The goal of the current study is to investigate the benefits and challenges of operating a notional fleet of civil tiltrotor aircraft (10-, 30-, 90-, and 120-passenger vehicles), in the commercial transport role, in the projected Next Generation airspace system. Considerable effort was expended in modeling and performing ACES airspace simulations of this civil tiltrotor (CTR) fleet. An extensive set of airport networks (assuming on-or near-airport property vertiports for CTR VTOL or STOL operations) were also modeled in the airspace simulations. In particular, the networks were mapped to three primary regions: the Northeast Corridor, an Atlanta regional network, and a Las Vegas regional network. Using JPDO demand/capacity projections for 2025 as a baseline, the potential impact of CTR fleet introduction to these regional networks was assessed. The NAS-wide average delay decreased from ~22 minutes for the conventional fixed-wing fleet baseline to 7-8 minutes with the combined introduction of the CTR fleet throughout all three primary regional networks.The study will next consider the operational implications of this notional CTR fleet in supporting major regional and/or National emergencies and disaster relief efforts. The CTR disaster relief analysis is being performed by means of specialized simulation tools. This work re-emphasizes the unique role of rotorcraft in supporting such life-saving missions.
The NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) Strategic Implementation Plan details an ambitious plan for aeronautical research for the next quarter century and beyond. It includes a number of advanced technologies needed to address requirements of the overall aviation community (domestic and international), with an emphasis on safety, efficiency, operational flexibility, and alternative propulsion air transport options. The six ARMD Strategic Thrust Areas (STAs) represent a specific set of multi-decade research agendas for creating the global aviation improvements most in demand by the aviation service consumers and the general public. To provide NASA with a measurement of the preeminent value of these research areas, it was necessary to identify and quantify the measurable benefits to the aviation community from capabilities delivered by the research programs. This paper will describe the processes used and the conclusions reached in defining the principal metrics for ARMD Strategic Thrust Area 3B "Vertical Lift Strategic Direction."
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