AERONAl TICS AND TRANSPORTATION 



WE ARE DETERMINED THAT THIS BE DONE 



753 



Wydler pushed hard for additional, speeded-up work by NASA 

 to proceed beyond the planning and study stage on aircraft noise sup- 

 pression, the short takeoff and landing plane (STOL) and greater 

 study of the airport as an integral part of aeronautics research. Pelly 

 set the stage for committee action by noting that the $110 million re- 

 quested for aeronautics was "totally inadequate," and he added that 

 "year after year members of this committee have spoken for greater 

 emphasis on research." As the subcommittee approached the end of its 

 hearings, Hechlcr concluded: 



Just one final note before we adjourn. We have always considered the Office of 

 Advanced Research and Technology as the necessary reservoir for replenishing the 

 strength of the space and aeronautics programs for the future. I would like again to 

 return to the point of the necessity for emphasizing getting younger people into the 

 aeronautics program. * * * This committee is determined that this be done. If there 

 be any difficulties in the way of accomplishing this, I hope we won't wait a year and 

 simply have NASA come in and report and say, sorry, some other law prevented us 

 from doing it. Let us know. Keep in touch with us. We are determined that this be 

 done. We want to encourage you and spur you to carry this out. 



Wydler dramatized the situation through "Additional Views" 

 appended to the full committee report in 1971. He commenced by 

 pointing out: 



The great emphasis placed on the space program during the early 1960's led to 

 remarkable achievements. However, one of the prices we paid for this progress in 

 space was the "shortchanging" of attention to aeronautical research and develop- 

 ment. As the implications of this became clear, the committee began to press NASA 

 to place more attention upon aeronautical problems. 



Wydler noted that by the latter 1960's, aviation problems had reached 

 the "crisis stage." He identified the most critical areas as noise pollu- 

 tion, and airway and airport congestion. He added that both NASA 

 and the FAA must tackle with greater vigor these immediate problems 

 to avoid chaos. He reiterated that "the design of aircraft is inex- 

 tricably related to the design of airports and airway patterns." 



INCREASES IN 1971 



When the markups of the bill took place, the subcommittee de- 

 cided to spell out in great detail precisely how it was intended to spend 

 an additional $25 million, and $1.4 million was added specifically to 

 encourage graduate research and the expansion of opportunities for 

 younger aeronautical engineers to be employed by NASA. Wydler 

 noted during the hearings the need for a study of "wetports" — off- 

 shore airports to serve urban areas, and he incorporated an amendment 



