Streamlining Flight Safety Assurance Processes for Future Vertical Lift Development Programs through Government-Industry Collaboration

The U.S. Army's Future Vertical Lift (FVL) programs provide many opportunities and challenges for Vertical Flight Society members. The early stages of each FVL program are governed by principles that foster competition between companies, while requiring collaboration between the Army and each company. Down-selected companies competing for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) Competitive Prototype (CP) possess unique capabilities and initiatives to help advance collaboration with the Army. Bell, with a long history of developing aircraft for commercial and military use, is one of five performers selected for Phase 1 of FARA CP, and one of two performers selected for phase 2. During phase 1, the Army began working with the Industry performers to exercise and adapt existing industry processes to collaborate with airworthiness representatives from the Army. The collaboration required for FARA CP also applies to another FVL Other Transaction Agreement (OTA). Concurrently, Bell was also selected as an OTA project agreement holder for the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) Competitive Demonstration and Risk Reduction (CD&RR) effort. The FARA CP and FLRAA CD&RR programs have introduced new types of agreements and new expectations in airworthiness paradigms that require greater collaboration between experienced industry and U.S. Army representatives.