The central task of a 1980 workshop on the role of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in aeronautics was to examine the relationship of NASA's research capabilities to the state of U.S. aviation and to make recommendations about NASA's future role in aeronautics. The specific task of the Panel on Transport Aircraft was to identify NASA's role in commercial transport aircraft to delineate the segments of the spectrum of research and development activities that clearly must be within the purview of NASA in order for U.S. transport manufacturing and operating industries to succeed and to continue to make important contributions to the nation's well-being. Following an introduction, information is presented under these categories: (1) Status and Dimensions of the Air Transport Community; (2) Transport Aircraft Research and Technology Needs; (3) The Evolution of NASA's Role in Air Transport; (4) NASA's Role in Air Transport - 1980 and Beyond; (5) Conclusions; and (6) Recommendations. Definitions of roles and disciplines are included in an appendix. (Author/DS)