Securing the Future of U.S. Air Transportation: A System in Peril Book

Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY....................1
1 FOUNDATION FOR CHANGE....................6
Vision and Goals....................6
Beyond the Horizon....................8
Challenge....................8
Change....................10
References....................12
2 IMPROVING THE AIR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM....................13
Impetus for Change....................13
Operational Concepts....................14
Research and Technology....................15
Beyond Technology Development....................17
References....................18
3 SYSTEM MODELING AND SIMULATION....................19
Understanding System Models....................19
Analysis and Design to Improve Air Transportation System Performance....................20
System Models and Air Transportation System Safety....................24
Conclusions....................25
References....................25
4 IMPROVING AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE....................27
Introduction....................27
Environmental Considerations....................28
Airframe Concepts....................29
Propulsion Concepts....................34
Avionics....................37
Nanotechnology....................37
Recommendations to Improve Aircraft Performance....................39
References....................40
5 PROCESS FOR CHANGE....................42
References....................44
FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THE BIG QUESTION....................45
APPENDIXES A Statement of Task and Study Approach....................53
B Comparative Assessment of Goals and Visions....................55
C Biographies of CommitteeMembers....................60
D Propulsion Taxonomy: Comments on Propulsion Fundamentals....................64
E Four Levels of Models....................67
F Acronyms and Abbreviations....................71