The majesty of a jetliner gliding across the sky, how magnificent is the sight. How breathtaking is the power, the technology, and the ingenuity that transformed a simple invention into a lifestyle we know today as air travel. And not just a lifestyle, but a powerful engine that propels our economy forward. As air travel continues to be an integral part of our lifestyle, air travel demand is expected to grow in the next two decades, tripling by some estimates. How do we accommodate this unprecedented growth while safeguarding our environment and improving on already high levels of safety? By harnessing the untapped capabilities of the modern aircraft in new and innovative ways, revolutionizing air traffic management. Let’s imagine the future, an Aircraft-Centric future, with advanced onboard capabilities that can perform any task, any time, any place in the world. Conflict-free aircraft trajectories for the entire airspace are computed by onboard flight management systems, transmitted via digital data link through the airwaves to other aircraft. An efficient and expeditious 4 dimensional flight path for each aircraft in a region is calculated within seconds, each aircraft digitally seeing its neighboring aircraft on pilot displays. Approaching the landing strip, piercing through the thicket of cloud and fog, planes digitally display integrated terrain and aircraft data on a head-up-display system, creating a better-than-visual flight situational awareness for the pilot. Precious cargo is delivered to its destination, wherever it maybe, evermore safely, expeditiously and without delays, diversions or cancellations. How can we achieve this future? This future is here and is at the heart of what we call the Next Generation Air Transportation System. While the swift advances in aircraft navigation, surveillance, communications and computing technologies have sometimes outpaced our ability to fully utilize them, the Federal Aviation Administration now stands at a historical crossroad with a unique opportunity to build this exciting new blueprint that we call NextGen, transforming the nation’s air transportation system. And here are the key components of NextGen. Using Area Navigation (or RNAV) and Required Navigation Performance (or RNP), onboard computing systems will create accurate and efficient flight paths in our skies. Advanced flight management systems, on-board inertial systems, heads-up display systems, and other satellite and ground systems will compute position, speed, and other vital navigation information. This new approach will virtually automate an aircraft’s entire navigation function from departure to landing. With more precise and accurate paths, more “lanes” can be built into the same limited airspace, creating more capacity where we need it. Using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast technology, both pilots and controllers will see radar-like displays of traffic data, based on satellite data—displays that update aircraft position and intent information in seconds and don't degrade with distance or terrain. The system will also give pilots access to weather services, terrain maps, and flight information services. The improved situational awareness the system provides will better enable pilots to fly at safe distances from one another with less assistance from air traffic controllers. High capacity digital data link communications will allow the transfer of vital flight information between airborne and ground system automation platforms, which has never before been possible. This new capability will reduce pilot and controller communications, reduce the risk of possible miscommunications, and enhance situational awareness. Pilots can more efficiently request and receive expedited routes, altitude changes, and speed changes. Controllers can digitally clear aircraft for changes in routes, altitude, speed, and frequency. Data Link will not only improve situational awareness for both pilot and air traffic controllers, it will lead to more efficient and expeditious air traffic. RNP, ADS-B, digital Data Link . . . These innovations combined with Enhanced Flight Vision Systems (EFVS), Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) head up display (HUD), and a paperless flight-deck environment through electronic pilot flight bags (EFB) are the cornerstone of NextGen. Embedding these capabilities into modern aircraft will deliver a safer, more efficient air transportation system. The FAA’s new Safety Management System, together with the newly formed collaborative government-industry safety data sharing system called ASIAS, will ensure the continuation of our nation’s sterling safety record. Applying proven safety assessment methods every step along the way will bolster the public trust in our aviation system. How will we get there from here? Partnering with key government agencies in the Joint Planning and Development Office and with the aviation community in the U.S. and abroad, we have developed specific strategies to mobilize our resources and our know-how in delivering NextGen capabilities, steadily and purposefully, to make the 21st century next-generation air transportation system a reality. Our sky is a national resource. As air travel continues to be a vital part of our lifestyle and our economy, we must learn how to manage this resource more wisely. Implementing NextGen is an imperative. We have the national resolve to see it through. Together let us build new highways in the sky to more safely and efficiently use this national resource we call the National Airspace System.