Commercial Space

Rigid Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airspace structures cannot scale to accommodate commercial space alongside traditional aviation. Commercial space launches are among the new user activities that threaten to overwhelm outdated airspace management practices, procedures, and systems.

 

The FAA’s existing multiple legacy automation systems operate independently across the tower, terminal, en route, and oceanic domains. Here’s what that siloed environment does:

 

▶️ It duplicates effort and functionality;

▶️ It creates inconsistent data and poor interoperability;

▶️ It drives high maintenance costs;

▶️ It slows the deployment of critical upgrades.

 

What is needed is an evolution of the National Airspace System into a real-time, digital airspace management system that enables the integration of new users, flexible allocation, and delegated authority where it's appropriate.