Can they be safely integrated into the US National Airspace System (NAS)? How is this relevant if you live outside the USA? The rest of the world will be watching what happens there with regards to VLJs and this means it is useful to monitor what the various US regulatory bodies have to say about it. Remember that NAS is in charge of all aircraft that are in motion at any given moment, both US civilian and military craft flying over domestic airspace.
The long-term vision of SATS was "to enable a safe travel alternative that will free people and products from the constraints of today's ground and air transportation systems." Government funding of the five year $150 million dollar program ended in June of 2005. The SATS funding combined with private investment and the promise of a new and profitable era of air transportation has made VLJ travel an imminent reality!
The FAA, DOT, Insurance business, corporate aviation, airline industry, members of the flying public and others have expressed safety concerns about the rapidly approaching fleet of VLJs. The spectre of their arrival placing unacceptable burdens on our air traffic control system is a growing concern.
Can the altitudes and airspace previously reserved for the exclusive use of our corporate jets and commercial airliners safely make space for these new planes? Can the system safely consolidate the VLJ pilots with their varying levels of experience? These questions are on our minds as aviators as we awaken to the dawn of this new day in air transport technology.
How many VLJs are on the way for us to worry about? It depends on who we ask... last year the venerable Rolls-Royce predicted that manufacturers will deliver some 8,000 VLJs by 2023. From the UK, IMDC estimates approximately 850 VLJs will be produced by 2013, however, Forecast International Inc. divines 3,500 as the number of deliveries by 2014. FAA estimates are for 4,500 sharing our airspace by 2016. Some VLJ manufacturers envision up to 20,000! Pick a number.
The FAA's own recent estimate of aircraft entering the NAS is an additional 4,500 aircraft over the next 10 years. FAA also predicts a 300% increase in system demand by 2025.
Some of the air traffic control equipment still in use is from the 1950s. In June of 2005, House Report 109-153 recommended over $1.5 billion for new air traffic control facilities and equipment. This funding may be the key to safety in future air travel.
