of composites, bonding and other advanced materials and processes have not been realized," the FAA said.

The agency asked for proposals from institutions that would like to house the center. The proposals are due Nov. 17, and the grant is expected to be awarded in early December.

The FAA said it would provide $300,000 to $500,000 for the first year of the grant and at least $300,000 in each of the next two years.

The center would focus on studying the long-term durability and maintenance of the materials, on training engineers to work with them, and on bringing researchers, companies and government officials together to share ideas about new applications of the research.

It would also coordinate with the new composites-oriented materials science program at Edmonds Community College, which was launched this year with a Department of Defense grant.

Along with airplanes, the materials could also be used to build trucks and light vehicles.

"If we can keep that expertise in the area, we’ll be able to keep a manufacturing base," Cantwell said.

The union’s Kelliher agreed.

"Research could apply to a broad array of industries and provide some long-term economic growth for this region beyond the gates of Boeing," she said.

If approved, the center would be one of six FAA Centers of Excellence around the country that specialize in aviation issues, such as airplane emissions or airport pavement research, Cantwell said.