Future Vision of Globally Harmonized National Airspace System with Concepts of Operations beyond Year 2020

As laid out in the National Airspace System (NAS) Operational Evolution Plan (OEP) [1], the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the aviation community are planning to make significant investment in NAS improvements over the next ten years. These enhancements involve implementation of Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) technologies, and automation of ground systems in order to improve efficiency, safety, capacity and security. However, the mode of operations during this time frame is expected to continue as it is today. A number of research efforts are underway to consider significant changes to NAS operations beyond the OEP. This paper presents a vision of future NAS and operational concepts for year 2020 and beyond based on a number of new paradigms that will provide globally harmonized service to conventional aircraft, uninhabited and space-launch vehicles. The key paradigms are: 1) a multi-faceted airport structure of well connected hubs, spoke, satellite and smaller airports; 2) multi-level CNS architecture for seamless and secured operations; 3) problem-free flight planning independent of look ahead times; 4) flexible sector boundaries based on equitable workload; and 5) a universal information service assuring uniformity and security of real time information to all stakeholders and service provider Decision Support Systems (DSS). Potential make up of future air traffic is discussed including a significant number of non-scheduled flights such as on-demand service, charter, travel club, fractional and short-haul intra-city operations. A concept of System Wide Information Management (SWIM) that provides a virtual electronic collaboration space is described. The operational concepts fully support self-delivery and self-separation for appropriately equipped aircraft. New roles for service providers at National, Regional and Local Air Traffic Management (ATM) facilities are defined. A set of performance goals are established considering the impact of several key operational factors. The operational concepts presented are intended to provide accurate real time gate to gate information, and multiple flight options between departure and destination airports to the users.