AERONAUTICS \ND TRANSPORTATION 777 



As a word of caution, I cannot overemphasize the fact that this hearing and in 

 fact this subcommittee's jurisdiction is concerned only with the matters pertaining 

 to research and development. Regulatory matters are not within the scope of this 

 jurisdiction. Chairman Tcague has provided me with a memorandum to that effect. 



Wydler, in his opening statement, indicated that jet noise "severely 

 and directly affects the economy of the airlines" hy limiting the sues 

 available for airports. He also pointed to the lack of coordination 

 between R. cs: D. and action agencies like FAA and EPA, and the neces- 

 sity for getting them to work together. The hearings shifted to 

 Washington for two more days. The report the subcommittee issued 

 once again expressed concern that faster action was not being taken 

 by Government and industry to reduce aircraft noise. The Secretary 

 of Transportation was urged to give "early, full and thorough con- 

 sideration" of the sound absorption material (SAM) retrofit option 

 with particular attention to the economic cost-benelit aspects. The 

 committee concluded that: 



Noise reduction technology has been convincingly demonstrated and it is time 

 to facilitate its implementation. 



The subcommittee's experience with meeting crash deadlines 

 early in 1975 on the NASA and FAA R. & D. requirements spurred 

 the decision to hold several field briefings in October, followed by 

 prebudget authorization hearings in November 1975. Read, in a Sep- 

 tember 3 memorandum to Milford, pointed out the problem with the 

 schedule used early in 1975: 



The diflkultv with this approach was that it placed a tremendous burden on the 

 subcommittee and staff to complete its review prior to the deadline. While obviously 

 possible, this tight schedule did not permit as thorough a review as might be desired. 



FIELD TRIPS 



On October 15 and 16, the subcommittee visited Flight Research 

 Center, and also Ames, Lewis, and Langley Research Centers, followed 

 by visits to the National Aviation Facility Experimental Center in 

 Atlantic City, N.J. and the Transportation Systems Center in Cam- 

 bridge, Mass. Washington hearings were then held in November. 

 The subcommittee also covered the FAA R. & D. area in a preliminary 

 hearing in November. This made it easier to concentrate on the specific 

 dollar amounts and new starts when the February budget hearings 

 were scheduled. 



Increasingly, as 1975 progressed, Lloyd took a more active part 

 in the hearings and presided over several sessions. For example, in 

 opening the NASA authorization hearings on November 4, 1975 

 Lloyd stated: 



f might note before beginning this morning that I am very interested in keeping 

 this country at the forefront of the world's aviation industry. One of the most mi- 



