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5.1 Safe Small Aircraft Transportation SystemA Safe Small Aircraft Transportation System would provide safe accessibility in nearly all weather conditions throughout virtually all of the nation's suburban, rural, and remote landing facilities, including those communities that cannot be economically served by airlines. Safe, affordable, and easy-to-use personal aircraft can reduce typical inter-city travel times by 75 percent. The emerging gap between demand and supply for inter-city transportation could be met through this capability, if the safety challenges can be met.The ingredients exist to enable safe and affordable air transportation using smaller aircraft operating between thousands of smaller airports. These ingredients include "Information Age" aircraft with capabilities for virtual "Highway in the Sky" operations. An "interstate skyway" system can integrate a network of thousands of smaller, underutilized airports and airspace for such "smart aircraft" to operate safely in most weather conditions. To date, no national investments have been funded to integrate the vehicle and infrastructure technology development opportunities toward a unified transportation system-driven concept. The solution to this challenge requires both technologies and public policy. The technology challenges can be affordably addressed through enhanced research capabilities and partnerships between NASA, the FAA, industry, universities, and the States. A federal, state and local government partnership can address the public policy challenges for development and deployment of "smart airports" for SATS.
Safe accessibility in smaller aircraft throughout suburban, rural, and remote landing facillities. The result can revolutionize the safety of smaller aircraft and airports for service in the nation's air transportation system. In the process, certain categories of causes of fatal accidents can be virtually eliminated for the next generation of travelers and pilots. As the Information Age unfolds, a new economy is emerging, driven by knowledge-based industrial development and the Internet. However, the impending saturation of the hub-and-spoke and highway systems will limit this economic expansion to hub-and-spoke locations. For eCommerce and the new highly-networked economy to reach its full potential, new transportation system capabilities are required. The Safe Small Aircraft Transportation System can satisfy a large portion of the demand for Information Age accessibility. This effect is particularly vital for smaller communities in the states that cannot expect to have accessibility to large airports or interstate highways. The American public will benefit in both quality of life and standard of living to a degree not seen since we put "wheels on America" in the 20th century. The Safe Small Aircraft Transportation System can unleash the full potential of eCommerce's effect on standard of living and quality of life by distributing economic opportunities in more equitable ways throughout the nation's smaller and rural communities. The concept would represent an exportable transportation innovation that relieves the current pressures on existing ground and air systems, land use, and environmental issues.
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NASA Headquarters Responsible Official: Code R
Curator: SAIC Information Services http://www.aerospace.nasa.gov |
