Tomorrow
Solutions to today's problems
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),
and industry partners (including C3D Aero) are working to solve the problems that plague the National
Airspace System (NAS).
Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS)
SATS will be an airborne transportation network that will use small aircraft and
the nation’s 5,200 small airports. NASA's goal is to “Reduce door-to-door travel
time by half in 10 years and two-thirds in 25 years.”
It turns out that 98% of Americans live within a 30 minute drive of a small airport.
That means that for trips between 200 and 800 miles, it is 
actually more efficient for travelers to go to their local airport and fly on a small airplane.
The aircraft that are being developed for SATS are a lot stronger and lighter weight than current
small airplanes because they use composite materials. They will have smaller, more efficient, and
more reliable engines like the Williams EJ22 Turbojet. Ballistic (rocket-fired) airframe parachutes
that lower the entire aircraft in the event of an emergency will make them a lot safer. They will also have an improved avionics system called the
Highway In The Sky (HITS) that uses the Global Positioning System (GPS) and collision avoidance technology.
Highway In The Sky (HITS)
SATS aircraft will use a graphical flight path system that will make flying as easy as
– and safer than – driving a car. Intuitive cockpit displays will show a virtual flight path
for the aircraft to follow, a 3D representation of terrain and obstructions, and a 2D moving map
of other aircraft, weather conditions, restricted airspace, and airports.
Air traffic control will evolve into an air traffic management system as aircraft become
more and more autonomous. For example, a pilot will be able to select
a destination and the aircraft will automatically access Aviation Web Services
proposed by C3D Aero and use them to obtain weather, navigation, airport, and aircraft performance updates.
It is important to note that most flight information will already be stored in a database on the aircraft
and will not require the use of Web services, unless the data changes.
Aircraft will also be able to broadcast their own Aviation Web Services to the National Airspace System (NAS).
Airborne Internet
To allow data to flow between aircraft and the ground network, NASA and the FAA are working
on a private, secure, and reliable peer-to-peer aircraft communications network that uses the same
technologies as the commercial Internet. C3D Aero is a member of the Airborne Internet
Collaboration Group which is helping develop open standards for the Airborne Internet.
Click to enlarge the diagram below that shows the Airborne Internet's Hourglass Architecture:
To learn more about the different Web services protocols visit the technologies section.
The Airborne Internet will also fix the current problems with today's avionics.
Click to enlarge the diagram below that shows how the Airborne Internet replaces stovepiped cockpit technology:
The next mode of transportation
SATS, HITS, and the Airborne Internet will change aviation dramatically.
But they are only part of the story. Imagine not having to drive to the local airport
before flying to your destination. Imagine flying a Moller Skycar in the future.
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