The mission of the Next Generation Aviation Research Park (ARTP) is to promote sustained economic growth and job creation throughout New Jersey and the nation by implementing and operating a cooperative, state-of-the-art aviation Research Park that will support the evolution of the Next Generation aviation environment.
   At full build out, the Park will include seven multi-story buildings with a total of over 400,000 square feet of laboratory and research space located on the campus of the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center which is the nation’s leading air transportation Federal Facility.
   The ARTP will be directly connected using high speed fiber to the Technical Center’s one-of-a-kind, world class laboratories. The Park will also be alongside other campus partners including the DHS Transportation Security Laboratory; Federal Air Marshal Services Training Facility; New Jersey National Guard 177th Fighter Wing; U.S. Coast Guard Station Atlantic City; and the Atlantic City International Airport.
   A number of activities have taken place leading toward accomplishment of this mission. A Master Plan/Feasibility Study was published in October of 2007 estimating that over 2000 new employees could be added to the proposed park.
   The FAA has entered into a partnership agreement with the ARTP to help accelerate the modernization of the National Airspace System that includes the use of 58 acres of federal property for the Park.
   The ARTP has met and gained support from many stakeholders including New Jersey Senators and Congressman, and numerous State, County, and Municipal officials. Through the obtainment of government grants, the Park’s infrastructure including roads, utilities and landscaping is near completion.
   Representatives from academia, industry, and Government have joined as members of the Park and membership is open to any academic, industry, or Government individual or organization that can support the advancement of aviation through Research & Development.
   The first building has been designed with 66,000 gross square feet of adaptable, state-of–the-art aviation research space. It will be located in an environmentally unique, campus-like setting that fosters collaboration among the tenants of the Park. The value proposition of the ARTP has been enhanced with the execution of two collaborative agreements.
   One is with the South Jersey Transportation Authority providing Park members the opportunity to perform research and testing in an airport environment at the Atlantic City International Airport.
   The other agreement is with the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center serving as an umbrella agreement for Park members to partner with the FAA on mutually beneficial research projects. The ARTP is also in the initial stages of developing research projects with current and future members and tenants.
   According to ARTP Board Chair Ed Salmon of Salmon Ventures, “The establishment of the Next Generation Aviation Research and Technology Park will greatly promote the advancement of the aviation sciences worldwide.”
   “With its offer of increased visibility and business opportunities along with the prospect for collaborative research opportunities in a realistic aviation research environment, it will be a success. As the buildings are built, there will be a boost to the economy with the temporary increase of construction jobs in the area.”
   “With the creation of permanent high paying technical jobs, the Park will have a significant long lasting economic impact here in South Jersey. There will be an increased demand for hotel rooms and sales will increase for our community retail establishments. There will be an amplified demand for homes and transportation infrastructure improvements should occur. History indicates that typically, every job in a research park generates an average of over 2.5 jobs in the economy.”
   “Overall, the Research Park will play a key role in helping New Jersey to build on an already strong aviation foundation and become the global center of aviation. This will help in the pursuit of the large markets in the FAA Next Generation program, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, and emerging foreign aviation development,” Salmon says.
   Ron Esposito, who is the head man on the ground for ARTP, adds that “In the next three to five years, implementation activities will continue with Park operations starting once the first building is occupied. Buildings housing laboratories and office space are expected to be finished during this timeframe.”
   “Once the first building is occupied, the Park will build on the strengths of being adjacent to the FAA Technical Center and alongside the other campus partners. It will continue to expand in terms of projects, revenue, membership, buildings, laboratories, and technical capabilities. Attention will be on full research operations supporting the FAA and the aviation community while focusing on job creation and sustained growth.”
   “The Park will work to become the preferred choice of the aviation community with the reputation of being a premier aviation center, and an international showcase for aviation research, technologies, and products.”
   “The ultimate goal is to emerge in New Jersey as a collaborative, full-service, aviation research facility capable of providing advanced research to the international aviation community. The Park will enhance aviation sciences and the streamlined implementation of new concepts by applying advanced capabilities in research and development, engineering, simulation and modeling, product commercialization and innovation.”
   “The economic impact of the Park will exceed the number of direct jobs created and will stimulate the economy throughout South Jersey,” Esposito predicts.
 
 
http://nextgenaviationpark.org/default.aspx
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Pictured: Ron Esposito