20th AIAA Advanced Measurement and Ground Testing Technology Conference Lessons Learned in AIAA Working Group Development E. Allen Arrington Dynacs/NASA Lewis David M. Cahill Sverdrup Technology/AEDC Group Mark R. Melanson Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems

20th AIAA Advanced Measurement and Ground Testing Technology Conference Discussion Topics u Why Working Groups? u WG Process >Ideas for WG >TC Champion >Developing Goals/TC Approval >Recruiting Membership >Working towards the goal >Reaching the goal >Towards New Goals/End the WG u Conclusions

20th AIAA Advanced Measurement and Ground Testing Technology Conference Why Working Groups? u Working Groups provide an excellent means for TC’s to foster relevant technical work >AIAA is a recognized international organization >made up of all facets of aeronautics/astronautics community >neutral environment, sharing is fostered >results can serve as STANDARDS, RECOMMENDED PRACTICES, OR GUIDES for the industry >Great way to network and address key issues

20th AIAA Advanced Measurement and Ground Testing Technology Conference Why Working Groups (cont’d)? u Working Group as opposed to TC committees? >WG are finite F Defined Objective F Finite length F Identified Product >Composition can be broader and include non-TC members >TC’s (unfortunately) are often viewed as non-productive by potential participants management F WG’s (if successful) can combat that perspective u Process (reaching technical goal) is great sharing mechanism

20th AIAA Advanced Measurement and Ground Testing Technology Conference Working Group Process WG Champion & Chair inside or outside TC Idea Finite Goal(s) Established TC Approval membership recruited work to goal reach goal AIAA GUIDE New goals ? Yes NoNo

20th AIAA Advanced Measurement and Ground Testing Technology Conference Ideas for WG u Can come from inside or outside TC u Must be consistent with overall TC and AIAA objectives u Should be fairly specific at this stage; some type of product in mind u Should be of value to significant number of technical organizations

20th AIAA Advanced Measurement and Ground Testing Technology Conference WG Champion & Chair u Critical step in the viability of WG u Champion must be the driving force for the work of the WG u Must be the link to the TC; Must be a TC member u May require extension of TC service to last the life of WG u Shouldn’t be moved from one person to another u Must be someone willing to work between conferences - 60 to 80 hours/ 6 months minimum

20th AIAA Advanced Measurement and Ground Testing Technology Conference Developing Goals / TC Approval u Absolutely critical step u Most likely point of failure >Scope of activity too large >No clear product in mind >No consensus for value of the stated goal >Unknown if idea will be supported by potential members u Scope must be very clear and obtainable by volunteer labor meeting twice a year u Written Charter accepted by TC an absolute must!

20th AIAA Advanced Measurement and Ground Testing Technology Conference Recruiting Membership u Recruit from those organizations to be impacted/affected by the proposed activity >member must have expertise at the working level u Members must clearly understand WG is not a “marketing” opportunity u Mostly made up of non-TC members >If you can’t generate participants outside the TC, the goals are probably not worthwhile >Several active TC members participants are useful F Difficult for TC members to be on more than one WG

20th AIAA Advanced Measurement and Ground Testing Technology Conference Recruiting Membership (cont’d) u Participation expectations >Home organization must support participant travel and labor costs F Usually two meetings per year days each F Work between sessions (20 + hours) F Usually a 3-4 year effort (minimum, depending on objectives) >Address issues such as who “cannot” participate early F Europe, Asia, Commercial companies? others? u Bottom line - need people who share the goal, have the expertise, and are willing work (watch out for management!)

20th AIAA Advanced Measurement and Ground Testing Technology Conference Working Towards the Goal u Getting Started >Clearly state Goals, Product, and get buy-in of participants (again) >Share information on topic F Fosters “team” environment F Creates a common understanding “starting point” –particularly useful if this is standard or recommend practice generation F Ground rules for sharing of technical or proprietary materials established early F Summary report of shared data (for WG use only) frequently very useful

20th AIAA Advanced Measurement and Ground Testing Technology Conference Working Towards the Goal (cont’d) u Getting Started (continued) >Establish a method of keeping track of information generated in WG F Secretary frequently very useful (really required) F Detailed meeting minutes required u Meeting expectations >Usually need 2 to 3 sessions of 2 to 4 hours each per conference to make significant progress 8-12 hours total) >Can be difficult to schedule during conferences F Often pre- or post-conference sessions should be expected

20th AIAA Advanced Measurement and Ground Testing Technology Conference Working Towards the Goal (cont’d) u Work Methods >Work coordination and planning at conferences, do work offline F best method for early stage of WG, where informational gathering is critical F meetings can be used to bring about consensus of opinion and discuss issues F very important to define task/assignments for offline work –meeting minutes are highly useful for this purpose

20th AIAA Advanced Measurement and Ground Testing Technology Conference Working Towards the Goal (cont’d) u Work Methods (cont’d) >Work during conferences, with some assignments between sessions F best method for latter stages of WG, particularly where documents are being finalized for publication F Still must use offline work to help drive progress forward –very important to define task/assignments for offline work >Both methods are valuable, depending on the status, situation of WG u and FTP sites are very useful for exchange of information, drafts, edits, etc

20th AIAA Advanced Measurement and Ground Testing Technology Conference Working Towards the Goal (cont’d) u Expect that over the life of the WG, there will be a evolution of the membership. >Not necessarily a problem, but try not to backtrack (key job for chair)! >New blood can bring in new energy

20th AIAA Advanced Measurement and Ground Testing Technology Conference Reaching the Goal u Document results according AIAA publication standards >AIAA sets the document format and review process >Document Types F Standard F Recommended Practice F Guide F Special Project u Conferences, symposiums, should be considered as platforms to publicize the WG and results

20th AIAA Advanced Measurement and Ground Testing Technology Conference Towards New Goals/End the WG u Once the goal is obtained, WG is dissolved unless new objectives determined u New objectives require a new Charter and approval by TC before launch

20th AIAA Advanced Measurement and Ground Testing Technology Conference Conclusions u WGs are very valuable way for a TC to make a technical contribution u Goals, Objectives and Scope must be clearly defined and limited u A WG chair that will lead the WG enthusiastically throughout its duration is critical

20th AIAA Advanced Measurement and Ground Testing Technology Conference Conclusions u Membership selection from diverse, supporting base, both in and out of the TC is critical (there are real time and $ commitments necessary) u Work, Work, Work, Work u Publish and present to end the life span of the WG