NEXTOR III is the eight-university FAA Consortium in Aviation Operations Research contracted by the Federal Aviation Administration to support research on a wide range of aviation topics. The consortium was awarded the NEXTOR III contract in 2020, building upon the success of the original NEXTOR and NEXTOR II programs, which were in operation from 1996 to 2019.

Our strategic goal is to lead the aviation community by generating new ideas and paradigms in air transportation, by educating and training aviation professionals, and by promoting knowledge transfer among industry, government and academic leaders.

Core members:
University of Maryland (prime contractor)
George Mason University | CATSR |
Georgia Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | ICAT |
Ohio State University | CAS |
Purdue University
University of California, Berkeley
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) | ATSL |