This report contains a limited description of the present FAA system for measurement of the Nation al Airspace System. It suggests that measures of operational effectiveness be added to the present system to provide inputs for cost/benefit studies and to assist top management in dm1ision making functions. (Author).

When discussing the risk of introducing drones into the National Airspace System, it is necessary to consider the increase in risk to people in manned aircraft and on the ground as well as the various ways in which this new technology may reduce risk and save lives, sometimes in ways that cannot readily be accounted for with current safety assessment processes. This report examines the various ways that risk can be defined and applied to integrating these Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System managed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It also identifies needs for additional research and developmental opportunities in this field.

The FAA undertook a multibillion-dollar modernization effort in 1981, but it has experienced serious delays. To get the modernization effort back on track, the FAA -- in consultation with the aviation community -- is developing a phased approach to modernization, including a new way of managing air traffic known as "free flight." This report reviews: (1) the status of the FAA's efforts to implement free flight, including a planned operational demonstration formerly known as Flight 2000; and (2) the views of the aviation community and FAA on the challenges that must be met to implement free flight in a cost-effective manner. Tables.

This book presents, in a comprehensive way, current unmanned aviation regulation, airworthiness certification, special aircraft categories, pilot certification, federal aviation requirements, operation rules, airspace classes and regulation development models. It discusses unmanned aircraft systems levels of safety derived mathematically based on the corresponding levels for manned aviation. It provides an overview of the history and current status of UAS airworthiness and operational regulation worldwide. Existing regulations have been developed considering the need for a complete regulatory framework for UAS. It focuses on UAS safety assessment and functional requirements, achieved in terms of defining an “Equivalent Level of Safety”, or ELOS, with that of manned aviation, specifying what the ELOS requirement entails for UAS regulations. To accomplish this, the safety performance of manned aviation is first evaluated, followed by a novel model to derive reliability requirements for achieving target levels of safety (TLS) for ground impact and mid-air collision accidents.It discusses elements of a viable roadmap leading to UAS integration in to the NAS. For this second edition of the book almost all chapters include major updates and corrections. There is also a new appendix chapter.

This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. The national airspace system will become increasingly congested over time, imposing costs of delay on passengers and regions. While transforming the current air-traffic control system to the Next Generation Air Transport. System may provide additional en route capacity, many airports will still face constraints at their runways and terminals. This report evaluated regional airport planning (RAP) in metro regions with congested airports. The report: (1) identified which airports are currently or will be significantly congested and the potential benefits of RAP; (2) assessed how regions with congested airports use RAP in decision making; and (3) identified factors that hinder or aid in the development and implementation of RAP. Charts and tables.