The William J. Hughes Technical Center (WJHTC) is a United States government research and development facility located in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It is part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and serves as the agency's national scientific research and testing facility for aviation and aerospace.

The center is named after William J. Hughes, a former U.S. Representative from New Jersey who was a strong advocate for aviation safety. The facility is responsible for conducting research, development, and testing in areas such as:

1. Aviation safety: Investigating the causes of accidents and incidents to improve safety standards.
2. Air traffic control: Developing and testing new air traffic control systems and procedures.
3. Aircraft performance: Testing and evaluating the performance of aircraft and their components.
4. Communications: Developing and testing new communication systems for aviation.
5. Navigation: Evaluating and testing new navigation systems and technologies.
6. Weather: Studying the impact of weather on aviation and developing systems to improve weather forecasting and warning systems.

The WJHTC has a range of facilities, including:

1. Runways and test areas for aircraft testing
2. Laboratories for materials testing and evaluation
3. Simulators for air traffic control and pilot training
4. Communication and navigation system testbeds
5. Weather research facilities

The center works closely with industry partners, academia, and other government agencies to advance the safety and efficiency of aviation and aerospace systems. The WJHTC's research and testing activities help to inform policy decisions and develop new standards and regulations for the aviation industry.