The major US helicopter manufacturers were asked to support a study by the FAA to design a total FAA system for the year 2000 and beyond. Bell Helicopter Textron chaired a VSTOL committee which collectively prepared and presented the desires of the vertical lift community. A requirement was noted for the necessary infrastructure including vertiports with appropriate landing aids. The integration of emergency medical service into the system was also recommended. Some operational improvements were noted utilizing rapid computational techniques for both ground and airborne systems to reduce separation and permit joint usage of existing facilities under separate rules, maintaining at least the present level of safety. The automation of cockpits using simplified controls and advanced presentation methods to provide the pilot with similar cues under restricted visibility to those available in the real world was also suggested. The paper concludes that the technology is in place today to provide the recommended improvements and urges that action be initiated to provide the desired capabilities.
