MEMORANDUM FOR DISTRIBUTION

FROM: DUNCAN MOORE

SUBJECT:    Formation of an Wire Safety Research Interagency Working Group

I would like to invite the appropriate members of your management team to attend a meeting with the Office of Science Technology Policy to discuss the formation of an Interagency Wire Safety Research Interagency Working Group (IWG). The meeting will be held on June 7, 200O at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Room 472 f-m 1:00 to 3:OOPM.

 On February 12, 1997, The White House Commission for Aviation Safety and Security chaired by Vice President Gore issued a report to the President recommending that FAA-DOD-NASA expand their cooperative aging aircraft program to include aging wiring issues in commercial aviation. On March 1, 2000, NASA’s Space Shuttle Independent Assessment Team also identified aging wiring as a safety issue for Space Shuttle operations.

 As a result of a review of existing research and wire safety efforts underway at FAA, DOD, and NASA and recent White House meetings including representatives of the International Aviation Safety Association, Lyn Romano and Edward Block, we have concluded that aging wiring is an issue of national concern that extends beyond aviation. Therefore, we are proposing to form an Wire Safety Research IWG that will become the focal point for wire safety technology in the U.S. This group will be responsible for ensuring that federal research is coordinated and communicated in a timely way to improve safety for air, space and other areas where aging wiring is a safety issue.

 The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the formation of this Research Group under the National Science and Technology Council’s Committee on Technology and a draft terms-of-reference for the group (attached). The group will work to define a process to ensure the coordination and collaboration of wire safety research and technology development between agencies and facilitate its rapid implementation. I have asked Charles Huettner, Senior Policy Advisor for Aviation, to chair the meeting.

Please provide him with the name of the representative who can speak on behalf of your organization by May 12, 2000. He can be reached at (202) 4X-6034 or cluettne@ostp.eop.gov.

DISTRIBUTION:

C. Shavers, DOC

D.Etter, DoD

F. Carry, RSPA

T. McSweeny, FAA

S. Zaidman, FAA

S. Venneri, NASA

J. Rothenberg, NASA

M. Winograd, NPR

T. Rosado, OMB

B. Sponherg, OMB

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