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Aircraft

Research insights into aircraft selection and maintenance, crew training, test facilities, and airspace access are valuable to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and U.S. and allied air forces. RAND studies have also examined military air power and aerospace industry issues.

Commentary
Reimagining and Modernizing U.S. Airborne Forces for the 21st Century
Many of the challenges the U.S. will face in the coming years across the range of military operations could be deep inland and require rapid response. Airborne forcible entry — with reimagined and modernized airborne forces — would offer decisionmakers options in crises that they do not possess today.
Apr 20, 2016
Commentary
Regulating Drone Airspace Using 'Smart Markets'
With commercially operated autonomous drones potentially on the horizon, a policy problem is likely to emerge: allocation of scarce airspace and preferred flight paths. “Smart markets” could help.
Apr 19, 2016
Commentary
Do 'Guardian Forces' Belong in the Military?
More and more national security workers in and out of uniform never get close to combat. They address cyber threats, operate satellite constellations, and control drones. It's time to rethink their place in the system.
Mar 10, 2016
Report
Consolidating Air Force Maintenance Occupational Specialties
This report examines the cost and readiness implications of consolidating maintenance occupational specialties for new and legacy mobility fleets. Implications are derived from an assessment conducted for the KC-135 fleet.
Mar 9, 2016
Report
A Review of Selected International Aircraft Spares Pooling Programs: Lessons Learned for F-35 Spares Pooling
Development of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter was shared by nine countries, who agreed that F-35 sustainment assets would be managed as a global pool. This report reviews other military aircraft spares pooling programs to identify lessons learned.
Feb 18, 2016
Report
Metrics to Compare Aircraft Operating and Support Costs in the Department of Defense
This report examines several issues associated with the cost-per-flying-hour (CPFH) metric used in the Department of Defense (DoD), including its use to compare operating and support costs of different aircraft.
Dec 22, 2015
Dissertation
Improving the Cost Efficiency and Readiness of MC-130 Aircrew Training: A Case Study
Examines the respective effects on costs and readiness of existing and potential MC-130 aircrew continuation training policies.
Dec 18, 2015
Commentary
Inside the Fish Bowl: High Stakes Acquisition Protests
The Boeing-Lockheed Martin team filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office asserting that the U.S. Air Force's selection of Northrop Grumman to build the Long Range Strike-Bomber was fundamentally flawed. Work on the program, valued at approximately $80 billion, is now paused.
Dec 3, 2015
Report
Reducing Air Force Fighter Pilot Shortages
Examines potential paths for overcoming the persistent and critical shortage of fighter pilots that the Air Force has faced over the past several decades.
Nov 24, 2015
Dissertation
Improving Standoff Bombing Capacity in the Face of Anti-Access Area Denial Threats
Addresses the issue of standoff capacity in anti-access/area denial environments using a cost-effectiveness methodology.
Nov 20, 2015
Commentary
Passing Judgment on Russian Plane Crash Before the Facts Are In
A bright flash and catastrophic event suggest an explosion, but do not necessarily exclude the possibility of a mechanical failure. This would not, in fact, be the first time evidence pointed to a terrorist attack when none existed.
Nov 12, 2015
Dissertation
The Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems for Agriculture in Africa: Can It Fly?
Examines the feasibility of adopting agricultural unmanned aerial systems in Africa.
Nov 11, 2015
Report
Rescuing Downed Aircrews: The Value of Time
This report describes research to quantify the "rescuability window" of downed aircrews to assist the U.S. Air Force's reassessment of its personnel recovery force structure.
Nov 9, 2015
Commentary
Pakistan and China's Almost Alliance
Policymakers in the United States and throughout Asia should take note of why the Sino-Pakistani relationship has endured for so long, what each partner gets from the other, and what inherent limitations prevent the union from developing into a true alliance.
Oct 16, 2015
Q&A
A No-Fly Zone Over Syria: Q&A with Karl Mueller
Some are advocating a no-fly zone in Syria to protect civilians from both ISIS and forces loyal to Assad. What constraints complicate establishing a no-fly zone and realizing its expected benefits? And how might Assad supporters, such as Russia, respond?
Oct 15, 2015
Commentary
Lessons from the Past for the Future of the KC-46A
Analysis suggests that fixed-price contracts have not successfully reduced costs to the DoD associated with developing complex weapon systems. This has implications for the Air Force, given the importance of the ongoing KC-46A program.
Sep 16, 2015
Research Brief
U.S. and Chinese Air Superiority Capabilities
The United States maintains unparalleled air-to-air capabilities. But the modernization of Chinese air forces, combined with the difficulties of operating over long distances in Asia, would make it more and more challenging for the United States to gain air superiority during the beginning of a possible conflict with China.
Sep 14, 2015
Report
American Public Opinion of Airpower Over the Past Century
Americans today do not view airpower or the Air Force with the same fascination and enthusiasm that they did during the “golden age” of aviation, but shortcomings in Air Force narratives are not to blame. Airpower's enormous social currency during the first half of the 20th century was due to real-world events and technological advances, not narratives.
Jul 17, 2015
Report
Airpower in the Libyan Civil War
In 2011, a coalition of nations waged a war against Muammar Qaddafi's regime that reversed the tide of Libya's civil war. The intervention's central element was a relatively small air campaign. What lessons did each nation glean from the experience?
Jul 8, 2015
Report
Tankering Fuel on U.S. Air Force Transport Aircraft
Tankering fuel involves carrying excess fuel when flying from origins where fuel is less expensive than at the destination. Would this practice generate cost savings if used on U.S. Air Force transport aircraft?
Jun 23, 2015

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Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Joe Eyerman

Senior Political Scientist

Joe Eyerman is a senior political scientist in the RAND Corporation's Washington office. His work focuses on the intersection of innovation, technology, government policy and decision making. He has directed studies on technology assessment and integration, 5G security applications, labor…
Michelle Woods

Associate Director, RAND Homeland Security Research Division

Michelle Woods is the associate director of the RAND Homeland Security Research Division (HSRD), which operates the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC). She is also a senior defense researcher at the RAND Corporation.

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