

111-11)10 mi mi COMMUTE] ON SCIENCI AND TECHNOLOGY 



difference to agree and thai means at a level higher than ()\1H obviously that this 

 program is in the national interest. 



SHOT I 1> NASA OR FAA 1>AV FOR RETROFITTING? 



Mosher was the first to raise a serious question: 



Now Jack Wydler says that the technology exists, it is already here. I have 

 always assumed that NASA's job was to research and develop the technology, Inn 



once that it existed, as in this ^ase, I thought the FAA would take over, or the FAA 

 and private industry would take over. So I am curious to know what NASA's re- 

 sponsibility is in it. 



Wells carefully explained that NASA had a sound record of 3/2 years 

 of research done with funds recommended by the subcommittee, which 

 brought the quiet engine project to a level of confidence where it 

 would work. Then Wells had a happy thought. He pointed out that 

 the work was being done by the General Electric Co., "which is 

 under the Lewis Research Center." It was as though a light bulb had 

 suddenly appeared, as Mosher commented: "And this research center 

 is located in northern Ohio?" 



Mosher abruptly ceased taking issue with the $41 million in- 

 crease. Not so an outspoken kansan. Winn fought the proposal vigor- 

 ously. He wondered why FAA was not footing the bill, instead of 

 NASA. When Hechler indicated that the FAA would probably pick it 

 up the following year, Winn asked why they couldn't just as easily 

 assume the cost in 1972. At this point, Hechler revealed that he had 

 arranged a private, off-the-record meeting with the FAA Administra- 

 tor, John H. Shaffer, who when informed of the impending action of 

 the subcommittee had endorsed the concept. Winn then challenged 

 the proposal on the grounds that we could not control foreign planes 

 which did not meet the noise standards at American airports. The 

 arguments got warmer as Price jumped in against asking NASA to 

 foot the bill, and Goldwater spoke out in favor of the $41 million 

 increase. Winn finally demanded a rollcall, and the subcommittee 

 position prevailed, as it did on the floor. These subcommittee actions 

 laid the basis for later initiatives by both Congress and the executive 

 branch to develop major aircraft retrofit programs, in order to reduce- 

 in use levels by significant amounts. 



The spirited argument over retrofitting almost obscured other 

 increases which the subcommittee voted in 1972. For example, funds 

 were added to speed research in modifying civil aircraft to be com- 

 patible with a new microwave landing system (Ml.S) being developed 



